Production Manager

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing overall manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, cost-effective, and on-time production while meeting quality standards and customer requirements. The role drives operational excellence, continuous improvement, people development, and effective utilization of equipment and resources to achieve business and operational targets.

Role and Responsibilities

1. Production Planning & Control

1.1 Develop and manage production resources to maximize operational efficiency and ensure production schedules are achieved in line with customer orders and requirements.

1.2 Monitor and control internal production processes to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency meet company targets.

1.3 Optimize operational workflows and material flow to ensure balanced production, eliminate bottlenecks, and minimize the 7 Wastes throughout the operations.

2. Quality & Compliance

2.1 Implement, maintain, and ensure compliance with food safety and quality management systems, including GMP, HACCP, FSSC 22000, and other applicable standards.

2.2 Ensure compliance with local and international food packaging safety regulations and company requirements.

2.3 Support and oversee internal and external audits, ensuring non-conformities are properly addressed through effective corrective and preventive actions.

3. Process Improvement & Data Analytics

3.1 Maintain a strong hands-on presence on the shop floor to identify operational gaps, improvement opportunities, and potential risks.

3.2 Drive a data-driven operational culture by analyzing production performance and identifying root causes in collaboration with relevant functions using appropriate problem-solving tools.

3.3 Develop and implement effective solutions to operational problems and ensure corrective and improvement actions are completed effectively and on time.

3.4 Implement appropriate process control and error-proofing tools, such as Poka-Yoke, to standardize and sustain best practices in operations.

3.5 Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and other appropriate methodologies to improve productivity, quality, cost, and operational efficiency.

4. Operations Management

4.1 Control material flow across all production processes to maintain planned capacity and ensure smooth operations.

4.2 Manage inventory levels across raw materials, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods to maintain an appropriate balance throughout the production process.

4.3 Plan and prepare manpower, materials, equipment, and other required resources in advance to ensure production activities are executed according to plan.

4.4 Monitor key production performance indicators, including productivity, efficiency, yield, waste, downtime, and delivery performance, and take appropriate actions when performance deviates from targets.

5. People & Team Management

5.1 Lead, manage, and motivate production teams, including supervisors, team leaders, and production employees, to achieve operational objectives.

5.2 Evaluate, coach, mentor, and develop subordinates to improve individual and team capabilities and performance.

5.3 Identify training and development needs and provide appropriate development programs to strengthen technical skills, operational capability, and compliance awareness.

5.4 Foster a strong safety-, quality-, performance-, and continuous improvement-oriented workplace culture.

5.5 Build employee engagement, teamwork, accountability, and ownership within the production organization.

6. Equipment & Maintenance Coordination

6.1 Coordinate with Engineering and Maintenance teams on preventive and corrective maintenance activities to ensure equipment availability, reliability, and optimal operating conditions.

6.2 Identify opportunities for process improvement, equipment modification, automation, and technology upgrades to improve productivity, quality, reliability, and operational efficiency.

6.3 Support root cause analysis of equipment-related production losses and work with Engineering and Maintenance teams to prevent recurrence.

7. Cost & Budget Control

7.1 Monitor and control production costs to ensure operations are managed within the approved budget and cost targets.

7.2 Analyze production data to optimize raw material utilization, improve yield, minimize scrap and waste, and reduce operational costs.

7.3 Identify and implement cost-saving and productivity improvement opportunities without compromising safety, quality, or customer requirements.

8. Safety & Environmental Management

8.1 Enforce workplace safety policies, procedures, and safe working practices with the objective of achieving zero accidents.

8.2 Ensure production activities comply with applicable environmental regulations, company policies, and corporate requirements.

8.3 Promote proactive safety awareness, risk identification, and corrective actions throughout production operations.

9. Communication & Cross-Functional Coordination

9.1 Coordinate effectively with Procurement, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Sales, and other relevant functions to ensure smooth and effective operations.

9.2 Participate in management meetings and provide operational performance updates, key issues, improvement plans, and strategic recommendations.

9.3 Escalate significant operational risks, production constraints, quality issues, and resource requirements to management in a timely manner.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, preferably in Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or a related field.
2. Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, including at least 5 years in Production Management, Operations Management, or Operational Excellence roles.
3. Experience in food & beverage packaging, metal can manufacturing, or FMCG manufacturing is highly advantageous.
4. Experience in manufacturing processes such as sheet metal forming, welding, stamping, pressing, printing, and coating is an advantage.
5. Good knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis, and other continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.
6. Strong leadership, people management, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills.
7. Strong understanding of production planning, process control, productivity improvement, cost management, and manufacturing performance management.
8. Proficiency in MS Office with strong presentation skills; experience with data analysis tools such as Advanced Excel, Power BI, Minitab, or equivalent is an advantage.
9. Results-oriented and detail-oriented, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively across functions.
10. Strong hands-on leadership with the ability to work effectively on the shop floor and drive operational improvements.
11. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, and deliver results within agreed timelines.
12. Good command of both spoken and written English is required.