Production Manager
Position Overview
The Production Manager will be responsible for leading and managing production operations to achieve production targets while optimizing costs, maintaining established quality standards, and ensuring on-time delivery.
This position will oversee production resources, processes, personnel, equipment, and cross-functional support activities to ensure operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The Production Manager will play a key leadership role in driving continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing initiatives, quality performance, safety, and employee development.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an experienced manufacturing leader with strong knowledge of plastic injection molding, production management, and operational excellence.
This individual should be a hands-on leader capable of working closely with supervisors, process technicians, maintenance, quality, planning, warehouse, human resources, and other support functions. The successful candidate will combine strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to motivate teams, solve production problems, improve processes, and consistently deliver results.
A strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SMED, IATF 16949, production KPIs, and injection molding processes will be highly valued.
Confidential Opportunity: Company name and identifying information will be disclosed during the recruitment process.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead production operations to achieve established production, quality, cost, delivery, and efficiency objectives.
- Coordinate activities with all supporting departments, including Warehouse, Tool Room, Maintenance, Human Resources, Quality, and Planning, to ensure production requirements are met.
- Ensure timely availability of materials and components for production.
- Coordinate with the Tool Room to ensure mold is available according to production requirements.
- Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure the availability and reliability of production equipment and machinery.
- Work closely with Human Resources to ensure adequate staffing and appropriate training for production personnel.
- Manage the weekly production schedule in coordination with the Planning department.
- Optimize production flexibility and line capacity to respond effectively to fluctuations in customer demand.
- Ensure strict compliance with company standards, procedures, work instructions, and operating criteria.
- Support the implementation and maintenance of the Quality Management System.
- Monitor and optimize operating systems and processes, including the implementation and effectiveness of self-inspection programs.
- Establish and maintain production standards across manufacturing lines.
- Reduce production changeover times through the effective application of SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) methodology.
- Monitor and evaluate work methods, machinery utilization, and equipment performance.
- Implement and maintain workplace health and safety systems and practices.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and technical support to Production Supervisors in solving operational and production-related issues.
- Provide support to Process Technicians in troubleshooting injection molding processes.
- Develop and motivate production personnel, with a strong focus on building self-directed and high-performing teams.
- Lead the implementation of operational excellence methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement tools.
- Ensure production personnel comply with the requirements of IATF 16949:2016.
- Support and monitor industrial expansion, modernization, and capital improvement projects.
- Participate in continuous improvement teams and cross-functional improvement initiatives.
- Lead and maintain evidence of daily production meetings with representatives from relevant departments.
- Utilize IQMS throughout production activities, including scheduling, real-time production monitoring, shift reporting, preventive maintenance modules, and other applicable functions.
- Monitor and achieve established production and quality metrics.
General Management Responsibilities
- Establish priorities in collaboration with General Management based on customer requirements, while maintaining a strong focus on service, quality, and on-time delivery.
- Ensure effective communication of production-related information throughout all organizational levels.
- Maintain product quality standards and ensure customer requirements are consistently met.
- Communicate performance expectations clearly and provide timely and constructive feedback to employees.
- Monitor and report production results through shift production summaries and performance reports.
- Train, coach, guide, and, when necessary, apply appropriate disciplinary actions to production personnel.
- Identify and develop career growth opportunities for employees.
- Promote a clean, organized, and safe working environment.
- Ensure employees understand and properly use required equipment, tools, and work areas.
- Monitor and measure operational efficiency, including scrap, downtime, productivity, and other key performance indicators.
- Promote effective communication at all organizational levels.
- Ensure that all production lines comply with customer quality requirements through effective implementation of the self-inspection program.
- Conduct regular safety and quality floor walks to verify compliance and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Perform periodic quality reviews of active production lines.
- Establish, monitor, and promote departmental quality objectives and performance indicators.
- Support the identification and resolution of production-related problems.
- Promote and maintain the 5S program within production areas.
- Ensure compliance with applicable quality management system procedures and requirements under IATF 16949:2016.
- Support compliance with applicable environmental management system requirements under ISO 14001:2015.
- Promote environmental awareness and compliance with established environmental objectives and procedures.
Health, Safety & Environmental Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with company policies, internal work regulations, and applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements.
- Ensure employees follow safety instructions, warning signs, labels, and established operating procedures.
- Ensure the proper use of required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) within production areas.
- Promote a strong safety culture and proactively identify and address unsafe conditions and behaviors.
- Support environmental initiatives and continuous improvement related to workplace safety and environmental performance.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering is preferred.
- Other relevant university degrees may be considered based on experience and technical qualifications.
Experience
- Minimum 4 years of experience in a similar production management role, or extensive experience of up to 10 years in a comparable position.
- Strong experience in plastic injection molding manufacturing is highly preferred.
- Experience managing production teams in an industrial/manufacturing environment.
- Experience with production planning, process optimization, quality systems, and continuous improvement.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies is preferred.
- Experience with IQMS is highly desirable.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of plastic injection molding processes.
- Production planning and scheduling.
- Manufacturing process optimization.
- Scrap and downtime analysis.
- Production metrics and KPI management.
- Problem-solving and root cause analysis.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of SMED and changeover reduction techniques.
- Familiarity with IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 14001:2015.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Experience using ERP/MES systems; IQMS experience is strongly preferred.
Language
- Advanced English / Bilingual — minimum 85%, mandatory.
Core Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to analyze production data and identify improvement opportunities.
- Strong decision-making capabilities.
- Leadership and team development.
- Ability to manage multifunctional teams.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Results-oriented mindset.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple operational demands.
- Proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Key Performance Focus
The position has a direct impact on the organization's ability to meet customer requirements in terms of quality, delivery, cost, and service.
The Production Manager will also be responsible for maintaining high standards of workplace safety, environmental compliance, employee engagement and retention, operational discipline, productivity, and continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing operation.