Production Line Manager

Talent Candey; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Provident fund

Medical aid

Cellphone allowance

Job summary

Talent Candey is seeking an experienced Production Line Manager – 2nd Operations in Maitland, Cape Town. The role requires a Mechanical Engineering qualification and involves managing 2nd Operations production, driving Lean and TPM, and ensuring safe, on-time manufacturing.

The candidate will lead production teams, interpret engineering drawings, control costs, and improve productivity in a precision manufacturing environment. A Provident, medical aid, and KPI incentives are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a Production Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years' experience leading and managing production teams.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience with ERP or SAP production systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimise all production activities within the 2nd Operations department.
• Ensure products and components are manufactured safely, efficiently, on time and to specification.
• Record and report daily production data to support decision making.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement sustainable corrective actions to improve throughput.
• Maintain staffing and shift coverage to meet production plans.
• Lead Lean initiatives and TPM to reduce scrap and costs.

Skills

People management

Lean manufacturing

TPM

Quality control

Safety compliance

Drawing interpretation

Education

Mechanical Engineering Diploma or Degree

Tools

SAP / ERP production module

Job description

Our Precision Manufacturing Client is currently seeking an experienced Production Line Manager – 2nd Operations based in Maitland, Cape Town.

The ideal candidate must have a Mechanical Engineering qualification; they will not be considered if they have industrial engineering.

The role requires someone who is equally comfortable on the production floor as they are analysing production performance, developing people, implementing lean manufacturing principles and driving operational excellence.

Purpose of the Role

To manage and optimise all production activities within the 2nd Operations department by ensuring products and components are manufactured safely, efficiently, on time and according to specification.

Remuneration: Market Related

( Provident , Medical and Cell )Annual KPI incentive

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Qualified Toolmaker (Red Seal Trade Qualification)
• Mechanical Engineering Diploma or Degree

Experience

The successful candidate should possess:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a Production Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years' experience leading and managing production teams.
• Proven experience in precision manufacturing or engineering environments.
• Experience managing production output against daily, weekly and monthly targets.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience with ERP or SAP production systems.
• Strong understanding of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Experience controlling production costs, scrap reduction and productivity improvements.
• Sound understanding of Occupational Health & Safety legislation.
• Experience managing disciplinary processes, absenteeism and employee development.
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings and technical documentation.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Production and Processing — knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximising the effective manufacture and distribution of components.
• Personnel and Human Resources — knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, training, and Labour relations.
• Mechanical — knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Sound knowledge of safety regulations.
• Inventory management practices.
• Managing and process improvement.
• Supply management.
• Production control and Planning
• Drafting and design skills.
• ERP / SAP production module.
• Lean manufacturing principles — 5S, standard work, visual management, waste elimination.

SKILLS:

• Secondary operations process knowledge including heat treatment of materials.
• Bottleneck identification and sustainable corrective action implementation.
• Engineering drawing interpretation.
• People management: attendance control, coaching, counselling, and discipline.
• SAP / ERP production module — works order management and scrap capturing.
• Operator-level machine maintenance and TPM record-keeping.
• 5S implementation and visual management.
• OHSA compliance and safety appointment responsibilities.
• Cost control — production costs, scrap, and consumables.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Production Output & Performance
• Achieving production performance by ensuring that all operations are performed in line with the correct planning (Production Method, Time, and Quality).
• Recording and reporting of daily production — provides manufacturing information by compiling, initiating, sorting, and analysing production records and data.
• Maintaining workflow by identifying and understanding bottleneck operations / processes and implementing sustainable corrective actions to remedy the situation.
• Achieving the Production Plan, introducing initiatives to make up for any lost time or scrap components.
• Ensuring the correct staffing and shift coverage.
• Highlighting any adverse trends in terms of production and / or equipment to the relevant department for remedial action.
• Monitor production rates and intervene immediately when output does not meet targets.
• Control of costs associated within the department — production costs, scrap, consumables, etc.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Quality Compliance

• Ensure that all processes and operations performed in the relevant work area are understood in terms of Quality, Capability, Capacity, and Legal compliance.
• Comply with all requirements as per the Quality Manual.
• Ensure heat treatment of various materials is carried out correctly.
• Ensuring that all the relevant quality actions in accordance with the IMDS are adhered to.
• Ensuring that all components, assemblies, and materials are identified and labelled accordingly.
• Ensuring that all Quality related issues are dealt with timeously and rectified.
• Ensure first-off approval before production runs commence.
• Place non-conforming product on hold immediately — report to supervisor.
• Review prior day scrap: top 3 causes identified, countermeasures confirmed before production restarts.

Machine & Equipment Maintenance

• Ensure that all machines and equipment are suitably maintained.
• Ensure that the basic operator maintenance is performed and signed off each shift.
• Ensuring that the maintenance systems are adhered to — breakdown and TPM forms completed timeously.
• Escalate breakdowns to maintenance with correct documentation — not verbally only.
• Identify adverse trends in machine performance before failure occurs and escals to the relevant department.
• Maintain TPM records current.

Staff Discipline & People Management

• Managing staff through training, coaching, counselling, and disciplining employees where necessary.
• Recording and controlling absenteeism.
• Enforcing organisation standards regarding Policies and Procedures, Legal and Quality compliance.
• Ensuring that staff training is performed and recorded.
• Confirm attendance and arrange cover before shift starts.
• Manage performance, behaviour, and attendance per company policy.
• Train and develop team per the skills matrix.
• Maintain Skills Matrix updated monthly.
• Address disciplinary matters timeously, per code, and documented.
• Coaching conversations: one per team member per month, documented.

Stock Control & ERP

• Ensuring that all system processes are adhered to — ERP system and fundamental processes.
• Controlling Works Orders.
• Ensuring scrap and rejects are dealt with to ensure that the system requirements are met.
• Complete timesheets and ERP entries before end of shift — no outstanding works orders.

Lean Manufacturing, Housekeeping & Safety

• Roll out of Lean Manufacturing Principles.
• Ensuring housekeeping — 5S sustained daily.
• Visual management — production board updated in real time throughout the shift.
• Ensuring a safe working environment — full compliance with safe works procedures and PPE.
• Ensure employees comply with safety instructions — correct unsafe conditions immediately.
• Accept responsibility in accordance with the relevant safety appointment.
• Conduct and document pre-shift safety check.
• Report all incidents and near misses to supervisor on the same shift.
• Fostering open working relations with all supporting departments.

Reporting & Shift Handover

• Complete scrap report with quantities, reason codes, and responsible party.
• Update handover book: issues, risks, and open items. Nothing verbal only.
• Ensure complete and accurate shift handover is delivered — incoming Shift Leader must be able to manage from the first minute.