Operations Manager  - Suffolk

(Mechanical equipment manufacturing)

Reporting to the Managing Director, the role of the Operations Manager is to provide high level leadership to Managers and supervisors covering all manufacturing aspects of the business including procurement, production planning, subcontract, health and safety and stores. The key challenge is to maintain production within specific guidelines for production efficiency, labour cost, and control of inventory and to operate safely and efficiently within pre-agreed time and output schedules.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Responsible for daily operations; providing leadership, focus and direction to the site operations team.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate the manufacturing of products in compliance with company goals and objectives.
• Implement/sustain key performance indicators and business performance metrics.
• Monitor ongoing manufacturing performance and pro-actively manage workloads to maintain a planned schedule.
• Monitor delivery and inventory issues and generate solutions to problems identified.
• Participate actively in standardisation, cost reduction, and ERP system protocols.
• Lead other managers in the provision and execution of operating strategies and plans.
• Organise and direct workflow to satisfy production requirements in a cost-efficient manner.
• Liaise with the Sales Director on planning and predicting customer orders to satisfy shipments.
• Oversee the entire day to day production operation.
• Liaise with the design team manager to ensure that products are designed in a way that maximises manufacturing efficiency.

Quality and Innovation

• Establish and control conditions of production to satisfy customer and quality specifications.
• Work with Supervisors and Quality Control staff to ensure that robust quality control processes are put into effect and followed.
• Identify and develop cost-effective alternatives and improvements to production processes.
• Continually monitor new manufacturing methods, processes and materials and propose updates that may provide a benefit to the business, including exploring and overseeing the implementation of robotics and automation solutions where relevant.

People and Safety

• Drive a coordinated and engaged team culture within the production team working together to take the business forward
• Maintain employee safety by creating safe working practices and nurturing a “safety first” culture.
• Maintain optimum resource levels through effective recruitment, selection and training, along with the development and retention of internal talent.
• Work with Supervisors to ensure that appropriate training is available and utilised.

Skills and Specifications

• Production and Engineering experience is essential at site leadership level in manufacturing
• High-level leadership and decision-making skills.
• Able to lead, motivate, influence, and train people.
• Able to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Working knowledge and experience of modern ERP and capacity planning software

The successful applicant will be responsible for driving the operations of this manufacturing facility and will require an eye for detail across All manufacturing operations including machine shop, weld, paint and assembly.

To apply for this role, you will ideally have:

• Operations experience in manufacturing
• A degree or equivalent qualification in manufacturing / engineering.
• Understanding of assembly, fabrication, engineering and production environments
• Experience leading multi-disciplined teams
• An eye for innovation
• Proven leadership ability

This is an opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager / Head of Operations who thrives on a challenge but someone who can see the bigger picture and feels at home walking the shop floor and driving those marginal gains.