Head Of Production

IMI plc
We are a global specialist engineering company that creates breakthrough solutions. We are curious and like to solve problems, partnering with our customers to solve the demands of today and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. We embrace innovation and care about outcomes that are good for business, everyday life and making a better world – creating lasting impact for everyone.

We design, build and service highly engineered products in fluid and motion control applications. We focus on five market sectors: Industrial Automation, Process Automation, Climate Control, Life Science and Fluid Control, and Transport.

Role Overview

Role reports to Site Lead and has responsibility for all production, purchasing, Continuous Improvement and despatch functions with strong links to Quality and Engineering Managers to drive through the consistent levels demanded by our customers.

Key Responsibilities
Duties will include but not be limited to: 

• Provide leadership and focus for the manufacturing team, comprising Purchasing, Planning, Quality Engineering, Continuous Improvement and the shop floor team 


• Driving improvements in team performance by goal-setting, training and developing, prioritising activities, coaching, supporting and communicating


• Arranges that manufacturing resources are in place to match the customers requirements and sets priorities for the allocation of current manufacturing resources


• Identifies and solves problems affecting production – suppliers, schedules, staff, quality and resource allocation


• Create a positive environment for change, leading activities to improve production processes


• Establish procedures for maintaining high standards of manufacturing operations, product quality, reliability and safety


• Champion continuous improvement, implementing modern lean manufacturing techniques, quality to create real value that delivers best operating practice throughout the organisation


• Promote continuous improvement in the organisation's key performance indicators


• Actively participate in the new product and process improvement initiatives


• Promote the correct use of the MRP system as a cornerstone of business planning strategy.


• Foster close working relationships between internal and external functions of the organisation, including customer representatives, suppliers and Quality, Engineering, HR and accounts functions


• Handle employee relations matters such as overseeing absence management with timely return-to-work interviews and leave authorisation aligned with company policy. Managing underperformance, disciplinary and capability issues, and addressing grievances, ensuring appropriate communication and collaboration with line management and HR throughout.


• Perform other such duties commensurate with the nature and level of the post as may be reasonably required

Critical Competencies for Success

• A charismatic leader, you will have proven experience in managing technical and complex manufacturing activities. Your background will be in engineering or technical operations and you will already have experience of operations management.


• Significant experience managing a cellular manufacturing operation, supplying highly demanding customers.


• Well versed in modern manufacturing management and continuous improvement techniques with the ability to be selective in their application.


• Strong leadership and influencing skills, a good communicator with a track record of delivering tangible results through effective management, delegation and development of operations staff.


• Equally important, you will exercise sound commercial judgement and risk management techniques to drive operational improvement at the pace necessary to prosper within this technically demanding environment.


• Extensive experience operating in a similar role.


• Degree qualified in an engineering discipline ideally with a post graduate qualification and/or Chartered status.


• Knowledge and understanding of world class manufacturing techniques such as Lean, Kaizen, SMED etc. 


• Strong analytical skills.


• Ability to successfully motivate employees to achieve results at highest quality.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface effectively with personnel at all levels.


• Strong commercial acumen.


• A full understanding of ISO9000, ISO 18000 and ISO 14000.


• Willingness to learn and develop.


• Competent on pc’s with standard and MRP/ERP packages (Excel, Outlook, Word, EFACs etc).


• Understanding of Responsible Business initiatives.

Desirable Competencies

• Knowledge and exposure to world class manufacturing methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma

IMI is an inclusive employer; diversity is very important to us, and we want to receive applications from people from all backgrounds