About Ablebox
Ablebox is the largest independently owned, vertically integrated manufacturer of corrugated cardboard packaging in the South of the UK. From our own corrugator through printing, die-cutting and gluing to delivery on our own fleet, we control the whole process across three sites — and our machines run around the clock to make it happen.
The role
We run 13 machines across three sites, 20 hours a day, and we're creating this dedicated role to take our planned maintenance programme to the next level.
Our maintenance engineers keep a demanding plant running every day — this role exists to give the PPM programme the focused ownership it deserves, so the whole team has the plans, time and tools to do planned work well. As Lead PPM Engineer you will both deliver and develop the PPM programme across our production plant: the corrugator, flexo printers, die-cutters, gluers and supporting equipment. Day to day you'll be on the machines carrying out planned maintenance yourself — and as you do, you'll take our maintenance schedule — daily checks, weekly cleaning and greasing, monthly machine calibration, quarterly machine inspections, and biannual and annual PPM — and develop it into a disciplined, measured, continuously improving system, built from first-hand knowledge of the kit.
This is a hands-on role in the fullest sense: you lead the PPM programme by doing it, not just planning it. You'll work alongside an experienced maintenance team, championing PPM across the business and making sure planned work gets the priority, preparation and protected time it needs.
What you'll do
- Carry out planned maintenance across the plant — checks, cleaning and greasing, calibrations, inspections and overhaul work — as our primary PPM engineer
- Own, develop and continuously improve the site PPM system end to end — schedules, task content, standards and records — refining it from what you learn on the machines
- Master our maintenance management system, and drive its development so PPM compliance, history and machine health are visible and measurable
- Work with the maintenance team to build clear, practical PPM routines for every asset: daily operator checks, weekly cleaning and greasing, monthly calibrations, quarterly inspections, and biannual/annual overhaul work
- Plan PPM around a 20/5 production schedule, working with production planning to protect maintenance windows
- Make planned work easier to do well — the right parts, plans, access and time in place before every job
- Use breakdown and downtime data to sharpen the PPM plan and close the loop — every repeat failure should change the plan
- Manage critical spares, lubrication schedules and calibration records to audit-ready standards
- Report PPM compliance, downtime trends and machine health to senior management
What we're looking for
- Substantial hands-on experience carrying out planned preventative maintenance in a manufacturing environment — ideally corrugated, paper, print, packaging or similar heavy continuous-process plant
- A genuine passion for PPM as a discipline: someone who believes prevention beats firefighting and can bring others with them
- Proven experience developing and elevating a PPM system — someone who raises standards, not just maintains them
- Strong multi-skilled engineering background (mechanical bias with electrical awareness, or vice versa) — comfortable on the tools every day
- Confident with CMMS/maintenance software and comfortable using data to drive decisions
- A collaborative style — someone who builds a programme with a team, earns buy-in from engineers, operators and managers, and gives credit where it's due
- Organised, rigorous and standards-driven: records, schedules and follow-through matter to you
What you'll get
- A rare opportunity to shape a PPM system and see the results on the factory floor
- Genuine backing from senior management — this is a strategic investment in our maintenance capability, with real authority to shape how it's done
- An experienced, capable maintenance team to work alongside
- Monday–Friday day-based role at our main Yeovil site, with occasional travel to our Henstridge and Sherborne sites
- A stable, growing, family-owned business that invests in its equipment and its people
Pay: £71,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
