About the Role
At Studio Luigi Torre Architecture and Project Solutions, we support project-led and operational environments through structured planning, effective resource management and continuous improvement.
We are looking for an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager to join our Airdrie-based operation. You will take responsibility for day-to-day manufacturing performance, coordinating production teams, resources, materials and operational priorities to ensure safety, quality, delivery and cost targets are consistently achieved.
This role is ideal for an experienced operations professional who understands how to lead a busy production environment while balancing people management, production planning, process improvement and commercial requirements.
Why Work With Us?
Operational ownership: You will have significant responsibility for manufacturing performance and the opportunity to influence how the operation develops.
Leadership opportunity: You will lead supervisors and production teams, creating clear expectations around safety, quality and productivity.
Continuous improvement: We encourage practical changes that reduce waste, improve workflow and increase overall production efficiency.
Cross-functional exposure: You will work closely with engineering, maintenance, quality, procurement, supply chain, finance and commercial teams.
Professional development: The role provides broad exposure to manufacturing strategy, performance management, workforce planning and operational improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Operations: Oversee daily production activities and ensure agreed output, quality, delivery and safety objectives are achieved.
Team Leadership: Lead production supervisors and operational teams, set priorities and maintain clear performance expectations.
Production Planning: Coordinate labour, materials, equipment and production schedules to meet customer and operational requirements.
Performance Management: Monitor KPIs including output, OEE, downtime, scrap, labour efficiency and on-time delivery.
Continuous Improvement: Identify production bottlenecks and implement improvements using Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma or similar methodologies.
Quality Performance: Work with quality teams to investigate recurring defects and ensure production processes consistently meet required standards.
Maintenance Coordination: Partner with engineering and maintenance teams to reduce equipment downtime and improve asset reliability.
Cost Management: Monitor labour, material waste, overtime and other production expenses against operational budgets.
Capacity Planning: Review future production requirements and recommend changes to staffing, equipment, layouts or working practices.
Health and Safety: Promote safe working practices and ensure production activities comply with company procedures and applicable UK health and safety requirements.
What We Are Looking For
Experience: Ideally 6–10 years of experience in manufacturing, production or industrial operations, including several years in a supervisory or management role.
Manufacturing Knowledge: Strong understanding of production planning, workflow management, quality, maintenance and operational performance.
Leadership: Proven experience managing supervisors and production teams in a structured operational environment.
Continuous Improvement: Evidence of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost or equipment utilisation.
Commercial Awareness: Ability to understand how manufacturing decisions affect labour cost, inventory, margins and customer service.
Analytical Skills: Comfortable interpreting production reports, operational dashboards and manufacturing KPIs.
Problem Solving: Ability to respond effectively to production disruptions, capacity constraints and operational issues.
Communication: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with technical, operational and commercial stakeholders.
Desirable Requirements
- Degree, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
- Experience in high-volume manufacturing, engineering, industrial products or related production environments.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen or 5S.
- Experience using ERP or manufacturing resource planning systems.
- Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or similar platforms.
- Strong understanding of OEE and production-performance metrics.
- Experience with capacity planning and workforce forecasting.
- Experience managing operational budgets and labour costs.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001 or comparable quality-management systems.
- Experience delivering plant-improvement or capital-investment projects.
- Understanding of UK health and safety requirements in manufacturing environments.
You do not need to meet every desirable requirement. If you have strong manufacturing leadership experience and a track record of improving operational performance, we would be interested in hearing from you.
What We Value
We are looking for someone who is organised, practical and comfortable being visible within the production environment.
We particularly value managers who can identify the underlying causes of performance issues, communicate clearly with technical teams and translate operational data into practical improvements.
You should also be comfortable balancing immediate production requirements with longer-term objectives around quality, efficiency, reliability and employee development.
Application
If you have experience leading manufacturing or industrial operations and are looking for a new opportunity in Airdrie, we encourage you to apply.
Please submit an up-to-date CV highlighting the manufacturing environments you have worked in, approximate team sizes, production systems you have used and measurable improvements you have delivered in productivity, quality, downtime or cost.
Pay: £5,800.00-£6,500.00 per month
Work Location: In person
