About Welland Medical Ltd:
Welland Medical brings to market the best and most innovative products that enhance the lives of people living with a stoma across the world. Investing in the most talented people, collaborating to create world-class, ground-breaking products and services devoted to improving peoples’ lives. We are passionate about making a difference in the world.
Welland Medical is a part of Clinimed Holdings Limited, a prominent figure in the Healthcare and Medical Equipment sector. Clinimed Holdings Limited comprises a group of companies established in 1982 through the acquisition and formation of various entities within the group.
Job Summary:
Senior manufacturing leadership role responsible for delivering safe, high-quality, cost-effective production performance across a 24/7 multi-shift operation. The position leads production, Continuous Improvement and operational excellence initiatives, driving improvements in OEE, quality, delivery and cost through Lean Manufacturing and structured CI methodologies. The role also provides leadership to Shift Managers, supports site expansion projects, and contributes to strategic and operational planning as part of the Senior Leadership Team.
Benefits:
* Company Car / Car Allowance
* Contributory Pension Scheme
* Medical Cash Back Plan
* Life Assurance (4 x Annual Gross)
* Annual Performance Bonus
* Annual Pay Review
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Employee Referral Scheme
* Free Yearly Flu Vaccination
* Discounts on Selected Products and Services
* Employee Assistance Programme – Health and Wellbeing
* Annual Leaves - 25 Days Per Year Rising to 27 Days After 5 Years Service in Addition to Bank Holidays and An Extra Company Day (And Christmas Shutdown)
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
* Deliver weekly and monthly production plans on time, in full, and at standard cost.
* Lead site-wide Continuous Improvement activity by setting the CI agenda, prioritising the improvement pipeline, and driving execution through two CI Experts.
* Build a fully integrated improvement programme by partnering cross-functionally with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality teams.
* Translate the agreed production schedule into effective shift-level sequencing and execution plans through the Planning function.
* Lead, coach and hold accountable four Shift Managers to deliver operational excellence.
* Drive performance against key manufacturing metrics, including OEE, first-pass yield, scrap and rework.
* Reduce customer complaint rates through robust root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions at source.
* Own the Machine Setter competency framework and develop shopfloor capability to support operational performance and flexibility.
* Partner with QARA to strengthen quality performance, maintain audit readiness, and ensure timely CAPA closure.
* Maintain accountability for safety performance across the entire production operation.
* Ensure full compliance with GMP and ISO 13485 standards within the manufacturing environment.
* Support site capacity expansion projects, including new production line commissioning and operational ramp-up.
* Contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to site strategy, operational planning, and capital investment decisions.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
* Units produced versus production plan, by shift
* On-time delivery performance against schedule
* Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by line and shift
* Labour cost per unit, overtime utilisation, and agency labour spends
* First-pass yield, scrap, and rework performance rates
Personal Specifications:
Essential:
* Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, ideally with a specialisation in Manufacturing and Operations Management.
* Proven senior production leadership experience within demanding, high-volume, cost-focused manufacturing environments.
* Extensive experience leading complex 24/7 multi-shift manufacturing operations of comparable scale (150+ FTE), with full accountability for output, cost, quality and delivery performance across all shifts.
* Strong practical expertise in Lean Manufacturing principles and tools, including value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, SMED, visual management, line balancing and pull systems.
* Deep working knowledge of Continuous Improvement methodologies, including Kaizen, A3 problem solving, root-cause analysis and structured shopfloor CI deployment.
* Demonstrated success delivering significant improvements in OEE, quality and operational performance through effective Lean and CI implementation.
* Strong people leadership capability, with experience developing Shift Managers and building leadership capability and succession strength across multi-shift operations.
* Lean / Six Sigma Black Belt certification, or equivalent demonstrable capability in operational improvement leadership.
* Experience leading manufacturing capacity expansion projects, including new production line commissioning and ramp-up.
Desirable:
* Experience operating within regulated manufacturing sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food, automotive or aerospace.
* Direct experience within medical device manufacturing environments.
* Working knowledge of ISO 13485 requirements and standards.
* Exposure to Toyota Production System (TPS) and/or World Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodologies.
* Proven track record leading Continuous Improvement teams and embedding CI as a core line-management discipline rather than a standalone support function.