This role leads the Digital Printing and Automated Finishing operation at the Dagenham site, with end-to-end accountability for digital print, UV varnishing, lamination, and Smart Stacker automation.
The Production Manager will drive operational excellence, combining people leadership, process optimisation, and technology-led manufacturing to deliver high-quality, on-time, cost-effective production at scale. The role plays a critical part in supporting business growth through automation, waste reduction, quality improvement, and continuous improvement.
Key Accountabilities
Operational Leadership & Manufacturing Excellence
- Lead and manage all aspects of Digital Printing, UV Varnishing, Lamination, and Smart Stacker automated finishing.
- Ensure production plans are delivered safely, efficiently, and to agreed OTIF, quality, and cost targets.
- Own day‑to‑day production performance, capacity planning, and workflow optimisation across the digital print value stream.
- Drive a high-performance culture focused on quality, pace, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Act as a key contributor to site‑wide production strategy and peak planning.
People Management & Workforce Planning
- Build, lead, and develop a team of Operators who are flexible, multi‑skilled, and quality driven.
- Attend daily production stand‑up meetings to review performance, risks, and priorities.
- Deliver structured performance reviews, appraisals, and KPI’s aligned to business objectives.
- Manage attendance, timekeeping, and shift compliance.
- Design and maintain effective shift patterns and production workflows.
- Plan and manage temporary labour requirements in advance of peak periods.
Training, Skills & Capability Development
- Oversee role‑specific induction training for digital print and automated finishing.
- Drive cross‑skilling and multi‑machine capability across digital print, varnish, lamination, and automation.
- Work collaboratively with other Production Managers to support cross‑departmental skills coverage.
- Define, control, and audit machine training standards to ensure only trained and authorised staff operate equipment.
- Embed a customer‑centric quality culture across print, UV, Lamination and Smart Stacker.
- Ensure all production meets or exceeds company KPIs for quality, productivity, waste, and cost.
- Analyse quality data from customer feedback and internal metrics, leading corrective and preventative actions.
- Champion lean manufacturing principles, driving waste reduction and efficiency improvements.
- Ensure production areas and equipment are maintained to high standards of 5S, cleanliness, and safety.
- Own preventative and corrective maintenance routines (daily / weekly / monthly).
- Monitor, analyse, and reduce downtime across all digital and automated equipment.
- Lead waste analysis across production and suppliers, implementing measurable improvement actions.
- Plan and schedule work to ensure downstream processes meet customer delivery date and time requirements.
- Use data to drive informed decisions on capacity, performance, and improvement priorities.
Skills & Experience
- Strong experience in Digital Printing within a fast‑paced production environment
- Proven leadership experience managing production teams and shift patterns
- Experience with automated finishing or production automation
- Strong understanding of quality systems, waste reduction, and lean manufacturing
- Excellent planning, prioritisation, and decision‑making skills
- Experience with UV varnishing, lamination, or Smart Stacker / automated finishing systems
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