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

Nominate & Attend

Lean Manufacturing Director

Newcastle upon Tyne
2 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Production Supervisor - Global Powerhouse

Fabrication Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Process Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Technician

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.

Robotics Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Tools, Frameworks & Technologies to Learn Now

The UK robotics sector is advancing rapidly—spanning autonomous vehicles, warehouse automation, surgical robots, and AI-powered drones. As funding and innovation grow, so does demand for robotics talent fluent in both software and physical systems. Welcome to the Robotics Jobs Skills Radar 2026—your annual guide to the most in-demand programming languages, frameworks, simulation tools & embedded platforms shaping UK robotics careers. Whether you’re a robotics engineer, embedded developer or mechatronics graduate, this radar helps you focus on the skills that matter most.

How to Find Hidden Robotics Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like IMechE, BARA & More

The robotics industry in the UK is evolving at pace—driven by advances in automation, AI, embedded systems and mechatronics. From autonomous vehicles and surgical robots to warehouse automation and space robotics, the demand for skilled professionals is growing fast. Yet despite this demand, many of the most exciting robotics jobs in the UK are never publicly advertised. They’re filled through professional networks, technical groups, academic partnerships and early-stage collaborations. In this article, we’ll show you how to uncover these hidden robotics jobs by getting involved with key organisations such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), BARA (British Automation and Robot Association), UK-RAS Network, and others. You’ll learn how to use directories, special interest groups (SIGs), CPD events, and innovation projects to discover opportunities before they’re made public.

How to Get a Better Robotics Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Redundancy in the robotics industry can feel like a sudden halt, particularly in such a complex, fast-evolving field. But with robotics at the heart of innovation across manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and defence, the UK continues to offer excellent career opportunities. Whether you're a robotics software engineer, systems integrator, mechanical design expert, or autonomous systems researcher, this guide is here to help you reset, rebrand, and relaunch your career after redundancy.