Assistant Production Manager - Melamine Facing

Kronospan is seeking an experienced and driven Assistant Production Manager to join our Melamine Facing Department at our Chirk manufacturing site. This is an exciting opportunity for a production professional with a strong background in LEAN manufacturing, continuous improvement, and team leadership to play a key role within a highly automated production environment.

Reporting directly to the Production Manager, you will support the day-to-day management and continuous improvement of the department, working closely with Shift Supervisors and a team of over 30 employees. You will help drive operational excellence, maximise efficiency, and maintain the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance.

Job Description:

• Support the Production Manager in the safe and efficient operation of the Melamine Facing Department.
• Lead and promote a culture of continuous improvement through LEAN manufacturing principles, Kaizen activities, and 5S methodologies.
• Work closely with Shift Supervisors to ensure production targets, quality standards, and operational KPIs are consistently achieved.
• Monitor production performance, identify improvement opportunities, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Support workforce planning, resource allocation, and operational decision-making across the department.
• Drive process optimisation initiatives within a highly automated manufacturing environment.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Supervisors and team members to build capability and engagement.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, quality, and other support functions to minimise downtime and improve productivity.
• Assist in the management of departmental budgets, performance reporting, and continuous improvement projects.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a manufacturing leadership role, ideally within a high-volume automated production environment.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of 5S, Kaizen, LEAN Manufacturing, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting and developing supervisory teams.
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive and hands-on approach to leadership and operational management.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to analyse production data and drive performance improvements.
• A commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Additional Information:

• The opportunity to join a global market leader in wood-based panel products.
• A challenging and rewarding leadership role within a technologically advanced manufacturing facility.
• Career development and progression opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A dynamic environment focused on innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

If you are passionate about manufacturing excellence and have the leadership skills to help drive performance in a fast-paced production environment, we would like to hear from you.