Production Manager

Permanent Futures Limited; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Permanent Futures Limited in Doncaster is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead a busy furniture manufacturing operation, taking ownership of production performance, people leadership, quality, efficiency and continuous improvement. You will drive Lean Six Sigma initiatives on the factory floor, develop supervisors, and ensure safe, on-time delivery while balancing cost and lead times.

Strong communication and hands-on leadership are essential to build a high-performance culture

Qualifications

• Experience as Production Manager or senior production leader.
• Strong background in furniture manufacturing.
• Lean Six Sigma qualification (Green Belt/Black Belt).
• Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality or lead times.
• Experience applying Lean/Six Sigma in live manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Hands-on, floor-based leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage production teams to meet daily/weekly targets.
• Drive high-performance culture with accountability and coaching.
• Monitor KPIs: output, efficiency, quality, waste, downtime, labour utilisation, on-time delivery.
• Use data to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma to improve productivity, quality, flow and efficiency.
• Eliminate waste and bottlenecks; lead improvement activities.
• Develop supervisors and team leaders.
• Provide production reporting to senior leadership.
• Ensure health and safety culture.

Skills

Production management

Lean Six Sigma

Leadership

Continuous improvement

KPI management

Problem solving

Team development

5S

Root-cause analysis

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Production Manager to lead a busy furniture manufacturing operation, taking ownership of production performance, people leadership, quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has built their career within furniture, joinery or a closely related manufacturing environment and understands the challenges of delivering high-quality products while balancing productivity, cost, lead times and customer expectations.

The successful candidate will combine strong operational knowledge with an engaging and accountable leadership style. We are particularly interested in individuals with a Lean Six Sigma qualification who can demonstrate how they have used continuous improvement principles to deliver measurable improvements on the factory floor.

As Production Manager, you will have day-to-day responsibility for the manufacturing operation and the performance of the production teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage production teams to achieve daily and weekly manufacturing targets.
• Build a high-performance culture based on clear expectations, accountability, coaching and recognition.
• Monitor production KPIs including output, efficiency, quality, waste, downtime, labour utilisation and on-time delivery.
• Use performance data to identify issues, understand root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies to improve productivity, quality, flow and operational efficiency.
• Identify and eliminate waste, bottlenecks, unnecessary process steps and recurring production problems.
• Lead structured improvement activity using appropriate tools such as 5S, visual management, root-cause analysis, standard work and process mapping.
• Develop supervisors and team leaders, strengthening leadership capability throughout the production operation.
• Conduct regular performance conversations and ensure individuals and teams are clear on objectives and standards.
• Work with production planning to ensure labour, materials and capacity are aligned with manufacturing requirements.
• Maintain high standards of product quality and ensure issues are addressed quickly and effectively.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture and ensure safe working practices are consistently followed.
• Support the introduction of new products, processes, equipment and manufacturing methods.
• Establish standardised processes and ensure improvements become embedded rather than short-term fixes.
• Provide clear production reporting to the senior leadership team, highlighting performance, risks, corrective actions and improvement opportunities.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager or senior production leader.
• A strong background within furniture or a closely related manufacturing sector.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement qualification.
• Demonstrable experience of applying Lean/Six Sigma principles in a live manufacturing environment.
• Evidence of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, waste, cost or lead times.
• Strong experience of driving team performance and developing frontline leadership.
• A practical understanding of manufacturing KPIs and performance management.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis capability.
• Experience implementing standard work, 5S, visual management and continuous improvement initiatives.
• The confidence to challenge established ways of working constructively.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to engage people at all levels of the organisation.
• A visible, hands-on leadership style with the credibility to operate effectively on the factory floor.