Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Lean Manufacturing Director

Newcastle upon Tyne
6 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Automation Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Controls Engineer

Injection Moulding Team Leader

Senior Project Manager

Controls 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.

Robotics Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK robotics hiring has shifted from toolbox checklists to capability‑driven evaluation that emphasises deployed systems, safety, reliability and total cost of ownership. Employers want proof you can ship and sustain robots in production—industrial arms & cobots, AMRs/AGVs, field robots, surgical/med‑tech, warehouse automation, inspection & maintenance. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews and how to prepare—especially for robotics software engineers (ROS/ROS 2), perception/vision engineers, controls & motion planners, mechatronics & embedded, safety & compliance, test/V&V, DevOps/SRE for fleets, and robotics product managers. Who this is for: Robotics software/perception/controls engineers, mechatronics & embedded, simulation & test, DevOps/SRE for robotics fleets, HRI/UX, safety/compliance, field/commissioning engineers, and product/technical programme managers in the UK.

Why Robotics Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Robotics used to be the domain of mechanical, electrical and software engineers. In the UK today, robotics is more than motors and control loops — it’s about perception, interaction, trust, regulation and integration into human environments. That evolution means robotics careers are becoming more multidisciplinary. Modern robots interact with people, collect data, operate under constraints, and often assist in safety-critical environments (healthcare, manufacturing, transport). So engineers now collaborate closely with legal, ethical, psychological, linguistic and design experts. In this article, we explore why UK robotics careers are evolving into multidisciplinary roles, how law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design intersect with robotics, and how job-seekers and employers can adapt to this shift.

Robotics Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Robotics Department

Robotics is transforming manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, entertainment and more. In the UK, advances in robotics span autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), robotic arms, surgical robotics, drone systems, human-robot interaction, and collaborative robots (cobots). Building effective robotics systems requires not only strong hardware and software, but also finely coordinated teams with clear roles from research through deployment and maintenance. If you’re a candidate applying for robotics roles or an employer hiring through RoboticsJobs.co.uk, this guide will help you understand who does what in a mature robotics department, how the lifecycle of a robotics product works, what skills and qualifications UK employers typically expect, what salaries look like, common challenges, and best practices for structuring teams that deliver.