Rail Production Lead: Safety, Lean & 5S

CAF Rail UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Excellent workplace pension scheme

Health care cash plan

Bike2Work scheme

Paid volunteering days

Job summary

CAF Rail UK is seeking a Production Supervisor in Manchester to lead a team of technicians through overhaul work on major components. You will ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery while maintaining CAF standards and lean execution on the shop floor.

You will oversee daily planning, mentor staff, and drive continuous improvement, with a focus on 5S, training, and efficient production processes. Competitive salary and benefits are included.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or above in a relevant electrical or mechanical discipline.
• IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent) desirable.
• Proven experience supervising or leading teams in heavy engineering / rail environments.
• Strong track record of delivering safe, high-quality outputs against deadlines.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing / continuous improvement principles.
• Proficient in MS Office and workshop systems (ERP/CMMS, e.g. GMAO, SAP).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of technicians on the shop floor to deliver overhaul tasks safely, on time, and to quality standards.
• Supervise day-to-day work on the shop floor, provide direction, and resolve issues.
• Conduct toolbox talks, safety briefings, and daily work allocation in line with the production plan.
• Ensure technicians are trained and working according to work instructions, BOMs, and risk assessments.
• Monitor performance, carry out competency assessments, and support individual development.
• Maintain 5S standards and drive continuous improvement aligned with CAF lean principles.
• Support Production Manager in meeting KPIs (output, quality, rework, efficiency).
• Liaise with Engineering and Materials to address issues impacting the production schedule.
• Escalate risks or quality concerns promptly and promote accountability and teamwork.

Skills

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

Production processes

Workshop operations

MS Office

ERP/CMMS

SAP

Education

NVQ Level 3 in electrical/mechanical

Tools

ERP/CMMS

GMAO

SAP

Job description

CAF Rail UK is seeking a Production Supervisor in Manchester to lead a team of technicians through overhaul work on major components. You will ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery while maintaining CAF standards and lean execution on the shop floor.

You will oversee daily planning, mentor staff, and drive continuous improvement, with a focus on 5S, training, and efficient production processes. Competitive salary and benefits are included.