Production Manager - Pretoria West at RCL Foods

Job Description    

• As a leading player in the Food Manufacturing industry, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality products and making a positive impact. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our team as a Production Manager.
• The job holder will be required to manage the manufacturing of value-added Mixes (Coatings, concentrates on old and new premix lines) and packing of wheat and maize products, at the Pretoria Milling site in the most cost-effective way ensuring maximum efficiency and optimal mix whilst maintaining compliance with legislation, customer specifications, food safety, and quality standards to achieve production plan targets and determine and drive best practices, benchmarking and consistency management across the Department.

The role reports to the Operations Executive and is based in Pretoria West.

Minimum Requirements    
Qualifications:

• A Diploma/ Degree in Production Management or Degree/ Diploma in industrial/ Mechanical/ Electrical Engineering
• A Wheat or Maize Milling qualification and practical experience would be advantageous

Experience:

• Relevant Manufacturing and Leadership certification or qualification
• 7 years of relevant operational experience in an FMCG manufacturing environment with at least 5 years in a management position

Duties & Responsibilities

Planning:

• Research and analyze best practices, local conditions, trends, and competitor activity to inform strategy.
• Contribute to manufacturing strategy and execute annual objectives.
• Fine-tune systems to adapt to changing work practices.
• Foster integration between cross-functional processing and planning teams.
• Innovate resource use for optimal output.
• Establish guidelines for resource optimization and minimal resource use.
• Set departmental targets aligned with plant objectives and monitor performance weekly.
• Adjust production plans to meet annual targets and address production variances.

Packing and Process Management:

• Drive continuous improvement in processes and procedures.
• Ensure departmental capacity aligns with production plans.
• Optimize resource allocation (cost, people, time) in the processing department.
• Coordinate with S&OP and Milling departments for production alignment.
• Manage labor resources within budget and develop talent pipelines.
• Monitor and adjust manpower and equipment availability to meet production needs.
• Report on departmental KPIs weekly and address non-conformances promptly.
• Manage equipment performance and maintenance priorities with Engineering.

Safety, Health, Risk, Food Safety and Quality Oversight:

• Establish systems and practices to comply with regulations and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, food safety, and quality standards.
• Maintain FSSC 22 000 standards and related management systems.
• Implement in-process quality control and sustainable environmental practices.
• Maintain high housekeeping standards and develop SOPs for packing lines.

Financial Management:

• Assume responsibility for the departmental budget.
• Forecast, plan, and review annual budgets.
• Manage input costs and address overspending.
• Implement cost containment measures and business improvement initiatives.
• Provide input into Capex plans and justify expenditures to senior management.

Contract Management:

• Collaborate with HR and Procurement for contractor selection.
• Develop SLAs for suppliers and manage contracts within the department.

Project Management:

• Manage project plans and oversee implementation within the department.
• Drive efficiency projects to improve execution and operational targets.

Reporting:

• Ensure accurate data capture for reliable reporting and decision-making.
• Utilize IT systems to analyze operational management and costs.
• Adjust processing practices to optimize volume and quality.

Staff Management:

• Manage capacity through RCL employees and external labor providers.
• Facilitate daily planning discussions and monthly 1-on-1s.
• Drive leadership development and skills enhancement.
• Manage performance and conduct disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Oversee training and career development plans.
• Conduct operational meetings and ensure objectives are met.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Manage Processing budget versus expenditure.
• Achieve planned versus actual production rate (>95%).
• Reduce process waste.
• Deliver on cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure SHEQ compliance.
• Implement training according to plans.
• Maintain staff morale and retention.
• Achieve production targets (volumes, yield, line speed).
• Manage labor costs and overtime effectively.