Production Manager

Holt Engineering; Ferndown; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Engineering in Ferndown is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-to-day production within a precision machining environment of an established aerospace manufacturer.

You will drive delivery, productivity and quality, lead Team Leaders and shop-floor staff, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Finance and HR to improve efficiency and ensure compliant operations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading production in aerospace or regulated manufacturing.
• Proven ability to drive delivery, productivity, quality and safety KPIs.
• Strong leadership of team leaders and shop-floor staff.
• Practical understanding of Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage production plans to meet customer demand and delivery targets.
• Lead Team Leaders and staff across daily manufacturing activity.
• Monitor productivity, machine utilisation and production performance.
• Identify bottlenecks and reallocate resources to maintain delivery.

Skills

Production management

Aerospace experience

Lean/Six Sigma

Budget management

Communication

Education

IOSH Managing Safely

ILM Level 3 leadership qualification

Lean or Six Sigma training

Job description

Production Manager

Ferndown

Production Manager salary: £48,250 – £51,500

Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.

Production Manager Overview

• Lead day-to-day production across a precision machining environment
• Manage delivery, productivity, quality, safety and resource performance
• Lead and develop Team Leaders, technicians and wider production staff
• Improve machine utilisation, workflow, bottlenecks and production efficiency
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Finance and HR

This Production Manager role is with an established aerospace manufacturing business in Ferndown, leading day-to-day production across a precision machining environment. The Production Manager will be responsible for delivery, productivity, quality, safety, people performance and resource utilisation, while working closely with Team Leaders and the wider senior leadership team.

This Production Manager position needs someone who is comfortable balancing customer delivery, machine capacity, manpower, cost and quality in a regulated manufacturing environment.

The Production Manager role

As Production Manager, you’ll lead the production team and ensure manufacturing plans are understood, resourced and delivered effectively. You’ll monitor output, productivity, machine utilisation, quality performance and late-to-start activity, while addressing bottlenecks and supporting practical improvements on the shop floor.

The Production Manager will also play a key role in developing Team Leaders, improving skills availability, managing performance and creating a collaborative, accountable production culture.

Day-to-day responsibilities of a Production Manager

• Develop and manage production plans against customer demand and delivery targets
• Lead Team Leaders and production staff across day-to-day manufacturing activity
• Monitor productivity, machine utilisation, standard hours and production performance
• Identify bottlenecks and adjust resources or priorities to maintain deliveryWork with Quality to improve right-first-time performance and resolve production issues
• Support practical problem solving, root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Ensure calibrated equipment, traceability and production controls remain compliant
• Manage consumable tooling spend and identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing cost
• Work with Engineering to improve machining methods, processes and production efficiency
• Support manpower planning, skills availability, training and development with HR
• Maintain strong Health <!-- & --> Safety standards and ensure safe systems of work are followed
• Communicate production performance, risks and priorities to senior management and wider teams

What they’re looking for - Production Manager

• Experience managing production within aerospace, precision engineering or a similar regulated manufacturing environment
• Strong background leading machining, manufacturing or engineering teams
• Experience managing productivity, utilisation, delivery and quality KPIs
• Confident managing Team Leaders and developing shop‑floor capability
• Practical understanding of Lean, Six Sigma or structured continuous improvement
• Strong problem‑solving ability with a focus on root cause and permanent corrective action
• Experience managing budgets, production costs or controlled expenditure
• Excellent communication skills across production, engineering and senior management
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities in a busy production environment

Desirable - Production Manager

• IOSH Managing Safely qualification
• Lean or Six Sigma training
• ILM Level 3 or equivalent leadership qualification
• CNC or precision machining background
• Experience working to aerospace quality and traceability requirements
• Exposure to capacity planning, tooling cost and machine utilisation improvement

What’s on offer - Production Manager

Production Manager salary: £48,250 – £51,500

A senior Production Manager role with ownership across Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People performance.

The opportunity to influence productivity, machining efficiency, team capability and operational improvement within a precision manufacturing environment.

A visible leadership position working closely with the wider management team to improve production performance and customer delivery.