Production Manager - Automotive

EnableSA Recruitment; Kariega; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Production Manager in Uitenhage, South Africa. The ideal candidate will have management experience in automotive manufacturing, excellent skills in Lean Manufacturing, and a strong understanding of production processes. Responsibilities include managing production schedules, ensuring adherence to quality standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering and relevant production management certification.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 minimum qualification.
• 5–10 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, with 5 years in the automotive industry.
• Proven experience managing high-volume automotive production lines.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules.
• Ensure optimal utilisation of labour, machinery, and materials.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives like Lean Manufacturing.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Production Management

Automotive Manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Production reporting tools

Job description

Position: Production Manager

Location: Uitenhage

Requirements

• Grade 12
• Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Management, or similar.
• Relevant production or operations management certification will be advantageous.
• 5–10 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, with at least 5 years in the automotive industry.
• Proven experience managing high-volume automotive production lines.
• Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing processes (assembly, machining, press, welding, or injection moulding depending on plant).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Continuous Improvement tools.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools.
• Solid understanding of IATF 16949 and automotive quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise, and manage daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules to meet customer demand.
• Ensure optimal utilisation of labour, machinery, and materials.
• Monitor production output, efficiency, scrap, and downtime; implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S).
• Ensure compliance with automotive quality standards such as IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.
• Work closely with Quality to investigate non-conformances, customer complaints, and internal defects.
• Ensure adherence to process controls, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure compliance with South African OHSA, company safety standards, and environmental regulations.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure risk assessments, toolbox talks, and safety audits are conducted.
• Investigate incidents and implement preventative measures.
• Lead, motivate, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and operators.
• Manage staffing levels, shift patterns, overtime, and absenteeism.
• Conduct performance reviews, training needs analysis, and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation and company HR policies.
• Manage production budgets and control manufacturing costs.
• Analyse KPIs such as OEE, productivity, scrap, rework, and delivery performance.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality or safety.