The Company

Our client is an award-winning design and manufacturing business and world leader in packaging innovation and technology. They design, develop and build cutting edge machinery that delivers, applies, and seals unique foil closures to all manner of products. For a century they have built a trusted reputation for providing innovative and creative solutions to the biggest brands in the food, beverage, pharma and personal care industries

The Position

They are currently seeking a proactive and focused individual to take on the role of Production Manager within their organisation. This is an engaging role that would fit a highly driven, hands-on professional with a solid background in managerial roles within precision engineering, custom manufacturing, or capital equipment sectors. The successful applicant will oversee a team of 10-15 members, including Production and Stores staff, at their Kempston-based facility.

Role Responsibilities

• Production planning, liaising extensively across departments. Monitoring and controlling all production activities and resources to achieve the planned program effectively and efficiently.
• Regularly liaise with the CEO and Head of Commercial to digest customer requirements and implement specific build requirements in a planned and methodical manner.
• Proactively manage and implement continuous improvements in the Production team to ensure excellent standards are maintained, controlling costs, material usage and overtime.
• Carry out periodic reviews of outstanding orders to ensure validity, rescheduling or cancelling as appropriate. Coordinate the impact in Production, particularly in respect to material identified as surplus to requirements is returned to stock.
• Produce and present data, KPIs and reports for the management team.
• Responsible for leading setting up and testing of completed machines in readiness for final testing.
• Regular liaison with the Commercial and Service departments to ensure the smooth running of all customer visits and FATs and that any production specific documentation is in place.
• Proactively liaise across departments, highlighting any supplier, purchasing, BOM or drawing issues.
• Maintain accurate production records, such as weekly timesheets.
• Input relevant data into the ERP system and assist with the successful implementation of the ERP system within the Production team.

• Ensure good housekeeping and organisation of the shopfloor environment.
• Promote excellent Health & Safety activities across the shopfloor.

• Carry out such other tasks as may from time to time be requested within the competence of the jobholder.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Experience working within a precision engineering or bespoke manufacturing environment
• Experience of managing people
• Hands on Engineering or technical experience
• Proficient in Microsoft office – Word and Excel
• Experience of working with ERP/MRP systems

Person specification

• Confident and assertive
• Desire to improve processes and ensure efficiencies
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills
• Methodical, detailed, and precise in nature with a planned and organised approach
• Strong attention to detail
• Level-headed, logical and hands on
• Proactive, collaborative, and solution-focused
• Is comfortable being held accountable
• Ability to multi-task and achieve deadlines