Lean Manufacturing Director

Newcastle upon Tyne
8 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Project Manager

Manufacturing Engineer

Head of Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineer Automation

Manufacturing Engineer

Reliability Engineer

As the Lean Manufacturing Director, you will lead the design and execution of a lean strategy that supports long-term business goals. This role will focus on eliminating inefficiencies, driving cultural transformation, and leveraging technology to boost productivity and quality.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. Lean Strategy & Implementation



Develop a lean manufacturing roadmap aligned with strategic objectives

*

Implement Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies

*

Eliminate waste and streamline production processes

2. Operational Excellence

*

Lead initiatives including VSM, 5S, Standard Work, SMED, and Kanban

*

Introduce data-driven decision-making using real-time KPIs and analytics

*

Empower employees to identify and solve operational challenges

3. Cross-Functional Leadership

*

Collaborate across engineering, production, quality, and supply chain

*

Train and mentor teams on lean tools and best practices

*

Drive change management and employee engagement in lean initiatives

4. Performance Metrics & Cost Optimization

*

Establish KPIs for efficiency, cycle time, defect rates, and OEE

*

Lead cost-reduction and productivity improvement projects

*

Conduct regular Gemba walks and audits to uphold lean practices

5. Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0

*

Integrate automation, IoT, AI, and smart manufacturing tools

*

Develop real-time process dashboards with IT and ops teams

*

Apply predictive analytics and machine learning to optimize performance

✅ Requirements:

*

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or similar

*

10+ years of manufacturing and lean leadership experience

*

Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt preferred

*

Strong track record in large-scale operational excellence

*

Knowledge of ERP, MES, and Industry 4.0 is a plus

*

Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills

This is a high-impact role with visibility across the business—ideal for a seasoned lean expert ready to take the next step in shaping world-class manufacturing operations.

Apply now to lead transformation across a progressive and ambitious UK manufacturing group

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Education

The Skills Gap in Robotics Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Robotics is no longer confined to science fiction or isolated research labs. Today, robots perform critical tasks across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, defence, hospitality and even education. In the UK, businesses are embracing automation to improve productivity, reduce costs and tackle labour shortages. Yet despite strong interest and a growing number of university programmes in robotics, many employers report a persistent problem: graduates are not job-ready for real-world robotics roles. This is not a question of intelligence or dedication. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in robotics jobs. In this article, we’ll explore that gap in depth — what universities do well, where their programmes often fall short, why the disconnect exists, what employers really want, and how you can bridge the divide to build a thriving career in robotics.

Jobs Careers

Robotics Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

Robotics looks futuristic from the outside. People picture humanoid machines, cutting-edge labs & young engineers writing complex code. In the UK job market, the reality is more practical and more encouraging for career switchers: robotics is already embedded across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, defence, construction & inspection. That means there are real jobs for people in their 30s, 40s & 50s who bring operational experience, delivery skills, quality discipline & the ability to work with real-world systems. This article gives you a clear UK reality check on robotics careers for career switchers: what roles genuinely exist, which paths are most realistic, what skills employers actually hire for, how long retraining tends to take & whether age is a factor.

Jobs

How to Write a Robotics Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Robotics is moving rapidly from research labs into real-world deployment. Across the UK, robots are now used in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, defence, agriculture, autonomous vehicles and service industries. As adoption accelerates, demand for skilled robotics professionals continues to grow. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Robotics job adverts often receive either very few applications or large numbers of unsuitable ones. Experienced robotics engineers, meanwhile, routinely skip adverts that feel vague, unrealistic or disconnected from how robotics systems actually work in practice. In most cases, the problem is not the talent pool — it is the job advert itself. Robotics professionals are systems thinkers. They care deeply about constraints, integration and real-world performance. A poorly written job ad signals weak technical understanding and unrealistic expectations. A well-written one signals credibility, seriousness and a mature robotics programme. This guide explains how to write a robotics job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and positions your organisation as a credible employer in the robotics sector.

🍪 We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. You can review our Cookie Policy for more information.