Smile Materials
Manufacturing Manager
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Company Overview
Smile Materials was built to inspire progress. Guided by joyous, purposeful principles, we transform discarded materials into beautiful, functional architectural panels and surface products. From our factory in Swansea, our work reaches architects, designers, and luxury brands around the world. Our distinctive, circular materials are specified for everything from retail displays and counters to furniture, signage, and shower panels. Whether a bespoke order or a large-scale production run, we deliver with creativity, precision, and care. Together with our network of like-minded manufacturing partners, we’re expanding the reach of circular design globally, turning would-be waste into design with impact.
To support this growth, we’re seeking an ambitious Manufacturing Manager to elevate our operations to world-class standards. The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for the overall performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement of the company’s manufacturing and logistic operations. Working closely with other departments, the Manufacturing Manager will drive operational excellence, improve productivity, reduce waste, optimise equipment utilisation, and develop a high-performing manufacturing culture.
Main Responsibilities
Health, Safety & Environmental
- Drive a strong safety culture through active hazard and near-miss reporting, with the goal of achieving zero lost-time accidents.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, legislation, risk assessments, and safe working procedures.
- Lead the environmental agenda to deliver a best-in-class carbon footprint, zero landfill waste, reduction of material waste, energy consumption, and production scrap.
- Ensure machinery, equipment, and production areas are operated and maintained safely.
- Investigate accidents, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions and implement appropriate corrective actions.
Quality & Compliance
- Drive continuous improvement in “right-first-time” performance and reduce customer complaints.
- Oversee and develop processes to ensure compliance with ISO9001 and ISO14001 standards.
- Monitor product standards and implement effective quality control programmes.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing and logistic operation.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, minimise waste, and improve quality.
- Implement Lean Manufacturing principles, including 5S, standard work, visual management, root-cause analysis, and waste reduction.
- Establish and monitor improvement projects with measurable financial and operational benefits.
- Encourage employees at all levels to contribute ideas for improving processes and working practices.
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Production & Operational Performance
- Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly production output across press, fabrication, mixing, and logistic operations.
- Continually improve output, OEE, and productivity to achieve KPIs through process improvement utilising lean principles.
- Set and achieve productivity goals for each manufacturing and warehouse team.
- Optimise resource and production planning to maximise efficiency, productivity, and on-time delivery in full (OTIF).
- Continuous Improvement of the TPM system to decrease downtime losses.
- Introduce and embed lean manufacturing principles and a 5S culture to world-class standards.
- Achieve >99% stock accuracy and ensure an efficient, world-class warehouse function.
- Organise fabrication material flow to optimise efficiency.
- Oversee repair and maintenance of production equipment.
Logistics
- Manage freight and logistics contracts to ensure cost-effective and reliable service.
- Manage costs in line with budget.
- Drive productivity and cost improvements across manufacturing and supply chain operations.
- Ensure effective management of goods-in and despatch functions.
- Conduct weekly reviews to report progress, issues, and variances against plans.
People Management & Development
- Lead, motivate, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, operators, and other manufacturing personnel.
- Set clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback.
- Identify training and development requirements and work with HR to implement appropriate programmes.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning.
- Develop a culture of accountability, teamwork, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure all employees receive appropriate training for their roles and responsibilities.
- Deputise for the Head of Manufacturing when required, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision-making.
- Be available on-call to provide operational support when required.
Maintenance & Engineering
- Work closely with Maintenance to maximise machine availability and reliability.
- Monitor equipment downtime and ensure recurring failures are addressed.
- Support preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.
- Prioritise engineering improvements and capital expenditure based on operational requirements and return on investment.
- Ensure production equipment is maintained to appropriate standards.
Cost & Performance Management
- Manage manufacturing costs within agreed budgets.
- Monitor labour, material, energy, scrap, overtime, and operational costs.
- Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities without compromising safety or product quality.
- Prepare and report manufacturing performance information to senior management.
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The Manufacturing Manager will be responsible for monitoring and improving performance against agreed KPIs, including:
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Production output
- Production efficiency
- On-time delivery
- Machine utilisation
- Downtime
- Scrap and material waste
- Right-first-time / quality performance
- Labour productivity
- Manufacturing cost per unit
- Energy consumption
- Health & safety performance
- Employee engagement and attendance
- Continuous improvement savings
- Cycle count and warehouse accuracy
- OTIF
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or in an engineering management role with a desire to transition into a broader operations function.
- Preferably from a plastics, fabrication, or hydraulic press production environment.
- Technically minded with a strong understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Proven track record of achieving manufacturing KPIs and delivering improvements in right-first-time (RFT) performance and overall efficiency.
- Hands-on experience with MRP systems.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.
- Six Sigma methodologies would be desirable.
- Excellent organisational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify areas for improvement and propose practical solutions.
- Highly results-oriented, flexible, and energetic, with a proactive and driven approach.
- Strong communication skills and a customer-focused mindset.
- Analytical with excellent attention to detail.
- Relevant degree or equivalent experience (desirable).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
What we can offer
- Experience of working for an innovative, unique, eco-driven company - taking the world’s waste and making it useful again.
- Competitive market salary - £45k to £48k per annum.
- Company share option EMI scheme & Company Pension contribution.
- Small, friendly work environment.
At Smile Materials, you’ll be part of a passionate team that’s redefining how the world sees and uses recycled materials. This is your chance to play a pivotal role in a growing company with global ambition, where creativity, sustainability, and innovation go hand in hand. If you’re driven, hands-on, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.
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