Manufacturing Manager – Production in Witham

The Manufacturing Manager – Production provides hands-on leadership and operational oversight across Leather and Assembly manufacturing functions, ensuring that production activities are effectively planned, organised, and executed to the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and safety. The role is responsible for delivering consistent production performance, developing team capability, and ensuring products are manufactured to specification and delivered on time. Through strong technical guidance and proactive daily management, the Manufacturing Manager – Production supports the organisation in achieving its production objectives and fulfilling customer requirements within a fast-paced, high-performance manufacturing environment.

Provide effective leadership and day-to-day management of manufacturing operations, collaborating with managers and team leads to ensure smooth and efficient production flow. Foster a positive team culture by promoting pride, shared purpose, and high morale through supportive and engaging leadership. Lead the team in promptly identifying, escalating, and resolving production issues to maintain workflow continuity. Apply structured root-cause analysis to address quality, process, and operational inefficiencies, driving continuous improvement. Champion operational excellence to achieve and exceed manufacturing targets, ensuring alignment with wider business objectives.

Oversee training and development within the department, ensuring skills growth and providing progress updates for senior management. Track key performance indicators including on-time delivery, productivity, efficiency, rework, and downtime and report performance against company standards. Maintain accurate production and quality records, ensuring documentation is up to date and compliant with internal and external requirements. Analyse production processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to enhance throughput and operational efficiency. Ensure all manufacturing activities comply with industry standards, customer specifications, and company quality protocols.

Produce regular reports on production output, material usage, cost performance, scrap rates, and quality-related issues for management. Conduct regular shop floor inspections and audits to identify risks, implement corrective actions, and maintain safe and compliant working conditions. Manage departmental budgets and expenditure, ensuring efficient control of labour, materials, consumables, and tooling costs. Lead and sustain workplace organisation initiatives (e.g., 5S) to support a clean, structured, and efficient production environment. Support accurate ERP/MRP data integrity by contributing to resource planning, scheduling, and production control improvements. Promote high Health & Safety standards across the department, identifying hazards and ensuring all employees follow safe working practices. Adhere to company security policies and responsibilities as a designated key holder.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in a manufacturing management role within automotive, aerospace, engineering, or other low-volume/high-complexity production environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (e.g., assembly and finishing) and associated quality standards.
• Proven experience managing mixed-skilled production teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated experience applying lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, with experience contributing to scheduling and resource planning.
• Strong analytical, numerical, and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to use data to inform decisions.
• Effective leadership and team development capabilities, with a clear understanding of what high-performance operations look like.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build strong relationships across all departments.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing suppliers, subcontractors, or external partners.
• Proactive and results-oriented, with a strong commitment to meeting deadlines and achieving operational targets.
• Adaptable and innovative thinker who thrives in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Hands-on and willing to engage directly with operational activities when needed.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and a strong commitment to quality.

Additional Expectations

The role requires a flexible approach, with the ability to adapt to business needs. While the key responsibilities cover the main duties of the role, additional tasks aligned with the general scope and level of responsibility may be required.

As an equal opportunities employer, TECNIQ is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join TECNIQ.