Production Manager

Drumgrange Ltd; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Drumgrange Ltd is seeking a Production Manager to lead the production and test teams in a defence electronics environment. You will translate business and project requirements into effective production plans, manage resources and drive continuous improvement to meet schedules and quality standards.

You will ensure compliance with defence standards, customer specifications and ISO quality systems while developing manufacturing capability and leading a multidisciplinary team to deliver

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Production Manager or senior manufacturing management role.
• Experience in electronics manufacturing, engineering or complex assembly environments.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling and resource management.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary manufacturing teams.
• Good understanding of quality management systems and manufacturing compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage production plans to meet customer delivery schedules and contractual milestones.
• Coordinate production activities across electronic assembly, integration, testing and final inspection.
• Monitor production performance against schedules and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure resources, labour, equipment and materials are effectively planned and utilized.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering and Project Management for production readiness.
• Lead and develop production teams and communicate objectives and performance expectations.
• Support NPI, manufacturing readiness reviews and production ramp-up activities.
• Ensure control of documents, BOMs and work instructions to support production.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Problem solving

Quality management

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the production and test team, ensuring that electronic products and systems are manufactured safely, efficiently, to the required quality standards and delivered in accordance with customer and contractual commitments.

Working within a highly regulated defence and electronics manufacturing environment, the role is responsible for translating business and project requirements into effective production plans, managing resources, developing manufacturing capability and driving continuous improvement.

The Production Manager will ensure that production activities comply with applicable defence industry standards, customer specifications, quality management systems and company procedures.

The role requires strong leadership, operational management and problem-solving capabilities, together with an understanding of electronics manufacturing and the demands of delivering products into the defence sector.

Responsibilities

Production Planning and Delivery

• Work with the production scheduler to develop, implement and manage production plans [JF3.1]to meet customer delivery schedules, contractual milestones and business objectives.
• Work with the production scheduler to ensure effective coordination of production activities across electronic assembly, integration, testing and final inspection.
• Monitor production performance against agreed schedules, identifying potential delays and implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure manufacturing resources, labour, equipment and materials are effectively planned and utilised.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering and Project Management to ensure production readiness and material availability.
• Work with the production scheduler to manage production priorities in response to changing customer requirements and business demands.[JF4.1]
• Ensure products are manufactured in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, bills of materials and work instructions.

Leadership and People Management

• Provide strong leadership, direction and support to production personnel, supervisors and team leaders.
• Establish clear objectives, responsibilities and performance expectations across the production team.
• Develop a culture of accountability, teamwork, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Identify skills gaps and training requirements, ensuring employees are appropriately trained and competent.
• Conduct performance reviews, support employee development and manage performance issues where necessary.
• Ensure appropriate succession planning and development of future production leaders.
• Promote effective communication and engagement across the manufacturing operation.

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure all manufacturing activities comply with company quality management systems and applicable defence industry requirements.
• Maintain high standards of workmanship, product quality, traceability and configuration control.
• Ensure adherence to relevant customer specifications, contractual requirements and approved manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance to investigate non-conformances, implement corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
• Promote a right-first-time manufacturing culture, reducing defects, rework and scrap.
• Ensure appropriate control of inspection, test records, manufacturing documentation and product release activities.
• Support internal, external and customer audits as required.

Operational Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Establish, monitor and report key production performance indicators (KPIs).
• Drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, manufacturing capacity and overall equipment utilisation.
• Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks, waste and process inefficiencies.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and improve manufacturing costs, labour efficiency, yield and on-time delivery performance.
• Encourage employee involvement in identifying and implementing operational improvements.
• Ensure production processes remain effective as products evolve and manufacturing volumes change.

Health, Safety and Environmental Management

• Ensure a safe working environment across all production areas.
• Ensure compliance with company health and safety policies and relevant statutory requirements.
• Promote a proactive safety culture, ensuring risks are identified, assessed and appropriately controlled.
• Ensure production equipment, tools and facilities are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition.
• Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Promote good housekeeping and appropriate environmental practices.

Engineering and Technical Coordination

• Work closely with Engineering to ensure new products and design changes can be effectively introduced into production.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing readiness reviews and production ramp-up activities.
• Ensure manufacturing processes, tooling, test equipment and documentation are suitable for production requirements.
• Support production engineer to manage the implementation of engineering changes, ensuring appropriate configuration and revision control.[JF5.1]
• Support the resolution of technical and manufacturing issues affecting production performance.
• Support production engineer to ensure effective feedback from manufacturing is provided to Engineering to improve product design, manufacturability and reliability.[JF6.1]

Defence Industry and Business Compliance

• Ensure production activities are conducted in accordance with applicable defence customer requirements and contractual obligations.
• Maintain appropriate levels of product security, confidentiality and protection of commercially sensitive information.
• Ensure compliance with applicable [JF7.1]security and defence-related regulatory requirements.
• Support compliance with relevant industry standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and applicable IPC workmanship standards, as relevant to the business.
• Ensure personnel understand and comply with relevant security, quality and operational procedures.
• Support customer visits, inspections and audits where required.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Proven experience in a Production Manager or senior manufacturing management role.

• Experience working within an electronics manufacturing, engineering or complex assembly environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling and resource management. There is a Production scheduler in the team
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary manufacturing teams.
• Good understanding of quality management systems and manufacturing compliance.
• Demonstrable experience of driving operational improvements and improving manufacturing performance.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against demanding production schedules.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of manufacturing costs and operational budgets.

Experience within the defence, aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing sectors.

• Knowledge of electronics assembly, PCB manufacturing, cable and harness assembly, system integration and electronic testing.
• Familiarity with IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620 and J-STD-001 standards, as applicable.
• Understanding of ISO 9001 and defence quality requirements, including AS9100 where applicable.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning tools.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction and production transfer activities.

Personal Attributes

• Relevant qualification in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Management or leadership qualifications would be advantageous.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or continuous improvement training would be beneficial.
• Relevant health and safety management training.
• Relevant electronics manufacturing and quality standards training.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership with the ability to motivate and develop people.
• A proactive, hands-on approach to operational management.
• A strong focus on delivery, quality and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
• High levels of personal integrity and accountability.
• The ability to operate effectively under pressure.
• A structured and organised approach to managing complex manufacturing operations.
• A commitment to maintaining the high standards expected within the defence industry.