Production Manager
Manna Rubber Products · Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Tailor my CV for this job — freeJob title: Production Manager
We’re growing our range of compression-molded rubber products, including rubber mats.About the RoleWe’re looking for an experienced production manager to lead our compression-molded rubber goods production. You’ll run day-to-day production, including planning, people, machines, quality, and reporting, and you’ll be responsible for improving machine and manpower efficiency in ways we can measure. Our plant runs 24 hours a day with heavy crushing and grinding machinery, so keeping machines running is central to this role. You’ll work closely with our maintenance team to cut breakdowns and downtime.Key ResponsibilitiesPlan and run daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules against sales orders so orders ship on time at the target quality and cost.Manage the full compression molding process: compound issue, preform preparation, press loading, curing (time, temperature, and pressure), deflashing, trimming, inspection, and packing.Lead, train, and motivate shift supervisors, operators, and contract workers. This includes manpower allocation, shift planning, discipline, and multi-skilling.Measure and report machine efficiency (press utilization, OEE, cycle time, downtime, and changeover losses) and act to improve it.Measure and report manpower efficiency (output per man-hour or man-shift, labor cost per piece or kg, overtime, and absenteeism).Prepare daily production reports and a monthly MIS covering plan vs. actual, OEE, rejection and scrap, material consumption vs. standard, and yield.Reduce rejection and rework by finding the root cause of molding defects (under-cure, air traps, short fill, blisters, excess flash) and putting corrective actions in place, working closely with the QC lab.Control material consumption, flash and scrap losses, and energy use.Make sure production transactions in SAP are accurate: production orders, material issues, receipts and stock.Work hands-on with the maintenance team to keep 24/7 crushing, grinding, and molding equipment running. Plan preventive maintenance around the production schedule, respond to breakdowns, and track downtime, MTBF, and MTTR.Make sure high-vibration machines get regular condition checks (vibration, bearing temperature, alignment, foundation and fastener tightness, and lubrication) and that critical spares are kept in stock.Lead root-cause analysis of repeat breakdowns and push for permanent fixes. Build operator-level care routines such as daily cleaning, inspection, and lubrication checklists.Coordinate with stores, QC, and dispatch.Enforce safety, 5S, and housekeeping standards, including safe operation of hydraulic presses.Support new product development, mold trials, SOPs, and process sheets.Requirements10+ years as a production manager or in a related role (production in-charge, assistant production manager, or plant manager).Strong hands-on knowledge of compression molding presses, curing parameters, mold handling, and common molding defects.Hands-on experience with maintenance of heavy industrial machinery, including preventive maintenance systems, breakdown handling, and root-cause problem solving. Experience in a continuous (24/7) plant with high-vibration equipment is strongly preferred.A record of leading and managing large shopfloor teams across shifts.Strong skills in calculating machine efficiency (OEE) and manpower efficiency, with experience reporting regularly from data.Good working knowledge of ERP systems and MS Excel.A degree or diploma in polymer/rubber technology, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field.PreferredExperience in rubber-molded goods production (especially rubber mats)Experience working with reclaimed rubber compounds.Knowledge of TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) or condition monitoring, such as vibration analysis.Exposure to Lean, 5S, Kaizen, or ISO 9001 systems.Experience setting up or scaling a molding line.Ability to speak Malayalam and Hindi with shop floor teams.What We OfferA competitive salary based on experience.A leadership role in a growing business, with room to shape processes from the ground up.A hands-on management team that is investing in automation and digital production tools.