Production Manager

About the Role: Join a dynamic manufacturing organisation as a Production Manager, where you will lead and optimise production operations to deliver high-quality output efficiently, safely, and cost - effectively. This hands-on leadership role involves strategic planning, process improvement, and team management in alignment with industry standards, legislation, and best practices. You’ll drive continuous improvement using methodologies like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, ensuring compliance with ISO standards and Australian regulations while fostering a high-performance culture. Core Responsibilities: - Develop, implement, and monitor production strategies, policies, and plans aligned with organizational goals, ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, and methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (DMAIC/DMADV), and Total Quality Management (TQM). - Plan production activities, including schedules for output quality, quantity, cost, timeframes, and labour requirements, using ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Odoo) and Production Planning & Control (PPC) software, while ensuring compliance with Fair Work Act 2009 and relevant labour laws. - Control plant operations and quality procedures through preventive and predictive maintenance scheduling via CMMS (e.g., Fiix, eMaint, IBM Maximo), allocating operating hours, and managing spare parts/tools availability using Just-in-Time (JIT) and Kanban systems. - Monitor production output and costs through real-time dashboards, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and variance analysis; adjust processes and resources to minimise costs via Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and process re-engineering. - Inform senior management and cross-functional teams about production matters through structured reports, weekly/monthly meetings, and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana), ensuring alignment with ASIC corporate governance standards. - Oversee the acquisition and installation of new plant and equipment, conducting feasibility studies, ROI analyses, and cost-benefit assessments; ensure compliance with Australian Standards (AS), ISO/IEC standards, and WHS regulations, including risk assessments and commissioning. - Direct research into production methods, recommend initiatives for process innovation (e.g., Industry 4.0 practices like automation, IoT, AI, and robotics), and incorporate sustainability consistent with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. - Control the preparation and maintenance of production records, reports, logs, and compliance documentation using Document Management Systems (DMS) (e.g., SharePoint, M-Files, DocuWare) to meet ISO 9001 traceability and audit requirements. - Coordinate occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements in line with ISO 45001, Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice, and WHS legislation; conduct risk assessments, implement hazard controls, and oversee safety training and incident reporting. - Direct staff activities, monitor performance using Key Result Areas (KRAs), KPIs, Balanced Scorecards, and 360-degree feedback; ensure training aligns with National Training Packages, industry certifications, and employment laws. Expanded Responsibilities: - Project-manage production improvement initiatives (e.g., pilot testing new methods, benchmarking against industry leaders, or sustainability rollouts) using continuous improvement cycles and frameworks like ADKAR or Kotter for change management. - Facilitate cross-functional teams or production forums; capture actions, drive follow - through, and analyse metrics such as throughput, defect rates, downtime, and capacity utilization for process enhancements. - Drive operational efficiency by auditing compliance registers (e.g., equipment maintenance, safety training expiries) and preparing high-quality documentation like production logs, inspection reports, and outcome summaries. - Coach supervisors and staff in effective performance conversations, task allocation, and competency development; support workforce planning to optimise rostering and reduce overtime while maintaining safe workloads. - Maintain and audit inventory systems (e.g., RFID/barcode tracking) and quality control platforms (e.g., Minitab, QMS); generate insights using data visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau. - Support annual performance reviews, remuneration benchmarking, and equipment upgrades; ensure all activities promote a culture of safety, quality, and innovation. Key Qualifications: - Tertiary qualification in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or related discipline (or equivalent experience). - Demonstrated experience in a production management or operations role within a manufacturing environment in Australia. - Strong knowledge of Fair Work Act 2009, WHS/OHS legislation, Modern Awards, ISO 9001/45001/14001 standards, and contemporary production best practices. - Proficiency with production tools and sys