Our client is a highly successful division of an ambitious Plc and is the UK’s largest manufacturer of its kind with facilities in South Wales and the North of England. It is admired throughout the industry and boasts a rich heritage and an enviable range of household premium brands which offer high quality, style and innovative design using the latest technologies.
The facility in South Wales is the volume producer for the UK marketplace and provides group manufacturing resource. It has benefited from significant capital investment, has a dedicated, loyal workforce and is well positioned within a marketplace that is poised for significant growth.
An ambitious Plant Manager is sought who will provide the leadership, vision and oversight of all operations for the facility in South Wales and will lead, direct, and control the operations of the site. There is a strong emphasis on driving improvement in operational efficiencies, process, and cost reduction by bringing together a high level of delivery of manufacturing with the customer at the heart of everything in order to achieve short and medium term -term operating objectives in accordance with the overall organisation business plan.
The appointee will contribute to the shaping of operational company strategy and business plans to meet shareholder, customer and employee needs ensuring that all operations, resources, and business activities produce the desired results and are consistent with the overall strategy and mission of the parent company.
You will be supported by a loyal local management team and will be accountable for delivering and developing people, effective and sustainable processes with 4/5 direct reports (c200 indirect) and will play the leading role in shaping the culture of the site in order to support the expectations for future growth, provide direction and guidance whilst setting and upholding the highest standards of ethics and performance.
The Role
- Adopt a systematic approach to control of all operational management activities in order to optimise manufacturing and enhance delivery, quality, and performance
- Provide influential leadership, manage the team with a “can do” approach and play a leading role in formulating a succession plan that affords each individual the potential for development
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence and a “right first time” approach with an emphasis on change management and in encouraging accountability and performance
- Ensure a safe working environment exists consistent with all relevant Health & Safety legislation
- Challenge existing practices and lead from the front in embracing the local management team to develop a responsive, customer focused approach that enhances workforce communication and delivers effective employee relations initiatives that truly promote engagement
- Identify all opportunities for improving productivity and efficiency of the facility by ensuring a robust adherence to standard operating procedures
- Review and monitor production processes and methods in order to ensure that production is equipped to deliver results with clear supporting data/metrics
- Identify issues that may adversely impact on the achievement of capacity and implement solutions that will drive down direct and indirect costs, reduce waste, improve product quality, and optimise operational efficiency in order to enhance overall business profitability
- Support the group supply chain management function with processes and initiatives that ensure the continuity of the timely supply of materials into the facility and close working with outbound logistics
- Work closely with the UK Finance Director on annual budgets, forecasts, targets, and capex requirements with appropriate systems for corrective action, tracking and reporting on key
- Embrace modern techniques and world class standards that improve quality, cost, and delivery
- Initiate projects to develop production technology and improve process capability
- Critically review existing systems, implement data driven procedures, processes & metrics to enhance performance, capacity levels, availability and yield
- Drive through change across inventory management, warehouse fulfilment, engineering, maintenance and process control. Ensure a robust adherence to quality standards (ISO 9001) & HS&E compliance
- Act as the focal point for operational innovation including streamlining and improving efficiencies as well as in identifying any new technologies that may be required to support future growth plans.
- Maintain personal contact and develop close working relationships with other facilities within the manufacturing group, the parent company and strategically important customers
Candidate Profile
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in an engineering or business related discipline
- A proven track record in a safety first culture and the ability to run a profitable cost centre
- Extensive experience of operating within a challenging manufacturing environment
- You may have current/prior experience of working as a Plant or General Manager; this role may also appeal to ambitious individuals who can demonstrate a clear track record of achievement in a senior production, manufacturing, or operations role and are now seeking the next challenge
- A credible leader, influencer and motivator of others:- self-aware, people orientated with an approachable/available style who is able to gain the respect and trust of the team
- A “Change Agent”, who is able to drive progressive cultural change that secures real value and
- Process driven and experienced in driving measurable and sustainable operational improvements and success through the implementation of best-in-class techniques
- Reliable, energetic, resilient, and positive, willing to make improvements and maintain a proactive bias for action and sense of urgency across the facility
- Comfortable working at pace, under pressure and with conflicting priorities
- Able to remain objective, IT & financially literate with an analytical approach to problem solving
- Understands the principles of “good customer service” and has experience of implementing KPI’s, and driving through continuous improvement, process excellence and change management
- Familiar with latest tools and techniques within a manufacturing / engineering environment, including validated understanding and experience of 5S, Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma knowledge
- Can demonstrate and encourage a “can do” approach and provide the inspirational leadership, vision, and expertise to ask the right questions, challenge existing practice and where required, implement robust performance, process, and measurement
- Able to demonstrate credibility at group level with the required reporting, influence, and strategic skills to support the operational development of the site
- Well developed communication skills that can deliver confidence, trust and respect are a pre requisite as is a high level of self-motivation, personal integrity, the ability to make well-reasoned decisions using the best information available and high levels of conduct and ethics
- Valid passport and a full UK Driving Licence
