Roles and Responsibilities
The Production Manager’s role is the ultimate presence on the factory floor to drive operational strategy, ensure the plant is running smoothly, uphold the operating standards in the plant and motivates the workforce through visibility, direct contact and fostering a supportive work environment.

Key Responsibilities
• Direct and oversee the management of Production Supervisor’s activities on all shifts and ensure overall performance objectives are achieved.
• Enforces strict discipline necessary to ensure that daily operational activities are conducted effectively, and day-to-day problems are solved and contained by taking a strong lead during the daily planning meetings.
• Plans, coordinates and controls production related activities on site to meet objectives and budgets with regard to HSE, quality, service and cost. Contributes to successful product and volume reallocations.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly work environment that makes it easier to identify system bottlenecks and constraints which is managed through a key understanding and appreciation of Lean Six Sigma operating principles aided by the implementation of a comprehensive housekeeping plan.
• Manage the movement and accuracy of all materials; from the receipt of raw materials to the shipping of finished products taking full ownership of stock counts, rejects, yields and losses attributed to the material handling process.
• Co-develops and executes plans related to improving HSE, quality, service and costs in conjunction with multidisciplinary management peers including: engineering, maintenance, technical, HSE and quality departments.
• Participates in the definition & execution (where relevant) of capital investments for production related activities and equipment.
• Works with the technical R&D team to enable new product initiatives and the optimisation of existing products to reduce wasteful operational delays.
• Enables and contributes to the implementation of continuous improvement activities & programs for HSE, quality, or other as may be assigned from time-to-time by senior management.
• Is familiar and complies with all the applicable corporate as well as site and laboratory policies/procedures with regard to personal conduct, HSE, ISO, OHS Act and regulatory standards.

Requirements
• BSc / BTech / NDip Chemical or Industrial Engineering from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Must have proven ability to lead and drive change through continuous improvement projects reinforced by a minimum of 10+ years’ work experience in a similar production managerial role.
• Ability to identify, scope, define and implement significant continuous improvement projects to dramatically improve the performance of a complex batching environment supported with the daily, weekly & monthly implementation of KPI metrics.
• Prior experience overseeing a paint, gelcoat, varnish or similar chemical processing plant will be an advantage.
• Prior experience of modernising an old plant to incorporate the latest automation technologies including PLC, SCADA, data analysis, report writing and digital performance dashboard implementation.
• Ability to manage complex interdependent batching processes with varying batch sizes (ranging from 5kg to 25,000-kg) and limited resource availability.