Position Purpose

To monitor the manufacturing and operations of ribbon cheese, cream generation, whey into protein plus lactose, and total warehouse operations.  Handle products and materials to ensure that volume, cost standards, quality parameters of the company and both environment and physical needs of the department employees are achieved.

Nature and Scope

•           The Production Manager reports to the Plant Manager.  Other positions reporting to the plant manager are:  People Development Manager; Plant Controller; Plant Engineer and Quality Control Manager.  Positions reporting to Production Manager are Cheese Department Manager, Processing Department Manager, Whey Department Manager and Warehouse Manager.

•           The Company production environment is characterized by high technology, state-of-the-art equipment. Activity in the production area is ongoing as a seven-day week, twenty-four hour day operation.

•           The Production Manager compiles and helps develop budgets for his reporting area by which he can monitor and measure the performance of the production department with regard to quality, efficiency and manpower.  The holder of this position assures that manpower development plans are made and that training and safety programs are implemented by each department manager.

•           The incumbent achieves accountability, in part, through the following direct reports:  Cheese Department Manager, Processing Department Manager, Warehouse Manager, and Whey Department Manager; having accountabilities for budgets, manpower, planning production scheduling, and product quality in these individual departments.

•           Major challenges for the production manager are monitoring high cheese and whey quality, yields and productivity, while maintaining warehouse efficiencies.  Other challenges are monitoring equipment maintenance, manpower scheduling and training, supervisory development and keeping abreast of new product development and technological changes.

•           Day-to-day operations are conducted with limited supervision from plant manager.

•           The position holder is in daily contact with plant manager, department managers and has occasional contact with Corporate officers, Engineering, Quality Assurance and Technical Services.  Working relationships must be maintained with regulatory agencies, (i.e. USDA, California State Department of Food and Agriculture and IMS); occasional contact is also made with vendors and customers.

•           This manager participates on the plant safety committee and task force committees for processing improvements.

•           Performance of this position can be measured by pounds per manhour of production; quality and shipping specification of product produced; cost per pound of cheese, processing and whey; achievements of budgets, cost per pound of material handled and employee morale that may be identified by safety performance, attendance and turnover.

•           This position requires advanced knowledge of starter-making and cheesemaking; working knowledge of microbiology and sanitation practices; mechanical aptitude; a basic understanding of the physics of drying, evaporation, separation and ultrafiltration; as well as a basic understanding of warehouse and materials management.  Also essential is good management, including basic accounting skills and skills in people handling, communication, prioritizing and business management. Minimum requirement is a degree in food science or dairy technology with three to five years in supervising cheesemaking activity or the equivalent practical experience in management and the cheese industry.

Principal Accountabilities

15%      1.         Monitors the manufacturing of cheese, protein, lactose and cream production to ensure the quality and compliance with corporate Q.A. specification, government regulations, standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices.         

15%      2.         Implements plant safety programs to ensure a safe working environment.  Forty percent (40%) reflected by monthly attainment of personal safety excellence menu; sixty percent (60%) reflected by department and plant safety performance.

7%       3.         Monitors the implementation of manpower development program to assure department and corporate human resource plans are achieved.

10%      4.         Ensures the labor agreement is administered fairly and consistently to provide for positive employee relations within the departments.

7%       5.         Assists in development of departmental budgets and maintains an ongoing cost performance awareness and evaluation relative to approved budgets to ensure production objectives are met.

13%      6.         Monitors production volumes and efficiencies to assure that budgetary guidelines are met.

 5%      7.         Participates in capital project upgrades and expansions at all stages: concept, design, AFE, installation, startup, etc. to insure compliance to production needs and standards.

 8%      8.         Manages finished products warehouse (cheese, whey, cream, packing supplies) plant shipping and recruiting function.

10%      9.         Assure the plant is maintained in a quality appearance fashion adhering to State, Federal and good manufacturing practices.