Prefab Operations Manager

Introduction

The Prefab Division has been established to support all Muth Electric divisions by improving labor efficiency, increasing project productivity, reducing field installation hours, and improving quality through standardized assembly methods. The success of the Prefab Division depends on the effective planning, scheduling, coordination, production flow, inventory control, and labor management directed by the Prefab Operations Manager.

The Prefab Operations Manager is responsible for maximizing throughput, minimizing waste, implementing lean processes, and building scalable systems that support future company growth.

Organization Status

The Prefab Operations Manager is appointed by the Chief Operating Officer (with approval of the President) and reports directly to the Prefab Manager. The Prefab Operations Manager has authority over all prefab personnel on the production floor and delegated authority commensurate with assigned responsibilities.

Major Responsibilities

The first responsibility of the Prefab Operations Manager is to maintain safe operations throughout the prefab facility. Safety is always the highest priority.

Once safe operations are established, the Prefab Operations Manager shall plan, schedule, coordinate, and control manpower, materials, tools, equipment, and production flow to maximize efficiency, labor productivity, and production output while minimizing waste, rework, and operational costs.

This role is responsible for ensuring prefab assemblies are delivered on time, meet quality expectations, and align with project schedules while increasing the scalability and profitability of Muth Electric's prefab operations.

Responsibilities and Duties

Communication

• Maintains open communication between prefab, project management, field leadership, VDC, purchasing, and warehouse personnel.
• Keeps Supervisor informed of production schedules, bottlenecks, labor needs, equipment requirements, and unusual issues.
• Attends and participates in coordination meetings as required.
• Works with Project Managers, Superintendents, and VDC personnel to resolve design conflicts, material shortages, and production sequencing issues.
• Communicates production capacities and lead times to support field planning.

Planning (Budgeting)

• Establishes production goals based on project backlog and manpower availability.
• Forecasts facility, equipment, labor, and inventory needs for future growth.
• Assists in the development of strategic scaling plans to increase prefab throughput.

Policies and Procedures

• Maintains awareness of and enforces all company policies and standard procedures.
• Develops prefab-specific procedures to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Establishes standardized work methods for repeatable assemblies.
• Implements lean manufacturing principles throughout the shop.
• Continuously evaluates workflows and improves processes.

Staff

• Recruits, trains, develops, and manages prefab personnel.
• Assist in evaluating employee performance and productivity.
• Develops cross-training programs to increase labor flexibility.
• Assist in the building of future leadership within the prefab division.
• Maintains morale and promotes team accountability.
• Provides training on assembly standards, safety, and quality expectations.

Production Operations

• Oversees daily prefab production scheduling.
• Coordinates production priorities based on project schedules and manpower demands.
• Ensures assemblies are properly sequenced for field installation.
• Maximizes labor efficiency through standardized workflows.
• Identifies bottlenecks and implements corrective action.
• Maintains production KPIs.
• Coordinates with field teams to maximize prefab utilization on projects.
• Develops assembly processes that reduce field labor and improve installation speed.
• Works closely with VDC to improve assembly designs for production efficiency.

Inventory

• Controls prefab material inventory.
• Evaluates and sets minimum and maximum stocking levels.
• Maintains organized material flow and storage systems.
• Reduces material waste, damage, and loss.
• Develops efficient material picking and staging processes.

Quality Control

• Establishes quality control checkpoints throughout production.
• Ensures all assemblies meet code requirements, project specifications, and company standards.
• Works with field teams to gather quality feedback.
• Reduces rework through process improvements.
• Maintains documentation of quality issues and corrective actions.

Maintenance

• Oversees preventative maintenance for all prefab equipment.
• Maintains tooling, machines, and facility organization.
• Ensures all equipment remains operational and safe.
• Coordinates outside service work when needed.
• Maintains a clean, organized, and efficient production environment.

Scalability and Continuous Improvement

• Develops systems that support growth without proportional labor increases.
• Evaluates automation opportunities.
• Improves facility layout for labor flow and efficiency.
• Standardizes assemblies for repeatability and speed.
• Studies production trends and adjusts systems to improve performance.
• Works to increase prefab revenue contribution to company profitability.

General

• Cooperates with all departments and key personnel.
• Makes recommendations that improve company operations.
• Maintains accurate records and production reports.
• Keeps current on new technologies, equipment, and industry trends.
• Attends management and industry training programs.
• Ensures all decisions reflect the best interests of Muth Electric, Inc.
• Performs other duties assigned by Supervisor.
• While the Prefab Operations Manager may delegate duties, responsibility for the performance of those duties remains with him.