Assistant Production Manager

Making a difference in the world by reducing carbon emissions and improving access to clean energy with every module we make.

Our purpose is to make a difference in the world by reducing carbon emissions and improving access to clean energy with every module we make.

At Silfab Solar, the energy of our people is the power behind our success. Our employees actively shape the solar innovations of tomorrow, while adhering to the highest ethical operating standards and promoting a respectful and safe workplace for our diverse workforce.

Our state-of-the art facilities in the US and Canada engineer and design the latest generation of solar products and utilize advanced manufacturing technology to produce high-efficiency PV cells and modules intended to outperform the market. As a profitable and rapidly expanding company in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the renewable energy industry, Silfab provides you with an incredible opportunity to build your career and contribute to a sustainable future. We are committed to investing in our employees, providing a dynamic and supportive environment for learning and professional growth. We offer competitive pay, generous benefits, and opportunities for advancement, but more importantly, we offer you the ability to make a real difference in the world.

Together we can create a brighter, cleaner future for generations to come.

Job Description

The Assistant Production Manager supports the Production Manager in leading all day-to-day operations for Module Line 8 at the Fort Mill facility. This role is hands-on and floor-focused, ensuring that commissioning, startup, and full-rate production are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with quality and performance targets.

This position partners closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to ensure uninterrupted production flow, achievement of KPIs (OEE, FTT, Scrap, and Line Performance), and adherence to Silfab's operational playbooks and standards. The Assistant Production Manager acts as the primary link between supervisors, cross-functional teams, and leadership driving accountability, problem resolution, and continuous improvement across all shifts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Production Manager to oversee activities for all module assembly equipment, ensuring readiness and sustained performance across all stations from raw materials to finished product.
• Lead and coach shift supervisors and team leads across all shifts (Blue/Orange Day and Night) to ensure consistent production execution, adherence to standards, and clear communication through daily Tier Meetings.
• Own and drive KPI performance for Line 8: OEE ≥ 70% target, FTT ≥ 95%, Scrap < 1%, and maximizing throughput
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to address downtime root causes, manage escalation protocols, and verify corrective actions are sustained.
• Promote and enforce a safety-first culture, ensuring all safety procedures, LOTO standards, and hazard assessments are followed daily.
• Support the development and enforcement of the Production Supervisor and Operator Playbooks, ensuring adherence to job task analyses, CTQ libraries, and process documentation.
• Coordinate with Quality to maintain inspection readiness and compliance with all customer, internal, and certification requirements.
• Maintain daily production, quality, and downtime logs via SharePoint and PowerApps, ensuring real-time visibility for leadership and alignment with Power BI dashboards. Must also be familiar with transitioning team from manual data collection to digital.
• Lead or participate in Layered Process Audits (LPA), 5S audits, and Gemba walks to reinforce visual management, standardization, and accountability.
• Ensure continuous training and cross-training of production personnel to support flexibility and succession planning.
• Partner with OEMs, R&D, and Engineering during equipment trials and process validations, supporting data collection and regression testing for "Golden Stringer" and other critical assets.
• Generate and present daily and weekly production reports, including output performance, scrap analysis, and downtime summaries, to communicate progress against ramp-up targets.
• Drive a culture of urgency, ownership, and problem-solving-ensuring timely escalation and resolution of production issues.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and communication skills; capable of influencing across departments and leading by example on the production floor.Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability with a focus on root cause and corrective action.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, PowerApps, and Power BI for digital data management, KPI tracking, and reporting.
• Ability to interpret production data and translate it into actionable improvements
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Traits

• Hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, startup manufacturing environment.
• Strong sense of urgency and accountability; comfortable making data-driven decisions under pressure.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and operational discipline.
• High energy, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities during ramp-up and full-rate production.
• Passion for coaching, developing, and empowering supervisors and operators.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, Project Management, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 4+ years in manufacturing operations, with 2+ years in production leadership (supervisor or manager level).
• Experience in highly automated or precision assembly environments such as solar, automotive, electronics, or medical device manufacturing preferred.
• Familiarity with commissioning, validation, and startup environments strongly desired.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive Market Wages
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and holiday)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Employee PV Panel Purchase Program