Production Controller
POSITION SUMMARY
The Production Controller / CNC Operator supports the safe, efficient, and predictable execution of steel fabrication by combining hands-on CNC machine operation with daily production planning and control. Serving as the link between the production plan and shop-floor execution, this role operates assigned CNC equipment while coordinating priorities, verifying material and drawing readiness, sequencing work, tracking work-in-process, and communicating constraints that could affect scheduled commitments. In partnership with Production Leadership, SIOP, Detailing, Procurement, Quality, and other fabrication team members, the position helps ensure the shop is focused on the right priorities at the right time. The role maintains accurate visibility into production status, identifies execution barriers, and supports adjustments to the production plan based on actual shop conditions. Success requires strong CNC operating skills, knowledge of steel fabrication processes, attention to detail, production-planning discipline, and the ability to coordinate priorities effectively across multiple stakeholders.
RESPONSIBILITIES
CNC OPERATION AND FABRICATION
- Safely set up, operate, and monitor CNC fabrication equipment in accordance with established procedures.
- Interpret shop drawings, fabrication details, cut lists, CNC files, and production documentation.
- Verify material, programs, tooling, and documentation are available prior to beginning production.
- Perform machine setup, loading, operation, and routine adjustments necessary to maintain production.
- Monitor machine performance and identify equipment, programming, material, or quality issues.
- Perform required in-process inspections and verify fabricated components meet drawing and quality requirements.
- Maintain accurate production quantities, completion status, scrap, rework, and other required production information.
- Maintain CNC equipment and work areas in accordance with safety, housekeeping, and preventative maintenance expectations.
PRODUCTION CONTROL AND COORDINATION
- Support development and execution of daily and weekly production plans.
- Translate production schedules into clear shop-floor priorities and work sequences.
- Coordinate production sequencing based on project priorities, material availability, drawing readiness, machine capacity, labor availability, and downstream requirements.
- Confirm work packages are production-ready before scheduled fabrication.
- Track work-in-process from release through completion and provide accurate status updates.
- Identify production constraints, schedule risks, missing information, or competing priorities that could prevent execution of the plan.
- Escalate constraints to the appropriate functional or production leader for resolution.
- Support adjustments to production priorities when actual shop conditions deviate from the plan.
- Help maintain alignment between the production schedule and actual shop-floor execution.
PRODUCTION READINESS
- Verify drawings, material, CNC programs, tooling, quality requirements, and other necessary inputs are available before work is released.
- Coordinate with Detailing and CNC Programming to resolve drawing or programming issues.
- Coordinate with Procurement and Material teams when required material is unavailable or incorrect.
- Coordinate with Quality to ensure inspection requirements and hold points are understood.
- Identify upcoming production needs early enough to prevent avoidable downtime.
- Maintain visibility of work that is ready, not ready, in process, completed, or blocked.
SCHEDULE & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
- Track actual production progress against daily and weekly production plans.
- Maintain accurate production status within established production control systems and tools.
- Communicate completed work, remaining work, constraints, and expected completion dates.
- Support production meetings with current information regarding machine capacity, WIP, schedule status, and production risks.
- Identify schedule variance and support development of recovery actions.
- Monitor productivity, utilization, downtime, quality, and other applicable production metrics.
- Provide feedback on actual production durations to improve future planning and scheduling accuracy.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COORDINATION
- Work closely with Production Leadership and SIOP to align shop execution with project commitments.
- Coordinate with Detailing, Procurement, Material Management, Quality, Logistics, and other fabrication functions as required.
- Communicate changes in production sequence or status to impacted stakeholders.
- Participate in daily production meetings and other planning meetings as required.
- Ensure production information accurately reflects current shop conditions rather than relying solely on planned dates.
- Promote clear handoffs between upstream planning activities and downstream fabrication activities.
SAFETY, QUALITY & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
- Perform all work in accordance with McCarthy safety requirements and established fabrication procedures.
- Stop and escalate work when unsafe conditions or quality concerns are identified.
- Support root-cause identification for recurring production constraints, downtime, rework, and schedule misses.
- Participate in continuous improvement activities focused on production flow, machine utilization, quality, and schedule reliability.
- Help standardize production control practices and CNC operating processes.
- Maintain an organized work environment that supports safe and efficient production.
QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or equivalent required; technical or vocational training in CNC machining, manufacturing, welding, fabrication, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3+ years of experience operating CNC equipment in a manufacturing or fabrication environment preferred.
- Structural steel fabrication experience strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of CNC machine setup, operation, tooling, programs, and basic troubleshooting.
- Ability to read and interpret fabrication drawings, shop drawings, cut lists, and production documentation.
- Understanding of production sequencing, work-in-process, capacity, and manufacturing workflow.
- Ability to coordinate multiple production priorities and communicate changes effectively.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to identify production constraints and proactively escalate issues.
- Comfortable using computers and production tracking systems to maintain accurate status information.
- Experience with Tekla PowerFab, Tekla Structures, CNC programming software, Smartsheet, Microsoft Office, or similar fabrication and production systems preferred.
- Working knowledge of structural steel fabrication quality requirements and AISC standards preferred.
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Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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