Lead Production Team: Safety, Quality & Lean

Whittan Industrial Limited; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Whittan Group is seeking an experienced Production Team Leader to join the Operations team. You will lead a 10-20 strong production crew, ensuring safe, efficient, high‑quality manufacturing and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will drive KPIs, support recruitment and training, and develop a skilled, engaged workforce within a lean environment focused on safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising production teams in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements within manufacturing.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions under pressure.
• Proficiency reading engineering drawings and understanding automated manufacturing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Organise and supervise daily production activities to meet manufacturing schedules.
• Ensure production targets and KPIs are achieved safely and efficiently.
• Allocate labour and resources effectively across production lines.
• Monitor workflow, resolve operational issues, and minimise downtime.
• Support the timely delivery of customer orders.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of production operatives.
• Conduct daily team briefings and communicate business objectives.
• Monitor performance and provide coaching and support.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training activities.
• Manage attendance, holidays, probation reviews, and employee conduct in line with company policies.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Communication

Problem solving

Team development

Continuous improvement

Reading engineering drawings

Lean Manufacturing

Safety awareness

Education

IOSH Managing Safely

FLT Licence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Production reporting systems

Job description

The Whittan Group is seeking an experienced Production Team Leader to join the Operations team. You will lead a 10-20 strong production crew, ensuring safe, efficient, high‑quality manufacturing and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will drive KPIs, support recruitment and training, and develop a skilled, engaged workforce within a lean environment focused on safety and quality.