Production Manager - Cut and Sewing Manufacturing (Turnout Gear)
Full Time • Philadelphia
Responsive recruiter
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Bonus based on performance
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Signing bonus
- Vision insurance
Company Information:
Ricochet is an industry leading manufacturer of sophisticated, high-tech Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that focuses on protection, performance, and comfort. Ricochet has been headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for over 20 years, with all manufacturing and operations located in a single master facility.
Ricochet is an industry leading manufacturer of sophisticated, high-tech Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that focuses on protection, performance, and comfort. Ricochet has been headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for over 20 years, with all manufacturing and operations located in a single master facility.
In addition to serving the United States Military, Ricochet serves customers in multiple sectors of public safety by providing custom engineered PPE including EMS gear for the Philadelphia and Honolulu Fire Departments, Technical Rescue gear to all FDNY Rescue and Squad companies, and structural/turnout gear to multiple Fire Departments throughout the United States and beyond. Ricochet is a long-standing member of FEMSA. For more information, visit ricochet-gear.com.
Job Summary:
The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing the cut and sew operations for turnout gear manufacturing, ensuring efficient production flow, adherence to quality and safety standards, and achievement of productivity targets. This role demands strong leadership, deep knowledge of textile manufacturing, and a commitment to continuous improvement in a regulated environment.
Job Summary:
The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing the cut and sew operations for turnout gear manufacturing, ensuring efficient production flow, adherence to quality and safety standards, and achievement of productivity targets. This role demands strong leadership, deep knowledge of textile manufacturing, and a commitment to continuous improvement in a regulated environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Production Flow & Efficiency
- Plan, coordinate, and monitor the daily production schedule to ensure optimal workflow across cutting, sewing, and finishing stations.
- Balance labor and machine capacity to meet production goals while minimizing bottlenecks and downtime.
- Implement and maintain visual management tools (e.g., production boards, takt time tracking) to monitor real-time progress and adjust resources as needed.
- Collaborate with engineering and planning teams to streamline layout and process flow for maximum throughput.
Productivity & Performance Management
- Set clear productivity targets for each production line and monitor performance against KPIs such as units per labor hour, first-pass yield, and on-time delivery.
- Analyze production data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead daily production meetings to review performance, address issues, and align teams on priorities.
- Develop and execute action plans to recover from missed targets or delays.
Team Leadership
- Analyze production data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead daily production meetings to review performance, address issues, and align teams on priorities.
- Develop and execute action plans to recover from missed targets or delays.
Team Leadership
- Supervise and mentor team leads, sewing operators, cutters, and support staff.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching to improve individual and team output.
- Promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching to improve individual and team output.
- Promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Quality Assurance
- Ensure all garments meet NFPA 1971 standards and internal quality benchmarks.
- Work closely with QA and technical teams to resolve defects and implement corrective actions.
- Work closely with QA and technical teams to resolve defects and implement corrective actions.
Inventory & Materials Coordination
- Monitor material usage and coordinate with procurement to ensure timely availability of fabrics, trims, and components.
- Minimize waste and manage scrap reduction initiatives.
- Minimize waste and manage scrap reduction initiatives.
Compliance & Safety
- Enforce safety protocols and maintain a clean, organized work environment.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and internal safety policies.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and internal safety policies.
Reporting & Communication
- Prepare and present weekly and monthly production reports to senior leadership.
- Communicate effectively across departments to align production with sales forecasts and customer delivery timelines.
- Communicate effectively across departments to align production with sales forecasts and customer delivery timelines.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field (preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in apparel or textile manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
- Experience in turnout gear or protective clothing manufacturing strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of managing production flow and achieving productivity targets.
- Strong understanding of garment construction, sewing techniques, and textile properties.
- Familiarity with NFPA standards and PPE compliance.
- Proficient in production planning software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
- Must have the ability to communicate in Spanish, written and reading the language.
- 5+ years of experience in apparel or textile manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
- Experience in turnout gear or protective clothing manufacturing strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of managing production flow and achieving productivity targets.
- Strong understanding of garment construction, sewing techniques, and textile properties.
- Familiarity with NFPA standards and PPE compliance.
- Proficient in production planning software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
- Must have the ability to communicate in Spanish, written and reading the language.
Working Conditions:
- Manufacturing floor environment with exposure to machinery, fabrics, and PPE components.
- May require standing for extended periods and occasional lifting.
- Fast-paced, deadline-driven atmosphere.
- May require standing for extended periods and occasional lifting.
- Fast-paced, deadline-driven atmosphere.
Compensation: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
About Us
Proudly Made in the USA
Ricochet is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has more than 25 years of experience producing sophisticated, high-tech gear for the rigorous and specialized needs of the military, industrial chemical workers and emergency first responders. Ricochet's home office and manufacturing are located in a historic factory building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home to a strong workforce of highly experienced and dedicated employees.
Ricochet is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has more than 25 years of experience producing sophisticated, high-tech gear for the rigorous and specialized needs of the military, industrial chemical workers and emergency first responders. Ricochet's home office and manufacturing are located in a historic factory building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home to a strong workforce of highly experienced and dedicated employees.
Our Experience
Our extensive experience has helped us develop the skills, knowledge, and proven manufacturing techniques to provide the ultimate in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for emergency first responders, involved in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), technical rescue and fire fighting.
Our extensive experience has helped us develop the skills, knowledge, and proven manufacturing techniques to provide the ultimate in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for emergency first responders, involved in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), technical rescue and fire fighting.
Protecting First Responders
We take our responsibility of protecting Emergency First Responders very seriously. As tough as NFPA standards are, being just good enough to meet NFPA certification is not good enough for us. We engineer clothing that goes above and beyond the requirements of NFPA 1999 (EMS), 1951(Tech Rescue), and 1971 (Structural Firefighting).
Our Service
We create value for our users by offering top-quality protective clothing with extensive options for customization at very competitive prices. From the selection of fabrics to the sealed seams to the type of stitching, every detail is engineered to meet the needs of the wearer for ultimate protection, comfort, and mobility. Ricochet is an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. We strive to provide industry-leading customer service and delivery times on all of our protective clothing.
We take our responsibility of protecting Emergency First Responders very seriously. As tough as NFPA standards are, being just good enough to meet NFPA certification is not good enough for us. We engineer clothing that goes above and beyond the requirements of NFPA 1999 (EMS), 1951(Tech Rescue), and 1971 (Structural Firefighting).
Our Service
We create value for our users by offering top-quality protective clothing with extensive options for customization at very competitive prices. From the selection of fabrics to the sealed seams to the type of stitching, every detail is engineered to meet the needs of the wearer for ultimate protection, comfort, and mobility. Ricochet is an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. We strive to provide industry-leading customer service and delivery times on all of our protective clothing.
Engineered for Comfort + Fit
Designed for greater flexibility, comfort, and performance. Ricochet has developed patterning innovations throughout all of the layers of your gear that work with the dynamics of your body - reducing heat stress, hobbling, and fatigue and providing a greater range of motion. All of our gear is custom-built because proper fit lowers the risk of exhaustion and increases safety.
Designed for greater flexibility, comfort, and performance. Ricochet has developed patterning innovations throughout all of the layers of your gear that work with the dynamics of your body - reducing heat stress, hobbling, and fatigue and providing a greater range of motion. All of our gear is custom-built because proper fit lowers the risk of exhaustion and increases safety.
Quality + Value by Design
Ricochet provides our customers with numerous choices of layered fabric systems, designed for durability, protection, and breathability. We make protective clothing that is comfortable, long-lasting, highly customizable and competitively priced. Check out our Rapid Turnaround line to find custom turnouts built to your specifications (not just pulled from a shelf) and guaranteed to fit right in a matter of weeks, not months.
Ricochet provides our customers with numerous choices of layered fabric systems, designed for durability, protection, and breathability. We make protective clothing that is comfortable, long-lasting, highly customizable and competitively priced. Check out our Rapid Turnaround line to find custom turnouts built to your specifications (not just pulled from a shelf) and guaranteed to fit right in a matter of weeks, not months.
Apply here.
