Project Manager - Injection Moulding

Key Responsibilities

Process Management & Optimisation

• Oversee day-to-day injection moulding operations, ensuring machines, tooling, and ancillary equipment run to optimum performance.
• Establish, maintain, and improve robust process settings, ensuring repeatability and consistency.
• Develop and update process documentation including SOPs, work instructions, and setup sheets.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for scrap, downtime, and quality deviations.
• Monitor and improve key KPIs such as OEE, cycle time, material usage, scrap rate, and energy consumption.

Technical Leadership

• Act as the site’s subject‑matter expert for injection moulding technology, troubleshooting complex moulding issues.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), including trial planning, tool validation, process development, and capability studies.
• Collaborate with tooling engineers, quality teams, and suppliers to resolve tooling or material issues.
• Ensure moulds are set correctly, safely, and efficiently, implementing best practices across all shifts.

Team Leadership & Training

• Lead, mentor, and develop Process Technicians, Setters, and Operators.
• Deliver training programmes to build technical competence across the team.
• Drive a culture of high performance, accountability, safety awareness, and continuous improvement.

Quality & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with relevant UK and industry regulations (H&S, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949 where applicable).
• Ensure quality standards are achieved through robust process control and in‑line inspection methods.
• Work closely with the Quality department on defect analysis, PPAP, FMEA, and control plans.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead CI activities using lean tools (5S, Kaizen, SMED, Poka‑Yoke, SPC).
• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle time, improve yield, and enhance reliability of tools and equipment.
• Support capital investment planning for moulding machines, robotics, automation, and tooling improvements.

Essential Skills & Experience Required

• Significant experience in injection moulding within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of polymer processing, tooling design, materials behaviour, and machine hydraulics/controls.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex process and tooling issues.
• Experience in process optimisation, capability studies, and root‑cause problem solving.
• Leadership experience managing teams in a production environment.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and organisational skills.

Desirable Qualifications

• Formal qualifications in Polymer Processing, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent.
• Experience with automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 systems.
• Knowledge of automotive, medical, or high‑volume consumer goods manufacturing.
• Experience working with ERP/MES systems.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and solutions‑driven.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Hands‑on and confident in a fast‑paced production setting.
• Committed to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence, lead, and develop technical teams.

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