Head Manufacturing

Combi-Pack; Seremban; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Combi-Pack in Malaysia is seeking a seasoned Manufacturing Leader to shape and execute the company’s manufacturing strategy. You will steer daily operations, drive productivity, and ensure alignment of capacity, quality, and delivery with business needs.

The role requires 7-10+ years in large-scale manufacturing leadership, with a strong track record in Lean manufacturing, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Master's degree is an advantage.
• 7-10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• Strong background in Lean, quality systems, maintenance, tooling, and process improvement.
• Experience with CAPEX, budgets, manpower, and costs.
• Experience in NPI, manufacturing transfers, automation, and capacity expansion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute manufacturing strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and achieve production targets.
• Establish plans to optimize manpower, machines, materials and capacity.
• Ensure operations meet customer demand and delivery requirements.
• Drive KPI performance (OEE, efficiency, capacity, schedule adherence).
• Lead daily management and performance reviews; escalate production issues.
• Drive root-cause analysis for defects; promote quality-at-source.
• Lead Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma and other operational-excellence initiatives.
• Oversee tooling, maintenance, and equipment reliability; CAPEX projects.
• Coordinate with planning, procurement, quality, engineering, and logistics.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Quality Management

Process Improvement

Budgeting & Cost Control

NPI & Transfer

Automation & Digitalization

Cross-functional Leadership

Production Planning

Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business Administration (advantage)

Job description

Job Description

A. Manufacturing Strategy & Operations

• Develop and execute the manufacturing strategy aligned with business objectives.

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and ensure achievement of production targets.

• Establish production plans and ensure effective utilization of manpower, machines, materials, and capacity.

• Ensure manufacturing operations meet customer demand and delivery requirements.

• Optimize plant capacity, production flow, line balancing, and resource utilization.

• Identify capacity constraints and develop short-, medium-, and long-term improvement plans.

• Establish clear manufacturing standards, processes, and performance expectations.

B. Production Performance

• Drive achievement of production volume, efficiency, productivity, and schedule adherence.

• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing performance.

• Establish and improve KPIs such as:

  • OEE

  • Production efficiency

  • Capacity utilization

  • Schedule adherence

  • Productivity

  • Scrap and rejection

  • Downtime

  • Labor efficiency

  • Manufacturing cost

• Lead daily management and performance-review processes.

• Ensure effective escalation and resolution of production issues.

C. Quality Management

• Ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet internal and customer quality requirements.

• Work closely with Quality to reduce defects, scrap, rework, and customer complaints.

• Drive root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.

• Promote quality-at-source and right-first-time manufacturing.

• Ensure compliance with applicable quality management systems and customer-specific requirements.

• Support new product introduction and process validation activities.

D. Cost & Productivity Improvement

• Own manufacturing cost performance and drive continuous cost reduction.

• Develop and implement productivity improvement programs.

• Optimize manpower, machine utilization, material consumption, energy, and other manufacturing resources.

• Reduce scrap, rework, downtime, overtime, and other operational losses.

• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, TPM, and other operational-excellence initiatives.

• Identify and implement automation and digitalization opportunities.

• Deliver measurable annual productivity and cost-saving targets.

E. People Leadership & Organization Development

• Lead and develop manufacturing managers, engineers, supervisors, and production teams.

• Establish appropriate organizational structures, manpower plans, and succession plans.

• Develop technical and leadership capabilities across the manufacturing organization.

• Promote accountability, teamwork, discipline, and continuous improvement.

• Establish training and competency-development programs.

• Manage workforce productivity, attendance, overtime, and labor utilization.

• Build a strong performance-oriented manufacturing culture.

F. Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Work closely with the Head of Maintenance to ensure equipment reliability and availability.

• Drive reduction of unplanned downtime and recurring equipment failures.

• Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance programs support production requirements.

• Prioritize critical equipment improvement and replacement projects.

• Ensure manufacturing requirements are incorporated into equipment upgrades and CAPEX projects.

G. Tooling & Process Capability

• Work closely with Tooling and Engineering teams to ensure tooling availability and reliability.

• Optimize tooling life, changeover time, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Support development and implementation of new tooling, fixtures, jigs, dies, molds, and automation.

• Ensure tooling and process issues are resolved rapidly to minimize production disruption.

H. Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with Planning, Procurement, Warehouse, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Tooling, and Logistics.

• Ensure manufacturing requirements are aligned with material availability and production schedules.

• Identify and elevate material, capacity, quality, and delivery risks.

• Optimize production flow and inventory through effective coordination with Supply Chain.

• Support S&OP and capacity-planning activities.

I. Safety& Compliance

• Establish and maintain a strong safety culture across manufacturing operations.

• Ensure compliance with company EHS standards and applicable statutory requirements.

• Drive reduction of workplace accidents, unsafe acts, and unsafe conditions.

• Ensure proper implementation of risk assessments, safety procedures, and emergency-response processes.

• Promote safe machine operation, ergonomics, housekeeping, and workplace organization.

• Ensure manufacturing activities comply with relevant regulatory and certification requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Master's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business Administration, or a related field is an advantage.

• 7-10+ years of manufacturing experience, including significant experience managing large-scale manufacturing operations.

• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing/plant leadership position.

• Strong experience in production management, manufacturing engineering, Lean Manufacturing, quality, maintenance, tooling, and process improvement.

• Experience managing manufacturing budgets, CAPEX, manpower, and operational costs.

• Experience with new product introduction, manufacturing transfers, automation, and capacity expansion is preferred.

• Strong or relevant manufacturing quality systems is an advantage.