Production Manager

Description

Job Summary: The Production Manager plans, directs, and supervises the manufacturing of corrugated cardboard boxes, ensuring optimal quality, timeliness, and cost-efficiency. Key Highlights: 1. Key role in corrugated cardboard box manufacturing operations 2. Operational team leadership and production management 3. Responsible for quality and operational efficiency **PRODUCTION MANAGER** **Department:** Production / Operations **Reports to:** General Management **Location:** Toluca, Metropolitan Area **Employment Type:** Full-time, On-site **Team Size:** 16–30 people **Minimum Experience:** 5+ years in corrugated cardboard industry **Working Hours:** Monday to Friday + Saturday (as required by operations) **Availability:** Immediate or short-term **WHO ARE WE?** About the company KJ is a Mexican company with over 30 years of experience in corrugated cardboard box manufacturing, founded in 1994. We operate three sales points in Mexico City’s Metropolitan Area and serve both local markets and export operations—including customized box supply for The Box Boss LLC, a sister company within the same group operating in Houston, Texas. We manufacture RSC boxes, die-cut boxes, and specialized packaging for various industries: e-commerce, food & beverage, consumer goods, and export. We operate using our own industrial machinery and a team committed to quality, on-time delivery, and continuous improvement. This position is critical to operations. The Production Manager is directly responsible for ensuring every box is produced correctly, on time, and at the right cost. **JOB PURPOSE** Why does this position exist? The Production Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and supervising KJ’s entire manufacturing operation—from raw material receipt through to finished product delivery. They guarantee that production meets defined quality standards, adheres to customer-agreed timelines, and remains within established operational cost limits. This role has exclusive scope over KJ Mexico’s operations. It does not manage orders for The Box Boss LLC nor coordinate export logistics. **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES** What does this person do daily? 1. Production Planning and Control * Plan weekly and monthly production based on active orders and plant capacity. * Establish and monitor the daily production schedule, adjusting priorities according to customer urgency. * Coordinate with Sales to assess feasibility and delivery timelines for new or urgent orders. * Monitor raw material inventory (corrugated board, adhesives, inks, supplies) and manage replenishment with Purchasing. 2. Operations and Machinery Supervision * Supervise daily operation of all production machinery: corrugator, die-cutter, flexographic printers, and gluing lines. * Ensure production processes comply with technical specifications for each order (dimensions, caliper, strength, printing). * Identify and resolve bottlenecks in the production flow promptly. * Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance schedules with Maintenance to minimize unplanned downtime. 3. Production Team Management * Lead, supervise, and motivate operators, line supervisors, and warehouse staff (6–15 people). * Assign responsibilities and workloads fairly and efficiently. * Identify technical training needs and coordinate implementation with Management. * Manage attendance, leave requests, and workplace discipline per internal policies and Mexico’s Federal Labor Law. * Promote an organized, safe, and results-oriented work culture. 4. Product Quality * Verify finished products meet customer specifications before shipment (dimensions, printing, strength, finish). * Implement in-process quality controls: inspections at critical production line points. * Manage non-conformance resolution: identify root cause, apply corrective actions, and document cases. * Maintain records of rejections, reworks, and returns for continuous improvement analysis. 5. Costs and Operational Efficiency * Monitor raw material waste and propose measures to reduce it. * Track productivity indicators: units produced per shift, format changeover time, % rework. * Identify process, timing, or supply usage improvement opportunities and present them to Management. * Participate in technical quotation of special orders when production input is required. 6. Coordination with The Box Boss LLC (Export) * Integrate export orders into the production schedule without affecting local commitments. * Ensure boxes destined for The Box Boss meet export-specific quality and packaging requirements. * Maintain direct communication with Management to plan these orders with appropriate lead time. **CANDIDATE PROFILE** What are we looking for? Academic Background * Industrial, Mechanical, or Process Engineering; Industrial Administration; or related field. * Incomplete engineering degrees with solid, verifiable experience will be considered. Required Experience * Minimum 5 years in production supervision or management roles within manufacturing companies. * Specific experience in the corrugated cardboard industry: MANDATORY. Candidates without this background will not be considered. * Verifiable experience managing operational staff of 15 or more people. * Experience in production control, order planning, and tracking operational KPIs. Technical Knowledge * Ability to read and interpret production orders and product technical specifications. * Familiarity with industrial manufacturing machinery (basic operation and preventive maintenance criteria). * Proficiency with production KPIs: OEE, waste %, shift productivity. * Intermediate Excel skills for production tracking, KPI recording, and basic reporting. * Basic quality knowledge: ISO 9001 or similar methodologies (desirable but not mandatory). Competencies and Skills: * Technical Competencies Leadership Competencies * Production planning and control Operational team leadership * Reading technical specifications Clear and direct communication * In-process quality control Decision-making under pressure * Managing operational KPIs Results- and compliance-oriented * Basic preventive maintenance Organizational and orderly mindset * Inventory and raw material control Proactivity and problem-solving Exclusionary Criteria — Candidate is NOT eligible if: * Has no prior experience managing operational staff. * Cannot demonstrate real-world experience in production planning and monitoring. * Requires remote or hybrid work — this position is 100% on-site at the plant. * Salary expectations fall outside the company-defined range. **JOB CONDITIONS** Work conditions and compensation * Employment type: Direct employment contract with the company — indefinite term * Probation period: 30 days per Federal Labor Law * Base salary: To be determined based on profile and experience — negotiable * Statutory benefits: IMSS, INFONAVIT, vacation, vacation bonus, 15-day year-end bonus * Additional benefits: To be defined by General Management at time of offer * Working hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00–18:00 hrs · Saturdays as required by workload * Work modality: 100% on-site — Toluca, State of Mexico production plant * Start date availability: Immediate or short-term (maximum 30 days) **SUCCESS INDICATORS** How will the Production Manager’s performance be measured? The incumbent will be evaluated quarterly based on the following indicators. These reflect the role’s real impact on operations: * % On-time deliveries — ≥ 95% — Monthly * % Rejected or reworked product — < 1% — Monthly * % Raw material waste — < 1% — Monthly * Weekly production schedule adherence — ≥ 90% — Weekly * Unplanned machine downtime due to failure — Progressive reduction — Monthly * Workplace climate and team turnover — Reduced turnover vs. prior year — Quarterly **SELECTION PROCESS** Process stages 1. CV review and verification of verifiable experience. 2. Initial phone or video interview (30 min) — profile and expectation screening. 3. In-person interview with General Management (60 min) — focused on real-case scenarios and operational judgment. 4. Plant visit — tour and introduction to current team. 5. Offer presentation and closing. **NOTE:** For currently employed candidates: full discretion is maintained throughout the process. The full process takes 1–2 weeks from the first interview. **HOW TO APPLY?** Application submission Interested candidates must send their updated CV with subject line: Production Manager — KJ. Only candidates meeting minimum job requirements will be contacted. We thank all applicants for their interest. * KJ · Corrugated Box Manufacturing · Mexico City Metropolitan Area · Founded 1994 Salary: Starting at $30,000.00 MXN per month Benefits: * Company parking * Free parking Workplace: On-site employment