Production Manager

Overview

The Production Manager at Treatt US is accountable for overseeing daily production and blending operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and effective achievement of business objectives aligned with World Class Manufacturing standards. This leadership role manages Team Supervisors and operational personnel, focusing on production output, labor optimization, quality assurance, KPI monitoring, and customer satisfaction. The manager also spearheads continuous improvement initiatives, structured problem-solving, process enhancement, and data-driven decisions, collaborating cross-functionally with Engineering, R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to boost productivity, minimize waste, enhance labor efficiency, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Succession planning for future leadership roles is a key responsibility, fostering a culture of technical ownership, improvement, and operational discipline.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to Environment, Health, Safety, Security, and Quality standards of the company.
• Provide accurate daily production progress reports and promptly communicate any delays with causes to the Plant Manager to assist in minimizing impact on deliveries and planning.
• Collaborate with Production Planners to advise on staffing levels, production scheduling, and potential timeline challenges.
• Support Research and Development with departmental scale-up projects for successful implementation.
• Lead a 'right first time' policy to meet all orders timely and within specifications.
• Maintain high housekeeping and 5S standards with sustainable practices throughout the department.
• Oversee the safe startup and shutdown of plants and auxiliary equipment.
• Review and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process cleaning protocols; ensure operator safety training is current and comprehensive.
• Manage labor budgets to optimize staffing and reduce non-value-added activities by improving team efficiency and work methodologies.
• Implement and uphold KPIs for blending, distillation, and extraction departments, monitoring adherence and utilization.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence programs using Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Lead manufacturing engineering efforts to optimize processes, resolve constraints, increase equipment use, and establish robust procedures.
• Develop digital manufacturing capabilities including KPI dashboards and data-centric performance management routines.
• Lead cross-department improvement initiatives ensuring solutions are robust, commercially viable, and embedded in standard operations.
• Maintain GMP and BRC compliance in all production aspects.
• Promote awareness and practices related to COSHH, risk assessments, HAZOP, OSHA regulations, process safety, manual handling, vehicle/pedestrian safety, PPE use, and incident reporting.
• Ensure accurate inventory data management via JD Edwards and support good inventory practices.
• Prepare and manage annual operating budgets collaboratively within set timeframes and cost limits.
• Administer direct report duties for Team Supervisors including leave approvals, absence tracking, and maintaining minimum staffing levels.
• Monitor team performance and collaborate with HR to address underperformance, with Plant Manager support.
• Support training programs for operators to achieve level 2 certification and cross-training for labor flexibility.
• Maintain skills matrices and address skills gaps and succession planning within departments.
• Foster positive employee behavior through coaching, mentoring, morale boosting, training, and recognition.
• Contribute to emergency responses and represent the department in Health & Safety Committees.
• Promote food hygiene, HACCP, and quality compliance across operations.
• Perform additional duties as aligned with job scope and act in the best interest of Treatt US and Treatt Plc.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven experience in production management or manufacturing operations leadership, preferably in complex process industries.
• Understanding of BRC and customer quality standards.
• Comprehensive knowledge of assembly processes including efficiency and workmanship criteria.
• Expertise in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving, leading to operational advances.
• Ability to leverage operational data, KPIs, OEE, labor efficiency, yield, and waste metrics to identify and prioritize improvements.
• Capability to coach and develop technically skilled staff including engineers and future leaders.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills to manage diverse responsibilities and meet deadlines effectively.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Work involves exposure to hazardous chemicals and includes an open office and laboratory environment with typical spacing. Duties require presence on the shop floor and in production or workshop areas. Physical activities include sitting, walking, stooping, crouching, crawling, and standing.