Production Manager

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.•Ayer, MA

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The production manager plays a key role in optimizing production efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining high levels of productivity through effective leadership and coordination of the production supervisor and operators overseeing the production processes to achieve daily production targets. The incumbent is responsible for managing, motivating, and developing production staff in addition to upholding plant policies, procedures, maintaining safety, quality, and production standards. Promotes and leads a culture of continuous improvement initiative to drive waste out of the production process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, business management, or food science required.
5+ years supervisory/management experience in food or beverage manufacturing with a strong understanding of food safety regulations and production processes.
Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and familiarity with standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Working knowledge of Daily Management Systems and Lean Manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste.
Basic understanding of OSHA and FDA regulations
Proficient in Microsoft applications; Word, Excel, Power Point, Access. Familiarity with SharePoint helpful
Ability to identify potential risks and implement solutions proactively.
Ability to create reports and present data on department KPIs including safety, quality, and production yields, losses etc.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and follow-up skills with the ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization.
Ability to transfer technical knowledge to practical applications.
Ability to lead and implement change, develop and motivate team members while maintaining a positive work environment, ensuring accountability and ensuring a high level of employee engagement.

Nice To Haves

Aseptic processing experience a plus.
Previous experience implementing Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement, employee involvement, and change management initiatives and processes.

Responsibilities

Ensures that finished products are consistently manufactured meeting prescribed standards, on time, and within cost expectations. Ensures delivery of business objectives through the execution of standard processes, workflows, and resource management.
Leads daily management processes (cascading/escalation) for alignment with the objectives in the short term (Gemba's, Team Huddles), Weekly and Monthly Operational Reviews for medium and long term to achieve production plans.
Motivate, guide, support, and coach team members to achieve objectives.
Elaborates and executes workforce development program that will provide appropriate flexibility of workforce and assets.
Focuses on material availability, finished goods quality, and on-time delivery through optimal resource allocation.
Provides timely feedback and coaching to individuals and teams to develop them to their full potential and to achieve objectives.
Ensure succession plans, development and coaching of direct reports, including the development of job specific training.
Promotes and enhances a positive labor-management relationship including efforts to ensure a culture of teamwork and employee engagement.
Ensure employees are trained and clear on safety expectations, including safety observations, programs, committees and timely communication.
Ensure the timely launch of new products to the market as per agreement with the business unit.
Other duties as assigned.