Production Manager

Job Type: Permanent

Full time hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-16:00 37.5 hours

Location: Milton Keynes

The Company:

SMC Corporation is the UK and global market leader in its field. With its headquarters in Japan and a strong presence in over 80 countries worldwide SMC operates an extensive network of subsidiaries production sites and distribution centres. This global reach enables SMC to provide consistent high-quality automation and fluid control solutions to a diverse range of industries ensuring customers benefit from local support backed by international expertise. The companys commitment to innovation and customer service has established it as a trusted partner for businesses across the globe.

SMC Corporation UK Ltd is the wholly owned subsidiary of SMC Corporation in Japan. The UK operation is located at a substantial 14-acre site in Milton Keynes which houses our UK offices design factory and warehousing. We provide automation and fluid control solutions for factory and laboratory applications. Our target sectors are automotive food beverage & packaging and the life science sectors.

The Person:

We are seeking a Production Manager with proven team management experience to lead our Production Team and oversee the full end-to-end manufacturing process. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring products are delivered safely efficiently on time and to the highest quality standards.

The Role:

The successful candidate will play a key role in driving operational excellence embedding continuous improvement practices and developing team capability ensuring alignment with wider business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end production operations ensuring safe efficient and on-time delivery of manufactured products
• Manage daily production performance driving output quality and cost control
• Lead coach and develop production teams to improve capability engagement and performance
• Foster a culture of accountability continuous improvement and safety
• Drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve efficiency
• Work closely with engineering teams to support product development process improvements and production readiness
• Contributed to IoT and machine connectivity initiatives to improve real-time data visibility and operational decision-making
• Ensure compliance with evolving UK and European regulatory requirements
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements where applicable
• Drive quality improvements and root cause analysis

Skills and Experience:

• Production Manufacturing or Engineering Management experience
• Strong mechanical and/or electrical engineering knowledge
• Understanding of IoT connectivity or smart systems
• Knowledge of CE and UKCA compliance processes
• Continuous improvement and quality management experience
• Strong organisational and leadership skills

What We Offer:

We are continuously working to make our team even more diverse and inclusive. We welcome applications from all and are committed to attracting recruiting and retaining the most talented individuals. SMC has sustainable development goals as we believe in caring for our futures as well as the future of the planet.

Benefits and package:

Competitive annual salary dependent on skills qualifications and experience
Private medical insurance
Pension scheme
SMC rewards and benefits portal including retail discounts
Ongoing training and development

The Selection Process:

Upon application candidates will be asked to undertake some online testing followed by a first interview and second working interview in which you would spend time with the team and the systems both take place on site at our head office in Milton Keynes.