Production Manager

at  Niftylift Ltd

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Production Manager to join one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobile elevated work platforms based at the company’s headquarters in Milton Keynes.
Niftylift Limited is a private UK company, which was founded in 1985 and has achieved sustained sales growth year on year to become one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of mobile elevated work platforms. We have a vast sales, service, and dealer network across over 40 countries worldwide, supported by over 600 employees in the UK, based across three centers of excellence manufacturing sites.
The successful candidate will be responsible for effectively managing and developing personnel, facilities, layouts, systems, and procedures to ensure safe, quality-compliant, timely, and cost-efficient production across the Milton Keynes manufacturing sites.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years in a fast-paced / large-scale Production Management role within an Engineering Assembly Manufacturing environment.
• Engineering or an equivalent level of qualification in a manufacturing technical discipline, to level 5 or above.
• Leadership experience in a Continuous Improvement/LEAN deployment function ideally within Automotive, Aerospace & Engineering.
• Excellent capability with Kaizen/lean/Six Sigma problem resolution techniques.
• Excellent understanding of Manufacturing Process: Assembly (Mechanical/Electrical/Hydraulic), Fabrication / Machining and Finishing Systems (Coatings / Paint).
• Understanding of costing models, standard costing methods and time study techniques.
• Understanding of MRP / Manufacturing Systems and QM Modules.
• Computer literate: Standard Microsoft tools, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint. ERP system user.

• Strategically structure, plan, implement, and sustain a competitive production and manufacturing framework - encompassing people, plant, facilities, and systems.
• Responsible for compliance with the company’s ISO45001 health and safety requirements.
• Full management responsibility and accountability for compliance to the companies ISO14001 environmental requirements.
• Responsible for achieving and maintaining the correct build quality standards throughout the production function, with the requirements of right first time and no fault forward.
• Factually define and support containment and prevention of quality issues internally / externally to production. Utilise standardised problem resolution tools to pinpoint root causes and implement preventive actions effectively.
• Manage, implement, and sustain continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing techniques, tools, layouts, and philosophies across the entire production team or area.
• Eliminate non-value-added activities and the 8 wastes throughout each value stream, with the primary goal of improving safe throughput and reducing costs. Effectively manage, eliminate, or work around bottleneck constraints to drive throughput improvement.
• Presenting production KPI’ s to the senior management team that align with the business strategy, along with defined actions to combat negative trends identified.
• Review capacity plans monthly to align with build plans and forecasts. Adjust labour requirements accordingly to support output needs.
• Assist section managers in ensuring adherence to company HR policies and procedures and mitigate risks to the company.
• Define the production departmental plans, targets, timescales, and resources.
• Manage, coach, support and guide the production and test section managers to achieve defined targets.
• Enhance hands-on analysis, problem-solving, and improvement of all production processes, methods, and engineering specifications.
• Support the reduction in overall manufacturing costs through best practice standardisation and development of the people and facilities, to achieve value-added activities, and eliminate nonvalue-added activities. Development and auditing of and to the company standards document.
• Achieve cost reduction in materials, consumables, and components by assessing and reporting on design for manufacture. Collaborate and review with design/engineering teams and suppliers to eliminate costs from component supply. Support make-versus-buy analysis and costing to optimize commercial advantage.
• Defined stage gate process of New Product Development and Introduction to production acceptance to be supported and audited before acceptance for all new products.
• Developing people and culture through training that aligns with newly introduced methods and practices. Encourage and facilitate improvements initiated by employee teams using Total Quality Management, Kaizen techniques, and structured continuous improvement meetings and forums.
• Lead and guide production team members in project management roles, overseeing their projects with structured resources and timelines. Ensure the delivery of continuous production development and improvement strategies for the MK sites.