Plant Manager

Werfnet; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Werfnet is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead its production facility and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You will oversee daily plant operations, ensure targets are met, and develop high-performing production teams while upholding safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering required.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing a manufacturing plant or large production facility.
• Experience in plastics, assembly, or engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, quality management, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations of the manufacturing plant.
• Ensure production plans, quality standards, and operational targets are met.
• Oversee manufacturing, assembly, injection moulding, maintenance, stores, and dispatch.
• Drive continuous improvement to boost productivity and reduce costs.
• Develop and coach supervisors and production teams.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and operational standards.
• Monitor metrics and report performance to senior management.
• Identify risks and implement sustainable process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Scheduling

Quality management

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering (BEng or BSc Industrial Engineering)

Job description

Lead Manufacturing Excellence in a High-Performance Production Environment

A well-established manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead its production facility and drive operational excellence. This opportunity is suited to a technically strong manufacturing professional who can oversee daily plant operations, improve efficiencies, and develop high-performing production teams within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the plant consistently delivers on production targets, quality standards, safety, and continuous improvement initiatives while providing strong leadership across all operational departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the manufacturing plant.
• Ensure production plans, quality standards, and operational targets are consistently achieved.
• Oversee manufacturing, assembly, injection moulding, maintenance, stores, and dispatch operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, reduce costs, and optimise manufacturing processes.
• Manage production planning, scheduling, workflow optimisation, and operational performance.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams while driving accountability and high performance.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and operational standards.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programmes to maximise equipment reliability and minimise downtime.
• Monitor key production metrics and prepare operational performance reports for senior management.
• Identify operational risks and implement sustainable process improvements that support business growth.
• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering (BEng or BSc Industrial Engineering) is essential.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in manufacturing operations, including several years managing a manufacturing plant or large production facility.
• Proven experience within plastics, assembly, engineering, or a similar manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, manufacturing processes, quality management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary production teams and drive operational excellence.
• Working knowledge of South African labour legislation and employee performance management.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.

Advantageous

• Experience within injection moulding or plastics manufacturing.
• Exposure to safety-critical or regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience introducing new products into manufacturing environments.
• Operational leadership
• Manufacturing process improvement
• Production planning and scheduling
• Lean Manufacturing
• Quality management
• People leadership and coaching
• Strategic thinking
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Results-driven

Plant Manager • JHB - Southern Suburbs, Gauteng, ZA