This role leads the Digital Printing and Automated Finishing operations at the Dagenham site, with end-to-end accountability for digital print, UV varnishing, lamination, and Smart Stacker automation.
The Production Manager will drive operational excellence, combining people leadership, process optimisation, and technology-led manufacturing to deliver high-quality, on-time, cost-effective production at scale. The role plays a critical part in supporting business growth through automation, waste reduction, quality improvement, and continuous improvement.
Key Accountabilities
Operational Leadership & Manufacturing Excellence
· Lead and manage all aspects of Digital Printing, UV Varnishing, Lamination, and Smart Stacker automated finishing.
· Ensure production plans are delivered safely, efficiently, and to agreed OTIF, quality, and cost targets.
· Own day-to-day production performance, capacity planning, and workflow optimisation across the digital print value stream.
· Drive a high-performance culture focused on quality, pace, accountability, and continuous improvement.
· Act as a key contributor to site-wide production strategy and peak planning.
People Management & Workforce Planning
· Build, lead, and develop a team of Operators who are flexible, multi-skilled, and quality driven.
· Attend daily production stand-up meetings to review performance, risks, and priorities.
· Deliver structured performance reviews, appraisals, and KPI’s aligned to business objectives.
· Manage attendance, timekeeping, and shift compliance.
· Design and maintain effective shift patterns and production workflows.
· Plan and manage temporary labour requirements in advance of peak periods.
Training, Skills & Capability Development
· Oversee role-specific induction training for digital print and automated finishing.
· Drive cross-skilling and multi-machine capability across digital print, varnish, lamination, and automation.
· Work collaboratively with other Production Managers to support cross-departmental skills coverage.
· Define, control, and audit machine training standards to ensure only trained and authorised staff operate equipment.
Quality, Efficiency & Continuous Improvement
· Embed a customer-centric quality culture across print, UV, Lamination and Smart Stacker.
· Ensure all production meets or exceeds company KPIs for quality, productivity, waste, and cost.
· Analyse quality data from customer feedback and internal metrics, leading corrective and preventative actions.
· Champion lean manufacturing principles, driving waste reduction and efficiency improvements.
· Ensure production areas and equipment are maintained to high standards of 5S, cleanliness, and safety.
· Own preventative and corrective maintenance routines (daily / weekly / monthly).
· Monitor, analyse, and reduce downtime across all digital and automated equipment.
· Lead waste analysis across production and suppliers, implementing measurable improvement actions.
· Plan and schedule work to ensure downstream processes meet customer delivery date and time requirements.
· Use data to drive informed decisions on capacity, performance, and improvement priorities.
Skills & Experience
· Strong experience in Digital Printing within a fast-paced production environment
· Proven leadership experience managing production teams and shift patterns
· Experience with automated finishing or production automation
· Strong understanding of quality systems, waste reduction, and lean manufacturing
· Confident using production systems (e.g. Site Flow, ERP/MRP systems)
· Excellent planning, prioritisation, and decision-making skills
· Experience with UV varnishing, lamination, or Smart Stacker / automated finishing systems