Productivity and Quality Manager - Seddon Boxes : Job Details

Job Title: Productivity and Quality Manager

Location: Kettering

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Full time / Permanent

About Us:

Seddon Boxes is a market-leading rigid packaging and jigsaw puzzle manufacturer producing presentation packaging for a multitude of industries and applications.

We have a long history of supplying packaging and jigsaw puzzles to well-renowned UK retailers and, as we embark on an exciting phase of growth, we're looking for a motivated, detail-oriented, and driven individual to join our Senior Management Team.

About the role:

Are you someone who takes pride in maintaining the highest quality standards? Do you thrive in a hands-on, fast-paced environment? This role is perfect for an individual who has a sharp eye for detail and is comfortable spending the majority of their time overseeing production in the factory. You'll play a pivotal role in monitoring and improving productivity, ensuring quality control at every stage, and upholding high operational standards across the board.

In this role, you will oversee daily operations, set clear expectations, and hold your team accountable while fostering a supportive environment. In addition, as part of our small but dynamic team, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of tasks, from day-to-day operations to special projects. We're looking for someone who is adaptable, proactive, and comfortable shifting responsibilities as needed. If you enjoy taking initiative and are driven by making improvements, we'd love to hear from you.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hands-on supervision, leadership, and development of the production team to achieve an engaged and performance-focused workforce whilst maintaining a positive environment.
• Drive site-wide productivity improvement by effective production supervision, use of manpower, and material usage.
• Take proactive steps to deliver on key areas for improvement, with a particular focus on the material preparation and die-cutting areas.
• Report daily and weekly production KPI's, offering a detailed account of variances to the production plan and making recommendations for improvement.
• Conduct 'time studies' on production processes to understand inefficiencies and propose remedial actions.
• Work with the Operations team to create and drive a production automation strategy.
• Manage manpower utilisation to keep labour costs at a minimum.
• Promote teamwork amongst reports and help to contribute to a positive company culture.
• Work with Senior Management Team (SMT) to deliver short-, medium- and long-term operational strategy.
• Create and deliver a training plan to multi-skill production operatives to ensure continuity of production and support succession planning.
• Liaise with recruitment agencies as required to obtain and manage temporary labour.
• Ensure delivery and recording of a comprehensive training programme for machine minders and production operatives.
• Perform internal audits/due diligence checks on staff compliance to quality processes and procedures.
• Conduct appraisals, performance reviews, 121's and disciplinary meetings as required with all direct reports.
• Assist with recruitment and onboarding of new team members.
• Enforce a high standard of housekeeping within the warehouse, yard, and production areas.
• Make recommendations to Sales/Commercial/CAD for the most cost-effective way to produce jobs.
• Offer solutions to help meet waste reduction targets and reduce environmental impact.
• Ensure compliance by workers to all company policies and procedures, with a particular focus on Healthy and Safety and Quality Control.
• Create written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Write risk assessments as/when required.
• Encourage and enforce high operational standards across the whole production outfit.
• Suggest improvements to quality control measures and complete non-conformance/process improvement reports when required.
• Assist with ensuring factory compliance to accreditations.
• Lead by example and be a 'Champion' for the company values.
• Action any other reasonable request made by a Senior.

About you:

• Background in packaging or print desirable.
• Knowledge of die-cutting processes preferred.
• Strong people management experience.
• Previous experience being responsible for quality control.
• Experienced in process improvement.
• IT literacy (Microsoft 365).
• Flexible to meet changing business demands.

Benefits:

• Day shift only Monday-Friday
• Factory closed on Bank Holidays
• Early Friday finish
• Access to wellbeing support via Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Discretionary bonus subject to company and personal performance
• Free parking
• Casual dress
• 24 + Bank Holidays

Please click the APPLY button to submit your CV for this role.