Overlanders Manufacturing is a leading precision sheet metal manufacturer based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Since 1978, we have built a reputation for delivering high-quality custom fabrication solutions for customers across a diverse range of industries. As an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and subsidiary of Exchange Income Corporation, we offer the stability of an established organization coupled with a culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement.

Together, our team works to deliver exceptional products, build strong customer partnerships, and contribute to the success of industries across North America.

Build more than a career at Overlanders. Join a team where your contributions matter, quality craftsmanship is valued, and continuous improvement drives everything we do.

Join our team as an Operations Manager. In this leadership role, you will oversee daily manufacturing operations across our sheet metal production and powder coating facilities, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production. You will lead supervisors, lead hands, maintenance, and production teams to achieve operational goals while driving productivity, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications and Skills

- Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and people-management skills.
- Technical background in sheet metal fabrication, machining, or manufacturing.
- Strong problem-solving, planning, and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to analyze production capacity, bottlenecks, labour efficiency, quality, and delivery performance using ERP, Excel, and other business tools.
- Experience leading continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
- Knowledge of punching, laser cutting, and bending technologies is considered an asset.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

- Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and drive achievement of safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and continuous improvement objectives.
- Establish priorities, monitor performance, communicate expectations, and drive team accountability for results.
- Lead daily production management activities, production meetings, operational planning, and process improvement initiatives.




- Maintain visibility of operational performance, risks, corrective actions, and key business metrics.

People Leadership

- Lead, coach, develop, and manage Supervisors, Lead Hands, Maintenance, and Production employees.
- Ensure appropriate staffing, workforce deployment, employee development, cross-training, succession planning, and performance management.
- Participate in hiring, compensation reviews, disciplinary actions, and employee development activities.
- Ensure employees have the resources, equipment, information, drawings, PPE, and training required to perform their jobs safely and effectively.
- Ensure effective communication, shift handovers, and escalation processes across departments and shifts.

Production, Capacity & Delivery

- Develop and execute production plans with Scheduling to meet customer commitments.
- Maximize labour productivity, equipment utilization, throughput, material yield, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure production is performed using current drawings, work instructions, routings, and approved manufacturing processes.
- Identify and eliminate bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and workflow inefficiencies.
- Develop and execute recovery plans when delivery commitments are at risk, including schedule adjustments, labour reallocation, overtime, process improvements, and qualified outsourcing.
- Maintain contingency plans for equipment failures, labour shortages, supplier disruptions, and other operational risks.
- Escalate significant operational, capacity, or delivery risks with recommended solutions.

Safety, Quality & Maintenance

- Maintain accountability for workplace safety, product quality, equipment readiness, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, ISO requirements, Quality Procedures, Safety Procedures, and Lean Manufacturing practices.




- Support safety and quality teams in the investigation and closure of incidents, near misses, equipment damage, quality issues, and corrective actions.
- Support root-cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Oversee maintenance planning and preventive maintenance activities to support production requirements.
- Conduct regular shop-floor audits and floor walks to verify safety, quality, housekeeping, and operational standards.

Accountability & Continuous Improvement

- Own operational issues through the management structure and ensure timely resolution at the appropriate level.
- Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost control, standard work, 5S, and visual management.
- Ensure ERP, labour, production, scrap, downtime, and job-status data are accurate and timely.
- Monitor and communicate operational performance, including contribution, quality, delivery, staffing, maintenance, and improvement initiatives.
- Bring recommendations and solutions, not only problems, to leadership.

Secondary Responsibilities

- Support capital projects, facility improvements, equipment purchases, and special projects.
- Assist with customer, supplier, and auditor visits.
- Participate in cross-functional initiatives involving Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Sales, and Finance.
- Provide leadership coverage during management absences as required.

Why Join Our Team?

At Overlanders Manufacturing, our people are the foundation of our success. We offer a supportive workplace where employees can build rewarding careers, develop their skills, and take pride in meaningful work. When you join Overlanders, you can expect:

- Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement
- Supportive and collaborative team setting
- Stable, long-term employment with a well-established company
- A culture focused on learning and continuous improvement
- A workplace built on teamwork, respect, and pride in a job well done
- The opportunity to make an impact and contribute to our success

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for interview will be contacted.

📌 Operations Manager (Abbotsford)
🏢 Overlanders Manufacturing
📍 Abbotsford