Production/Plant Manager

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of jewelry manufacturing operations—from planning and scheduling to quality control and timely delivery. This role ensures efficient workflow across departments such as casting, goldsmithing, stone setting, polishing, and plating while maintaining strict standards of craftsmanship, precision, and safety. The Production Manager also leads continuous improvement initiatives, drives productivity, and collaborates with Sales and Design teams to ensure alignment of output with customer orders and business targets.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning and Workflow Management

• Create and manage the daily and weekly production schedule based on confirmed orders, priority items, and deadlines.
• Monitor production output across all sections (casting, fabrication, setting, finishing, plating, etc.) to ensure targets are met.
• Balance workload among teams to minimize bottlenecks and idle time.

1. Team Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise and coordinate team leaders, artisans, and production staff across all shifts and departments.
• Conduct regular team huddles, productivity reviews, and coaching sessions.
• Ensure alignment with production KPIs, quality standards, and discipline policies.

1. Quality Control and Craftsmanship Standards

• Implement and enforce strict quality control at every production stage.
• Review samples, pre-final, and final products for accuracy, durability, and finish.

• Work closely with QA/QC personnel and designers to resolve quality issues or design challenges.

1. Material and Inventory Coordination

• Coordinate with Procurement and Inventory to ensure availability of raw materials, stones, and tools.
• Prevent material shortages or wastage by monitoring consumption patterns.
• Approve job orders and monitor material yield and actual usage per item.

1. Production Reporting and Efficiency Tracking

• Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly production reports including output, rejects, reworks, and delay causes.
• Analyze performance metrics and lead time data to identify areas for process improvement.
• Recommend solutions to increase productivity, reduce errors, and shorten production turnaround time.

1. Health, Safety, and Compliance Oversight

• Enforce workplace safety protocols, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance procedures.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal operating standards.
• Lead initiatives on ergonomic and safe production practices.

1. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, R&D, and Design teams to align production with product development timelines.
• Participate in product launches, material sourcing discussions, and client-specific requirements.
• Manage rush orders and high-priority items with sensitivity to deadlines.

Behavioral Expectations:

• Hands-On Leader: Visible on the production floor, respected by artisans, and involved in day-to-day operations.
• Process-Oriented and Detail-Focused: Plans ahead and enforces procedures without overlooking craftsmanship and artistry.
• Firm but Fair: Maintains discipline, motivates the team, and upholds a respectful working culture.
• Solutions-Focused: Reacts quickly and calmly to address issues in production, delays, or material shortages.

• Committed to Quality: Cares deeply about output precision, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation.
• Results-Oriented: Driven by efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Production Management, or any related field
• At least 5–8 years of experience in production or manufacturing (experience in jewelry production is a strong advantage)
• Proven leadership experience in supervising multi-department production operations
• Solid understanding of metalwork, jewelry-making processes, and quality inspection standards
• Proficient in production scheduling, resource planning, and reporting tools (Excel, ERP systems, etc.)
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Experience in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement practices is a plus

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Daily and weekly production target achievement
• On-time order fulfillment rate
• Quality pass rate and number of reworks/rejects
• Material yield vs. wastage percentage
• Production cycle time per product type
• Team attendance, productivity, and discipline rate
• Machine downtime and safety incident frequency
• Cross-department coordination effectiveness and feedback