Unison Ltd - Manufacturing Manager - Scarborough - Oct 2026

Unison Ltd – Manufacturing Manager – Scarborough – Oct 2026

Location: Scarborough

Job Title: Manufacturing Manager

Team: Unison Ltd

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The role:

Unison Ltd designs and manufactures all-electric CNC tube and pipe bending machines at its Scarborough facility. Through PHI Hydraulics, the company also supplies end-forming machines and presses to customers across the aerospace, automotive and wider industrial sectors worldwide.

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for overseeing and improving all manufacturing and production activities within the OEM & bending machine manufacturing business.

The role ensures the efficient, safe, and cost-effective manufacture and assembly of high-quality bending machines, meeting customer requirements and delivery schedules. This includes managing production planning, assembly operations, material availability, quality, workforce performance, and continuous improvement.

The Manufacturing Manager will work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Sales to ensure production targets are achieved and manufacturing processes remain efficient, reliable, and commercially competitive.

Key Responsibilities

• Production & Manufacturing Management
• Manage day-to-day manufacturing and assembly operations for bending machines and associated equipment.
• Develop and implement production plans to meet customer orders and delivery commitments.
• Coordinate manufacturing activities, workforce allocation, and production capacity.
• Ensure efficient use of labour, machinery, tools, and workshop resources.
• Monitor production progress and resolve bottlenecks, delays, and operational issues.
• Coordinate mechanical assembly, electrical assembly, hydraulic systems, and machine testing, as applicable to the product range.
• Manufacturing Engineering & Process Improvement
• Improve manufacturing methods, assembly processes, and workshop efficiency.
• Ensure manufacturing drawings, bills of materials, work instructions, and technical specifications are available and correctly followed.
• Work with Engineering to resolve design, assembly, and manufacturing issues.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing lead times, simplify assembly, and improve productivity.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and practical continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate tools, fixtures, equipment, and production methods are used.
• Quality Management & Testing
• Ensure manufactured machines meet engineering specifications, customer requirements, and applicable safety and quality standards.
• Maintain effective quality controls throughout fabrication, assembly, and final testing.
• Investigate manufacturing defects, rework, and non-conformances, implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure machines undergo the required inspection, functional testing, and final quality checks before dispatch.
• Work with Engineering and Quality to prevent recurring problems and improve product reliability.
• Health & Safety
• Maintain a safe working environment across the manufacturing and assembly areas.
• Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and company procedures.
• Ensure safe working practices are followed when using machinery, lifting equipment, electrical equipment, and assembly tools.
• Investigate accidents, near misses, and safety concerns, implementing appropriate corrective actions.
• Promote employee awareness of workplace safety and good housekeeping.
• Materials, Inventory & Production Planning
• Work closely with Procurement and Production Planning to ensure materials and components are available when required.
• Monitor shortages of critical components, including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and control-system parts.
• Coordinate with stores and purchasing to minimise production delays and excess inventory.
• Monitor work in progress and ensure jobs progress through manufacturing and assembly in line with planned schedules.
• Support supplier quality and delivery improvement where component shortages or defects affect production.
• Cost, Productivity & Performance
• Monitor manufacturing costs, labour productivity, material usage, and rework.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce waste, production costs, and assembly time without compromising quality.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including:
  • Production output and schedule adherence.
  • On-time completion and delivery.
  • Labour productivity and manufacturing efficiency.
  • Quality defects and rework.
  • Health and safety performance.
• Report manufacturing performance and implement corrective actions where targets are not achieved.
• People Management
• Lead, support, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and manufacturing employees.
• Allocate work effectively and ensure employees have the skills and training required for their roles.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, quality awareness, and safe working practices.
• Manage employee performance, attendance, and training needs.
• Support recruitment and workforce planning to meet production requirements.
• Encourage employees to identify and implement practical improvements.
• Lead improvement projects to increase productivity, reduce lead times, and improve quality.
• Standardise effective manufacturing and assembly procedures.
• Review recurring production problems and implement permanent solutions.
• Support the introduction of improved production systems, tools, and manufacturing technologies where commercially justified.

Qualifications & Experience

• Engineering or manufacturing qualification, apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience.
• Significant experience in a manufacturing management or production management role within an engineering or machinery manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing mechanical assembly and, ideally, electrical, hydraulic, or control-system assembly.
• Strong understanding of production planning, manufacturing processes, quality control, and health and safety.
• Proven ability to improve productivity, reduce costs, and achieve production and delivery targets.
• Experience leading and developing manufacturing teams.
• Good problem-solving, organisational, and communication skills.
• Experience in press brake, sheet metal machinery, CNC machinery, or industrial equipment manufacturing.
• Knowledge of CNC controls, machine commissioning, and functional testing.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques.
• Understanding of engineering drawings, bills of materials, and manufacturing resource planning systems.
• IOSH or NEBOSH health and safety qualification.
• Manufacturing and production leadership.
• Strong engineering and practical problem-solving skills.
• Production planning and organisational ability.
• Quality and safety focus.
• Cost awareness and productivity improvement.
• Team leadership and employee development.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Accountability and results orientation.

Key Working Relationships

• Engineering and Design.
• Procurement and Supply Chain.
• Quality and Inspection.
• Stores and Production Planning.
• Sales and Customer Service, particularly regarding delivery commitments.
• Service and Commissioning, where applicable.