Operations Director - Manufacturing & Supplier Development

Mason & Co; Malacca City; On-site; MYR 280,000 - 460,000; Full time

Job summary

Mason & Co in Malaysia seeks an experienced Director to build and lead a new Supplier Manufacturing Development team across Asia. The role focuses on enhancing supplier capabilities, productivity, quality, cost and delivery performance, with hands-on leadership and strategic collaboration with Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in manufacturing, deep technical knowledge in key processes, and proven leadership in driving improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• 15+ years of manufacturing experience with senior leadership exposure.
• Strong hands-on experience in manufacturing operations and process improvement.
• Deep technical knowledge in machining, plating, molding or welding.
• Experience in Lean / Six Sigma, manufacturing improvement and problem-solving.
• Experience in capacity planning and manufacturing cost management.
• At least 5 years of management experience leading engineering or manufacturing teams.
• Strong leadership, communication and supplier management skills.
• Willingness to travel within Asia to visit and support suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Supplier Manufacturing Development team, including hiring and developing Supplier Development Engineers and managers.
• Assess supplier factories and identify opportunities to improve production flow, capacity, equipment, tooling, maintenance, productivity and workforce capability.
• Lead hands-on improvement projects at key suppliers to improve yield, cycle time, cost and on-time delivery.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams to improve supplier performance.
• Support new supplier selection and qualification based on their actual manufacturing capabilities.
• Provide technical expertise to suppliers in manufacturing processes such as machining, plating, assembly, sheet metal, molding or welding.
• Lead Lean / Six Sigma improvement projects and structured problem-solving activities.
• Review supplier manufacturing processes to ensure products meet engineering drawings and specifications.
• Support PFMEA, work instructions and control plan improvements.
• Monitor supplier performance and develop improvement plans for strategic suppliers.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing risks that may affect quality, capacity, cost and delivery.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Supplier Management

Capacity Planning

Process Improvement

Leadership

Manufacturing Engineering

Cross-functional Lead

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

About the Company

This employer is one of the leading equipment manufacturers, providing exposure to global customers and opportunities to work on advanced technologies within a multinational environment.

About the Job

This role is an experienced Director, Supplier Manufacturing Development to lead and build a new supplier development team in Asia. This role will focus on improving supplier manufacturing capabilities, productivity, quality, cost and delivery performance.

Working Location:

Ayer Keroh, Malacca

Job Responsibilities:

• Build and lead the Supplier Manufacturing Development team, including hiring and developing Supplier Development Engineers and managers.
• Assess supplier factories and identify opportunities to improve production flow, capacity, equipment, tooling, maintenance, productivity and workforce capability.
• Lead hands‑on improvement projects at key suppliers to improve yield, cycle time, cost and on‑time delivery.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams to improve supplier performance.
• Support new supplier selection and qualification based on their actual manufacturing capabilities.
• Provide technical expertise to suppliers in manufacturing processes such as machining, plating, assembly, sheet metal, molding or welding.
• Lead Lean / Six Sigma improvement projects and structured problem‑solving activities.
• Review supplier manufacturing processes to ensure products meet engineering drawings and specifications.
• Support PFMEA, work instructions and control plan improvements.
• Monitor supplier performance and develop improvement plans for strategic suppliers.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing risks that may affect quality, capacity, cost and delivery.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• At least 15 years of manufacturing experience, preferably with experience in roles such as Plant Manager, Manufacturing Director, Operations Director or Manufacturing Engineering Director.
• Strong hands‑on experience in manufacturing operations and process improvement.
• Deep technical knowledge in at least one manufacturing process such as precision machining, plating, mechanical/electro‑mechanical assembly, sheet metal, molding or welding.
• Experience in Lean / Six Sigma, manufacturing improvement and problem‑solving.
• Strong experience in capacity planning, manufacturing cost management or P&L ownership.
• At least 5 years of management experience, including leading engineering or manufacturing teams.
• Strong leadership, communication and supplier management skills.
• Willingness to travel within Asia to visit and support suppliers.

What’s on offer:

• An opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in improving factory performance.
• Competitive remuneration package