National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Lean Manufacturing Director

Newcastle upon Tyne
1 month ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Plant Director

Senior Production Supervisor - Global Powerhouse

Fabrication Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Technician

Manufacturing 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

National AI Awards 2025

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.

How to Present Robotics Solutions to Non-Technical Audiences: A Public Speaking Guide for Job Seekers

Robotics is changing the world—from smart factories and autonomous vehicles to healthcare assistants and drone deliveries. But no matter how advanced the system is, a robotics solution won’t be adopted unless it’s clearly understood by those who make decisions: business leaders, clients, investors, and end-users. That’s why employers in the UK robotics industry are now actively seeking candidates who can communicate clearly and confidently with non-technical audiences. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mechanical engineer, a software specialist or an automation consultant, your ability to explain how your robots work—and why they matter—could be the difference between getting shortlisted and getting hired. This guide shows you how to structure your robotics presentation, design effective slides, use storytelling and analogies, and answer common stakeholder questions—so you can stand out in interviews and beyond.

Robotics Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now

Bookmark this guide—refreshed every quarter—so you always know who’s really scaling their robotics teams. A record £4.3 billion flowed into UK robotics & automation during the past 12 months, the government’s “Made Smarter” incentives extended to 2030, & skills shortages pushed salaries up 12 %. Whether you build autonomous warehouse fleets, surgical arms or humanoid grippers, employers want you right now. Below are 50 organisations that posted UK‑based robotics vacancies or announced head‑count growth in the past eight weeks. They’re grouped into five quick‑scan categories so you can jump straight to the type of employer—& mission—that excites you. For every company you’ll see: Main UK hub Example live or recent vacancy Why it’s worth a look (stack, impact, culture) Search any employer on RoboticsJobs.co.uk to see real‑time adverts, or set up a free alert so fresh openings land in your inbox.

Return-to-Work Pathways: Relaunch Your Robotics Career with Returnships, Flexible & Hybrid Roles

Returning to work after a career break can feel like stepping onto a moving conveyor belt—especially in a hands-on, fast-paced field like robotics. Whether you paused for parenting, caring responsibilities or another life chapter, the UK’s robotics sector now offers a wealth of return-to-work pathways. From structured returnships to flexible and hybrid roles, these programmes value your transferable skills and lived experience, pairing you with mentorship, targeted upskilling and supportive networks so you can confidently relaunch your robotics career. In this guide, you’ll learn how to: Grasp the current demand for robotics talent in the UK Translate your organisation, communication and problem-solving skills into robotics contexts Overcome common re-entry challenges with practical solutions Refresh your technical knowledge through targeted learning Access returnship and re-entry programmes tailored to robotics Find roles that fit around family commitments—whether flexible, hybrid or full-time Balance your career relaunch with caring responsibilities Master applications, interviews and networking specific to robotics Draw inspiration from real returner success stories Get answers to common questions in our FAQ section Whether you aim to return as a robotics engineer, controls specialist, automation integrator or research scientist, this article maps out the steps and resources you need to reignite your robotics career.