Key Responsibilities Plan, coordinate, and manage production schedules to ensure optimal utilization of machinery, equipment, and personnel. Oversee all manufacturing activities to ensure production targets, delivery deadlines, and quality standards are consistently achieved. Monitor and improve production processes to maximize efficiency, productivity, and operational performance. Establish, implement, and maintain quality control standards throughout the manufacturing process. Collaborate with sales, procurement, and other departments to align production activities with customer requirements and business objectives. Assess project requirements and allocate resources effectively to meet operational demands. Estimate production lead times and negotiate achievable schedules with internal stakeholders. Adjust production plans and schedules as required to accommodate changing priorities and customer demands. Manage the maintenance, repair, and servicing of production equipment to minimize downtime and ensure operational reliability. Lead, supervise, and develop production teams to achieve performance objectives and continuous improvement goals. Mentor apprentices, trainees, and interns to support skills development and succession planning. Control departmental budgets, including tooling, maintenance, and operational expenditure. Monitor and manage production costs, scrap rates, and waste reduction initiatives. Drive continuous improvement activities, including workplace organization, housekeeping, and lean manufacturing principles. Promote and maintain 5S standards throughout the manufacturing environment. Ensure employee training records, competency assessments, and operational training requirements are maintained and updated. Monitor production output to ensure monthly sales and operational targets are achieved. Manage the Surface Treatment Plant and associated production activities. Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity, quality, safety, and cost efficiency. Process Management Responsibilities Act as Process Owner for designated manufacturing, operational resource management, and production service processes. Support and oversee additional operational processes as assigned. Ensure all processes are managed, controlled, monitored, and continuously improved in accordance with the Quality Management System (QMS). Exercise authority to stop any process or operation that presents a risk to employees, product quality, environmental compliance, or business operations. Ensure compliance with applicable ISO, IRIS, and other quality management standards. Leadership and Accountability Achieve departmental performance targets, budgets, productivity goals, and scrap reduction objectives. Drive employee performance, engagement, development, and succession planning. Maintain the operational effectiveness and reliability of machining centres and production equipment. Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Ensure full compliance with all company policies, legal requirements, and HSEQ standards. Promote a safe and healthy working environment through proactive risk management and safety leadership. Identify, report, and address unsafe acts, conditions, and non-conformances. Ensure employees comply with all health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements at all times. Support continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental performance. Minimum Requirements Matric certificate. Relevant Trade Qualification (Turning and Milling highly advantageous). Qualification in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Management, or related field. Minimum 10 years' production management experience within a machining or manufacturing environment. Strong CNC programming knowledge, including Siemens, Fanuc, and Okuma controls. Experience with SAP Production Planning modules. Sound understanding of quality management systems, including ISO, IRIS, and related standards. Ability to read, interpret, and work from engineering drawings and technical specifications. Strong leadership, people management, customer relationship, planning, and problem-solving skills. Proven experience managing budgets, production performance, maintenance activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.