Production Manager - Cable Making Business

For more than 80 years, our client’s engineers and product specialists have partnered with customers to produce highly engineered connectivity and sensing solutions that make a connected world possible. Their focus on reliability, durability, and sustainability exemplifies their commitment to progress. The unmatched range of their product portfolio enables companies, large and small, to turn ideas into technology that can transform how the world works and lives tomorrow.

Responsibilities:

Policies, Compliance & Governance

• Develop and implement manufacturing policies and procedures in compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific requirements (e.g., automotive, industrial).
• Ensure full alignment with the organization principles and drive governance across production operations.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability to support a high-performance culture.
• Drive compliance in EHS, quality systems, and corporate policies.

Strategy, Demand & Capacity Planning

• Lead SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning) alignment with cross-functional teams (planning, procurement, engineering).
• Own demand forecasting translation into executable production plans.
• Drive capacity planning, including labor, equipment, and tooling readiness for NPI and ramp.
• Develop and manage annual operating plans (AOP), budgets, and KPI targets aligned with plant and segment goals.

Production Planning & Execution

• Oversee detailed production scheduling to meet customer delivery (OTD) and lead-time targets.
• Ensure seamless coordination between planning, material availability, and shopfloor execution.
• Drive daily management using tiered accountability (e.g., SQDC boards) to close gaps quickly.
• Lead ramp readiness and execution for new programs and volume increases.

Operations & Value Stream Management

• Lead Value Stream (VS) performance to achieve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) targets.
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing and company tools (e.g., VSM, QCO, standard work, visual management).
• Ensure strong quality control and assurance, including FPY, scrap reduction, and customer complaint resolution.
• Lead structured problem-solving (8D, A3) for manufacturing and quality issues.
• Ensure STR (Short-Term Recovery) discipline for gap closure.

Inventory, Materials & Resource Optimization

• Drive inventory management aligned with company working capital targets (DOH, turns).
• Ensure material availability while minimizing excess and obsolescence.
• Optimize resource allocation (labor, equipment, floor space) to maximize productivity and efficiency.

Cost Management & Productivity

• Own and deliver cost commitments including productivity, conversion cost, and budget adherence.
• Drive cost reduction through Kaizen, waste elimination, labor productivity, and process optimization.
• Support make vs. buy decisions and footprint optimization where applicable.

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure high equipment uptime (OEE focus).
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance systems aligned with company standards.
• Support equipment qualification, automation, and digitalization initiatives.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and lead a high-performing, engaged production team.
• Develop frontline leaders (supervisors, VS leaders) in Lean, and leadership capability.
• Drive performance management, succession planning, and talent retention.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.

Continuous Improvement & Deployment

• Lead and sustain company deployment across production areas.
• Execute continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, Tebit savings, CI projects) to improve SQDC performance.
• Promote best practice sharing across value streams and plants.

Technology & NPI Support

• Collaborate with Engineering on NPI, process validation, and industrialization.
• Support DFM/DFA and process capability improvement.
• Drive adoption of new manufacturing technologies and automation to enhance competitiveness.

Operational Flexibility

• Demonstrate flexibility to support shift operations, ramp-up activities, and critical business needs, including off-hours leadership presence when required.

Requirements:

• Min 8-10 years working experience in an MNC with responsibilities in production operations. 
• Strong exposure to Contract Manufacturing operations. 
• SAP knowledge is an added advantage. 
• Cable manufacturing exposure is an added advantage. 
• Proven ability in People Management. 
• Hands-on experience in NPI, ramp up activities, and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Demonstrated team leadership skills with the ability to drive operational excellence.
• Travelling 20% required for product knowledge transfer.
• Fluent in English & Malay (verbal and written)