Production Manager

White Raven Resourcing Ltd are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to permanent and fixed term contract recruitment services. Production Manager Location: Deeside / Flintshire area (onsite) Contract Type: Permanent Department: Operations About the Opportunity Our client is a well-established and growing manufacturer operating within the aerospace and defence sector. The organisation specialises in the design, manufacture, assembly, testing, repair and support of highly engineered components and systems supplied to customers worldwide. Due to continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead a high-performing manufacturing operation, driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, safety and quality across assembly, test, development and new product introduction (NPI) activities. The Role The Production Manager will be responsible for delivering safe, compliant and efficient manufacturing performance while leading operational improvement through a Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP) framework. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing teams, improving processes and ensuring exceptional customer outcomes in a highly regulated environment. RequirementsKey Responsibilities • Lead daily SQCDP reviews, ensuring performance targets are achieved and recovery plans are implemented where necessary. • Make data-driven decisions that balance safety, quality, cost, delivery and people objectives. • Develop, coach and support supervisors and operational teams through performance management, succession planning, training and employee engagement initiatives. • Foster a positive and proactive safety culture through visible leadership, risk assessments, incident investigations and continuous improvement activities. • Ensure compliance with AS9100 and applicable ISO standards, maintaining full product conformity, configuration control and traceability. • Drive operational excellence initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S/6S methodologies, standard work practices and structured root cause analysis. • Lead manufacturing performance improvements relating to asset utilisation, productivity, inventory control, quality and cost reduction. • Manage production planning, capacity management, labour planning and schedule adherence to meet customer requirements. • Promote open communication across the department and wider business. • Oversee production, testing and development activities, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams. • Deliver and exceed key performance indicators, including OEE, First Pass Yield, On-Time Delivery, productivity, quality, labour efficiency and cost performance. • Ensure compliance with company, customer, regulatory and statutory requirements. • Support import/export control and trade compliance obligations where applicable. • Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Programme Management and Logistics teams to support NPI, industrialisation and delivery objectives. • Structure and manage the team effectively to achieve business goals. • Champion employee wellbeing, inclusion, learning and professional development. • Undertake additional management responsibilities as required to support business needs. Skills & Experience