Rubber mat production manager

Production Manager – Rubber ManufacturingManna Group | Airapuram Rubber Park, Ernakulam, Kerala | Full-time, On-siteABOUT USManna Group is a Kerala-based rubber manufacturer with operations in India and the UAE. At Airapuram Rubber Park we run an established reclaimed rubber plant with an in-house quality control lab. We are now expanding into rubber mat manufacturing. We are looking for an experienced production manager to lead the plant through this growth and get the most out of our existing and new lines.ROLE OVERVIEWThe production manager will have full responsibility for plant production, covering reclaimed rubber and the new mat manufacturing line. The role covers planning, forecasting, and daily execution and involves working with teams across the plant to deliver the highest possible output at the right quality and cost, safely.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESProduction Planning & Forecasting- Forecast production requirements from sales orders, stock levels, and market demand- Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly production plans and schedules- Plan manpower, machine loading, raw materials, and consumables to meet targets- Track plan vs. actual every day and take corrective action to close any gapsProduction Optimization- Get the maximum output from plant capacity and machines- Carry out time and motion studies, capacity studies, and bottleneck analysis to find improvements- Reduce downtime, changeover time, scrap, rework, and energy use- Standardize processes and SOPs across all shifts- Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Kaizen, 5S and TPMPlant & Team Management- Manage all day-to-day production activity across shifts- Lead, train, and motivate supervisors, operators, and shift teams- Monitor key process parameters so output stays consistent- Build a culture of accountability, discipline, and ownership on the shop floorCross-functional Coordination- Work closely with Quality Control/Lab, Maintenance, Stores, Purchase, Sales, Dispatch, and Accounts- Work with the QC lab so products meet specifications and customer requirements- Coordinate with Maintenance on preventive maintenance to keep breakdowns to a minimum- Support the setup, trial runs, and ramp-up of the new mat manufacturing lineSAP & Reporting- Manage production planning, production orders, material issues and receipts, and stock in SAP- Keep production data and records accurate in the system.- Track and report KPIs such as output, OEE, yield, scrap percentage, and power and material consumption- Present regular performance reports and improvement plans to managementSafety & Compliance- Enforce safety standards, housekeeping, and statutory compliance in the plant- Make sure the plant meets environmental and pollution control norms.- Support ISO and other quality system requirementsREQUIREMENTS- Degree or diploma in polymer/rubber technology, mechanical or chemical engineering, or a related field- At least 10 years of experience as a production manager in a manufacturing plant- Experience in the rubber industry (reclaimed rubber, tires, rubber compounding, or rubber products) is required.- Experience in rubber mat manufacturing is a strong plus.- Proven track record of optimizing processes and increasing plant output- Strong skills in production planning, forecasting, and scheduling- Hands-on experience with SAP, including production and inventory functions- Ability to lead large teams and coordinate with multi-functional departments- Good analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills, including MS Excel- Knowledge of Malayalam preferredWHAT WE OFFER- A leadership role in a growing, multi-unit manufacturing group- The chance to help build and scale a new mat manufacturing line- Competitive salary, based on experience