Manufacturing Excellence Manager

Diageo; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global beverage company in South Africa seeks a Manufacturing Excellence Manager. This role involves implementing and improving manufacturing management systems to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure standards. Candidates should have a University degree, 3-5 years in manufacturing leadership, and skills in coaching and problem-solving. The position offers the chance to lead critical operational improvements and contribute to a continuous improvement culture within the organization.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in Manufacturing Excellence or Department leadership experience.
• Experience in FMCG environments.
• Proven ability to build and coach teams.

Responsibilities

• Implement and improve MMS in the plant.
• Integrate processes and report progress.
• Manage overall Manufacturing Excellence program.

Skills

Structured problem evaluation & solving

High-performance climate building

Coaching and developing others

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Education

University Degree in Industrial Engineering/Operations Management

Formal Six Sigma qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Description :

Job Title: Manufacturing Excellence Manager

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you’ll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function:

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About the role:

• The key purpose of this role is to implement, entrench and improve the use and effectiveness of MMS (manufacturing Management system) in the plant to driving efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring plant standards are met through structured programs, loss analysis, and coaching teams on problem-solving for superior business results.

• This role focuses on integrating processes, reporting progress, and aligning with company-wide goals, requiring strong leadership, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Managing the overall Manufacturing excellence program, setting plans, and tracking progress across all best practices (e.g. Safety, Quality, Maintenance – Asset Care, Autonomous maintenance, Focused improvement, 5S, Teamwork etc).

• Provide MMS subject matter expertise, offering strategic guidance at all Tiers

• Lead, coach and train team members to ensure consistency of approach and alignment of Diageo strategy with Site

• Lead and advocate good governance around internal and external compliance (health & safety, quality and environment)

• Delivery of outstanding performance in all aspects of the balanced scorecard (Safety, Quality, Environment, Asset Care, Delivery, Productivity, Cost and Morale)

Role Responsibilities:

• Provide expert loss & waste leadership and coaching to operational teams.

• Gap & Loss Analysis: Using data to identify losses and waste, then driving actions close those gaps.

• Coaching & Training: Guiding plant leadership and shopfloor teams on Manufacturing excellence methodologies and problem-solving techniques.

• Reporting & Communication: Providing monthly/quarterly updates to senior management and global leadership.

• Manufacturing excellence maturity Ownership: Serving as overall Manex Owner, coordinating with other best practices owners /MANEX facilitators, head of departments to support departments in implementing MMS practices

• Meeting Management: Ensure Plant's routine meetings (LSW – leader standard work and DOR's – daily operational routines) are documented and standardized.

• Develop and drive the implementation of the site plan at site and departmental level.

• Drive site senior leadership team to follow the MMS process to ensure that practices and performance are embedded through sustainable, balanced deployment of the MMS tool set.

• Coach managers at all levels to implement MMS methodologies to deliver highly reliable, high quality, safe and cost-effective results.

• Work to maintain alignment between all parts of the site's supply chain by coordinating all departments to work together in MMS deployment.

• Provides guidance and support to the SSC for effective and aligned implementation of MMS

• As part of the site steering committee coaches' managers to develop teams at all levels to produce performance results through the MMS practices

• As part of the site senior leadership team sets clear improvement strategy for the site with clear objectives and leads the change management processes.

• Understand the value chain implications of site/department/line issues. Provide 'end to end' expert analysis

• Participate in and lead as required improvement projects using the relevant methodologies i.e. DMAIC methodology.

• Participates fully and constructively at the DOR meetings to provide expert analysis of performance improvement opportunities

• Ensures effective implementation of MMS training and development programmes and communications

Experience / skills required:

Entry level requirements – skills, experience and qualifications

• University Degree level qualification in Industrial engineering/ Operations Management, or related field.

• Formal Six sigma qualification (Advantageous)

• Relevant IBD qualification (General Certificate in Spirits/Beer Packaging) (Advantageous)

Experience (Essential)

• At least 3 - 5 years in Manufacturing Excellence or Department leadership experience and a great track record in a world class Manufacturing / operational excellence, Continuous Improvement, or similar, (FMCG) (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) environments.

• Proactive structured problem evaluation & solving skills learnt through exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, TPM or Manufacturing Excellence

• Proven ability to build a high-performance climate within large multi-disciplined teams by effectively setting performance standards and coaching and developing others to achieve them

• Proven track record as a great coach with strong engagement and communication skills

• Sound and proven financial acumen

• Proficient in use of standard business (MS Office)

Experience (Desirable)

• Has led significant business change through people in a production led environment

• undefined

Critical Skills Required

Excellence in Supply Chain

• Is experienced of working within the Performance Management structure of KPI’s and Tier Review Meeting Structure

• Has a proven track record in adherence to Core Process and Standards

• Demonstrates role model behaviour and coaches others to follow a consistent approach and go beyond mandatory minimum requirements

• Proactively leverages the learning curriculums and materials on Diageo Academy and other sources to continuously grow and develop in role

• A very deep knowledge of MMS

Diversity statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Ourambitionistocreatethebestperforming,mosttrustedandrespectedconsumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Isipingo

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-01-05