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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for CNC Operations Manager

💰 $90,000 - $140,000

ManufacturingOperationsEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

The CNC Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of CNC machining and manufacturing operations, including scheduling, capacity planning, programming oversight, tooling and fixturing strategy, equipment maintenance planning, workforce development, and implementation of Lean/continuous improvement initiatives. This role balances production targets, quality requirements, regulatory compliance, and cost control across multiple shifts while partnering closely with engineering, supply chain, and customer-facing teams to deliver precision metal/plastic components on time and within specification.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior CNC Programmer / Lead CNC Operator
  • Production Supervisor (Machining or Toolroom)
  • Manufacturing / Process Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Plant Operations Manager
  • Director of Manufacturing
  • VP of Operations / Head of Production

Lateral Moves:

  • Process Engineering Manager
  • Quality Manager (CMM/SPC focus)
  • Supply Chain or Production Planning Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and manage end-to-end CNC production operations, including multi-shift scheduling, job routing, machine allocation, and capacity planning to achieve weekly and monthly production targets while maintaining labor and machine utilization metrics.
  • Oversee CNC programming and NC code management, including review and approval of G-code, edits for Fanuc/Haas/Siemens controls, and validation of CAM-generated toolpaths in Mastercam, Fusion 360, or PowerMILL to minimize cycle time and cutting tool wear.
  • Develop and execute production plans using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Epicor, SAP, Oracle NetSuite) to ensure accurate work orders, material availability, and timely shop floor release.
  • Implement and sustain Lean manufacturing principles (5S, cellular manufacturing, SMED) to reduce setup times, eliminate waste, and increase throughput and floor space efficiency.
  • Direct tooling strategy and management: select cutting tools, holders, collets, tool life parameters, and fixture designs; negotiate with tooling vendors; maintain tooling inventory and economic order quantities (EOQ).
  • Coordinate preventive maintenance and TPM programs across CNC mills, lathes, grinders, and supporting equipment; develop PM schedules, track machine MTBF/MTTR, and minimize unplanned downtime.
  • Drive quality assurance and compliance activities, including enforcing GD&T interpretation, first article inspections (FAI), process capability (Cp/Cpk), SPC charting, and supporting ISO/AS9100 audits and customer source inspections.
  • Supervise, coach, and develop CNC leads, operators, and programmers; create and maintain skills matrices, conduct performance reviews, and define training plans for onboarding and continuous skills development.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes for production and quality issues using structured methodologies (5 Whys, Fishbone, 8D); close CAPAs and document outcomes.
  • Manage production budgets, cost-to-serve analysis, and continuous cost-reduction initiatives focused on scrap reduction, scrap rework strategies, and reduction of outside processing spend.
  • Work closely with product engineering and CAM teams to review new product introductions (NPI), feasibility studies, tolerance allocation, and process capability assessments to ensure manufacturability and reduce launch risks.
  • Establish and track operational KPIs such as OTD (on-time delivery), first-pass yield, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), labor productivity (parts/hour/operator), and scrap rates; generate weekly dashboards and executive reporting.
  • Oversee shop floor safety program and regulatory compliance including OSHA, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and safe handling of coolants and hazardous materials; lead incident investigations and corrective actions.
  • Optimize Fixturing and workholding design in collaboration with tooling engineers and outside vendors to reduce cycle times and improve part accuracy and repeatability.
  • Manage capital equipment planning and procurement, including ROI justification for new CNC centers, automation (robotic loading, pallet changers), and measurement equipment (CMMs) to expand capabilities and capacity.
  • Coordinate subcontract and outside processing relationships (heat treat, plating, EDM) to ensure quality, lead-time adherence, and cost control; qualify and audit vendors as required.
  • Maintain manufacturing documentation and process control plans, including routings, job set-ups, inspection plans, SOPs, and operator work instructions; ensure controlled document revisions.
  • Support quoting and estimating teams with manufacturing input, process time studies, cycle time estimates, and capacity constraints to produce accurate lead times and cost estimates for sales.
  • Drive continuous improvement through Kaizen events and cross-functional teams, setting project charters, measurable targets, and ensuring project completion and sustained gains.
  • Lead changeover planning for high-mix production runs to minimize machine downtime and create quick-change tooling solutions; implement SMED techniques and standardized setups.
  • Supervise inventory and raw material controls for the machining floor, including kanban systems, safety stock levels, scrap tracking, and material traceability for lot-controlled parts.
  • Manage shift handoffs and communication protocols for multi-shift operations, ensuring consistent production status, open issues, and adherence to quality and safety requirements.
  • Champion digital initiatives such as shop floor data capture, IIoT sensors for real-time machine telemetry, and integration between CNC controls and manufacturing execution systems to increase visibility and predictive maintenance capabilities.
  • Maintain strong customer-facing presence when required: support technical discussions, factory acceptance tests, and onsite corrective actions to retain critical customer accounts and resolve escalations.

Secondary Functions

  • Support continuous improvement projects that impact broader plant operations, including layout redesigns, cell rebalancing, and reduction of non-value-added motion.
  • Assist in recruitment, workforce planning, and workforce retention strategies to maintain a stable and skilled operator/programmer pool.
  • Facilitate cross-training programs across machining, assembly, and inspection to increase flexibility and reduce single-point dependencies.
  • Participate in supplier quality reviews, incoming inspection criteria development, and incoming material nonconformance disposition.
  • Contribute to facility-level initiatives such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainability programs tied to corporate responsibility goals.
  • Support engineering change order (ECO) implementation on the floor, updating routings, tooling, and inspection requirements to reflect design revisions.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for manufacturing technology evaluations, pilot projects, and prototype production to validate process stability prior to full-scale manufacturing.
  • Maintain accurate production records, time studies, and process capability documentation to support audit readiness and continuous improvement metrics.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep knowledge of CNC machine operation, set-up, and troubleshooting for 3-axis to 5-axis milling and multi-axis turning centers.
  • CNC programming and editing proficiency (G-code) and hands-on experience with CAM systems such as Mastercam, Autodesk Fusion 360, PowerMILL, or Siemens NX.
  • Practical experience with common CNC control platforms (Fanuc, Haas, Siemens, Heidenhain, Mazak) and ability to interpret and optimize control parameters.
  • Strong GD&T proficiency and blueprint reading skills for complex mechanical parts and assemblies.
  • Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), SPC software, and quality tools (Cp/Cpk, control charts, FMEA).
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Epicor, SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Global Shop) for production planning and shop floor scheduling.
  • Knowledge of metrology and inspection equipment, including CMM programming and operation, optical comparators, micrometers, and calibrated measurement systems.
  • Tooling and fixture design experience, including tool selection, wear analysis, and tool life optimization.
  • Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies: Kaizen, 5S, SMED, TPM, and value-stream mapping.
  • Preventive maintenance and equipment lifecycle management, including building PM programs and partnering with vendors for repairs and upgrades.
  • Regulatory and compliance knowledge including ISO 9001 / AS9100 standards and OSHA safety requirements.
  • Ability to analyze production data, use Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP), and visualize KPIs with BI tools or dashboards.
  • Experience with robotic automation integration (parts loading, pallet changers) and IIoT sensor data for predictive maintenance is a plus.
  • Budgeting and cost-accountability skills, including cost reduction projects, CAPEX justification, and supplier negotiations.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with a proven track record of developing high-performing technical teams.
  • Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with engineering, sales, supply chain, and customers.
  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving aptitude; ability to translate business goals into actionable shop-floor plans.
  • Time management and prioritization skills in a fast-paced, deadline-driven production environment.
  • Coaching and mentoring ability to upskill operators and programmers and create a culture of continuous learning.
  • Resilience and adaptability in responding to production disruptions and changing customer requirements.
  • Influencing and negotiation skills to manage supplier performance, internal resource allocation, and cross-department priorities.
  • Detail-oriented with a strong sense of ownership for quality, delivery, and safety outcomes.
  • Data-driven decision making and comfort working with production metrics, root-cause analysis, and performance targets.
  • Project management capability to lead improvement projects, capital equipment installs, and NPI launches.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in machining technology, manufacturing technology, or equivalent hands-on CNC experience with demonstrated leadership capabilities.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.
  • Certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, IPC, ISO lead auditor, or OSHA 30 are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering / Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Tool & Die / CNC Machining Technology
  • Applied Science or Technical Trades

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–12 years of progressive experience in CNC machining and manufacturing operations, with at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or manager role.

Preferred:

  • 8+ years in CNC production environments with proven experience managing multi-shift teams, implementing Lean initiatives, leading ISO/AS9100 audits, and delivering measurable improvements in OEE, on-time delivery, and first-pass yield.
  • Experience in aerospace, medical device, automotive, or precision industrial components manufacturing is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated success with ERP/MRP systems, CAM/CNC toolpath optimization, and capital equipment justification/implementation.
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