Manufacturing Engineering Manager

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Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd. is looking to recruit to the Operations department a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to contribute to delivering company growth goals. This is a local role reporting to the Head of Manufacturing.

Company: Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd, 172 Brook Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4SD.

About Us

We have been designing and manufacturing life-saving products for 50 years, protecting people from toxic and flammable gases.

Crowcon’s vision is: a world where gas hazards never cost a life. 

Crowcon’s values are: 

• Do the right thing 

• Own the outcome 

• Work as one 

What will you be doing?

As a member of the Operations Team, the Manufacturing Engineering Manager is accountable for the leadership, development and performance of the Manufacturing Engineering function, defining and executing the manufacturing technology roadmap, ensuring robust industrialisation of new products, optimising production processes, improving operational performance and maintaining reliable manufacturing equipment to support business growth, quality, delivery and cost objectives. The team is made up as follows:

• Manufacturing Engineering
• NPI Industrialisation
• Continuous Improvement
• TPM & Shopfloor Equipment Maintenance

You will:

• Lead and manage the Manufacturing Engineering function, ensuring effective deployment of resources to support Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Growth objectives
• Develop and execute the Manufacturing Engineering strategy and roadmap aligned to operational and business objectives
• Own the industrialisation process for new products, ensuring manufacturing readiness, tooling, fixtures, test capability, documentation and capacity requirements are established prior to launch
• Act as the site technical authority for manufacturing processes, production equipment and industrialisation activities
• Oversee the design, development and implementation of manufacturing processes, procedures, systems and equipment
• Identify, evaluate and implement automation, digitisation and Industry 4.0 solutions
• Lead programme management of NPI, CAPEX, automation and continuous improvement projects
• Support Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities
• Drive manufacturing cost reduction, waste elimination and productivity improvement initiatives
• Assess manufacturing capacity and resource requirements to support future growth
• Own the TPM programme and maintenance strategy for shopfloor production equipment and manufacturing assets
• Ensure preventative maintenance plans, spares strategies, uptime targets and equipment reliability metrics are effective
• Ensure production test equipment, fixtures and methods are developed, maintained and continuously improved to support product quality and throughput
• Define and maintain manufacturing engineering standards, methods and best practices
• Facilitate root cause investigations and structured problem solving using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC and CAPA
• Lead and facilitate the site Continuous Improvement programme including training, coaching and project delivery
• Manage CAPEX budgets and departmental expenditure, including preparation of business cases
• Develop and review KPIs, ensuring appropriate countermeasures are implemented
• Utilise manufacturing data and analytics to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality systems, regulatory standards and health & safety requirements
• Develop departmental capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning and performance management
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Management and R&D teams

Your skills & experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent
• 7+ years experience in manufacturing engineering with at least 3 years in a leadership role
• Proven experience leading Manufacturing Engineering, NPI Industrialisation and Continuous Improvement activities
• Strong project and programme management skills
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience delivering automation and digital manufacturing initiatives
• Experience managing TPM and production equipment maintenance strategies
• Experience working within ISO9001 or equivalent quality management systems
• Strong understanding of DFM, DFA, process validation and product industrialisation
• Proficiency in ERP, MES, CAD, Minitab, Power BI or similar manufacturing systems
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing CAPEX and departmental budgets
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Formal project management qualification (PRINCE2, PMP or equivalent) desirable

About you

• You inspire with your passion and values
• You are collaborative and supportive
• You challenge the status quo and drive improvement
• You are data-driven and action-oriented
• You develop people and build high-performing teams
• You focus on sustainable business performance and operational excellence

Location & Remuneration

The company head office is based just south of Oxford in Didcot. This is a site-based role, requiring an on-site presence to support manufacturing operations.

There is an attractive salary plus exceptional benefits.

Company benefits:

• Generous company pension (up to 10.5% matched on a sliding scale)
• Company shares
• Health cashplan (Medicash)
• Eyecare scheme (with Specsavers)
• Corporate life insurance
• 25 days holiday
• Your birthday off (after 1 year of service)
• 3 days holiday purchase
• 14 weeks paid maternity, paternity, adoption leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Subsidised annual bus pass
• Annual train ticket payment scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Learning and development opportunities
• Free parking and subsidised EV charging points
• Salary sacrifice car leasing

Don’t have every single listed skill/experience? Studies have shown that women and people from diverse backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Crowcon we are actively building and encouraging a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, so if you’re excited about this role as the next step of your career, but you don’t feel confident you have enough past experience to perfectly align with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or another role we may have.

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