Req ID 86790 | Elec Op - College Road, United Kingdom, ZF Automotive UK Limited
About the Team:
The UEERO Operations team comprises a total of 92-93 employees and is known for its strong performance culture and deep operational expertise. Leadership responsibility includes 85 direct reports and 7-8 indirect reports, with coordination across logistics, engineering, and maintenance functions. The team is highly passionate about customer satisfaction and delivery excellence, consistently balancing safety, quality, and cost objectives. A strong focus on meeting budget targets and operational commitments underpins daily decision‑making. The level of technical and process knowledge within the team is exceptionally high, creating a solid foundation for continuous improvement and reliable execution.
What you can look forward to as Operations Plant Manager:
- Production & Operations Leadership: Lead day‑to‑day operations across SMT, PCB assembly, electronics testing, and final assembly, ensuring the achievement of key performance indicators such as OEE, scrap, throughput, delivery performance, and labour efficiency. Manage capacity planning, production scheduling, and resource allocation to meet customer demand.
- Quality & Compliance: Ensure full adherence to IATF 16949 requirements and support internal and external audits. Collaborate closely with Quality Engineering and Supplier Quality to resolve issues using 8D, PFMEA, and control plans, and drive corrective and preventive actions to meet OEM quality expectations.
- Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing: Implement Lean, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, and waste reduction programmes, applying DMAIC and Six Sigma methodologies to improve process stability and reduce variation. Lead digitalisation initiatives including MES systems, traceability solutions, and automated testing.
- Supply Chain & Materials Management: Oversee inbound materials, inventory accuracy, and material flow in line with JIT/JIS delivery models. Work closely with Procurement and Logistics to mitigate supply risks such as semiconductor shortages, strengthening supply chain resilience and reducing premium freight and line‑stop risks.
- Leadership & People Management: Lead, manage, coach, mentor, and develop production supervisors, engineers, technicians, and production unit leadership. Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement, while ensuring performance management, succession planning, empowerment, clear accountability, diversity, and compliance in line with the ZF way.
- Customer & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the operational interface for OEM customers, ensuring high levels of satisfaction in quality, delivery, and launch readiness. Support APQP and PPAP activities for new product introductions and work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Program Management, and Finance to achieve business objectives.
Your profile as Operations Plant Manager:
- Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or equivalent.
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green/Black Belt) – preferred.
- Training in automotive quality standards – desirable.
- Experience in automotive or electronics manufacturing.
- Proven track record in Tier 1 automotive supply chain.
- Experience managing a production facility or significant production area.
- Understanding of launch processes for new automotive electronics (ECU’s sensors etc).
- Demonstrated success in applying lean tools with measurable results.
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to work closely with teams, understand operational constraints, and take decisive actions to overcome them while building a cohesive, high‑performing Team.
Why you should choose ZF in Birmingham:
- Compensation up to £60k, depending on experience and qualifications. Hours of work will normally be 37 per week.
- Pension.
- Medicash.
- Bonus.
What does DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) mean for ZF as a company?
At ZF, we continuously strive to build and maintain a culture where inclusiveness is lived and diversity is valued. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that all our employees can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this vision in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape the future of mobility.
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