Sika was first established in Malaysia in 1989, with full operations commencing in 1991 through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sika Kimia Sdn Bhd. The company has since gained a leading position in the country, with products endorsed for construction and industrial applications by local and international clients.
In the Construction sector, Sika's activities cover a range of project types, including infrastructural development, buildings, institutional facilities, and manufacturing plants. The company services concrete producers, contractors, and distributors through a central sales & marketing office in Petaling Jaya and multiple regional offices. In 2014, Sika expanded its presence with the opening of the Ipoh Plant.
In Malaysia, Sika's Industry Division is a market leader in automotive glass replacement (AGR), with the "Sikaflex" brand recognized for quality and reliability. The company supplies to top German car manufacturers like Mercedes Benz and BMW, and leads in bonding, sealing, damping, and protection solutions for various vehicle and industrial applications.
Currently, Sika Kimia Sdn Bhd employs over 340 staff across various departments. The company is seeking an experienced Regional Manager – Manufacturing Excellence for the APAC team. This role is ideal for a driven self-starter who thrives in a dynamic multinational environment.
Job Description
- Implement cultural change on the shopfloor and at the management level through training, team building, and improvement projects focused on LEAN culture.
- Develop and execute a structured audit system across APAC factories, emphasizing compliance with standards such as LEAN, VSM, 5S, and OEE.
- Identify inefficiencies and gaps through audits, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Create comprehensive audit reports with findings, recommendations, and support for corrective actions.
- Prioritize issues based on impact, collaborate with plant managers to develop action plans, and apply methodologies like Kaizen or DMAIC.
- Use audit insights to tailor training, conduct LEAN workshops, and initiate improvement projects using tools like Gemba walks and PDCA cycles.
- Establish KPIs and dashboards to monitor progress, with regular reviews to ensure timely resolution of issues.
- Facilitate monthly or quarterly reviews with plant managers and promote transparency using visual management tools.
- Identify gaps between current practices and industry standards to guide continuous improvement and define a manufacturing roadmap for APAC.
- Implement automation to improve efficiency and create an engaging work environment.
- Reduce non-value-added processes, such as inline quality testing.
- Develop a Manufacturing Excellence Management System with standards and audit activities to ensure compliance.
- Support R&D and Operations in integrating new technologies and improving processes.
- Transfer production know-how and technologies from Group or Regional levels to factories.
Factory Reporting
- Monitor factory performance via the reporting system.
- Assist with benchmarking and discuss results with responsible teams.
Main Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead manufacturing excellence programs across factories.
- Manage development and revision of standards and work processes for continuous improvement.
- Lead interdisciplinary teams on factory audits and communicate effectively with facility staff.
- Analyze process performance to identify best practices and opportunities.
- Improve safety, quality, and efficiency of manufacturing processes.
- Research new process technologies to enhance productivity.
- Optimize process and equipment performance in collaboration with local teams.
Qualifications
- Effective communication skills across all organizational levels.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Leadership by example and integrity.
- Business acumen to ensure value-added activities are prioritized.
- Ability to act as a Change Agent, challenging the status quo.