Production Manager

Morton Moore Pty Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Morton Moore Pty Ltd seeks a hands-on Production Manager for its Johannesburg South bottling and packaging operation. You will lead on the factory floor, manage staff, machines, output and quality, and drive efficiency and OEE.

Responsibilities include planning production, troubleshooting line issues, coordinating maintenance, ensuring HACCP/FSSC 22000, OHSA compliance, and reporting KPIs to senior management. An experienced, proactive leader is required.

Qualifications

• Hands-on production leadership on a high-volume bottling line.
• Experience supervising production staff and coordinating shift rosters.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and process issues on the line.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the filling and packaging operation, including people, machines, output, quality, downtime and efficiency.
• Plan and schedule production to achieve daily, weekly and monthly targets on high-volume liquid filling lines.
• Lead from the factory floor, troubleshooting mechanical, process and line-balancing problems as they arise.
• Monitor line performance: efficiency, downtime, yields, waste and product giveaway.
• Oversee setup and changeovers of fillers, cappers, labellers, conveyors and end-of-line packaging machinery.
• Coordinate with maintenance for planned and preventive maintenance of machines and instruments.
• Ensure finished products meet quality specs (fill volumes, cap/seal integrity, labelling, coding).
• Maintain Food Safety Management System (HACCP/FSSC 22000) and keep the plant audit-ready.
• Comply with Occupational Health and Safety Act and site safety procedures.
• Plan and control raw and packaging materials and liaise with stores to prevent stoppages.
• Lead, train and manage supervisors, operators and workers, including rosters and labour allocation.
• Prepare and present daily production reports and KPIs to senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives across packaging operations.
• Coordinate with refinery, quality, warehouse and dispatch for smooth flow from refining to dispatch.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Line supervision

Troubleshooting

Tools

Filler machinery experience

Job description

Our client, a well-established edible oil refinery and packing operation based in Johannesburg South, is seeking a hands-on, technically strong Production Manager to take ownership of its bottling and packaging operation. This is not a desk-based role; the successful candidate will spend much of their time on the factory floor, leading the team and troubleshooting problems to drive output, quality and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the filling and packaging operation, including people, machines, output, quality, downtime and efficiency.
• Plan and schedule production to consistently achieve daily, weekly and monthly output targets on high-volume liquid filling lines.
• Lead from the factory floor, actively troubleshooting mechanical, process and line-balancing problems as they arise.
• Monitor and improve line performance, including efficiency (OEE), downtime, yields, waste and product giveaway.
• Oversee the correct operation, set-up and changeovers of fillers, cappers, labellers, conveyors and end-of-line packaging machinery.
• Work closely with the maintenance team to ensure effective planned and preventive maintenance of machines and instruments.
• Ensure all finished products meet quality specifications, including fill volumes, cap and seal integrity, labelling and coding.
• Manage and maintain the Food Safety Management System (e.g. HACCP / FSSC 22000) and ensure the plant is audit-ready at all times.
• Ensure full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and site health and safety procedures.
• Plan and control raw and packaging materials (oil, bottles, caps, labels, cartons) and liaise with stores and procurement to prevent line stoppages.
• Lead, train, motivate and manage production supervisors, operators and general workers, including shift rosters and labour allocation.
• Compile and present accurate daily production reports, KPIs and variance analyses to senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost‑saving initiatives across the bottling and packaging operation.
• Liaise with the refinery, quality, warehouse and dispatch teams to ensure a smooth flow of product from refining through to dispatch.

Our client is offering a market‑related salary, negotiable depending on experience and qualifications, along with benefits in line with company policy.