Description

Position Title: Engineering Manufacturing Lead Duration: 6 Months Contract Location: Chirk, Wales About the Role: * Our Client are seeking an experienced and driven Engineering Lead to oversee all engineering operations within our manufacturing process plant. * This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, implementing lean manufacturing techniques, and transforming our maintenance strategy from a reactive model to a robust preventative and predictive maintenance programme. * The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary engineering team and play a central role in improving plant reliability, efficiency, and safety. Key Responsibilities: Engineering Leadership & Team Management * Lead, coach, and develop a team of engineers, technicians, and maintenance professionals across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines. * Set clear performance objectives, conduct regular reviews, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. * Manage resource planning, shift coverage, and skills development to ensure optimal team capability. * Act as the senior technical authority on-site, providing guidance on complex engineering challenges. Lean Manufacturing Implementation * Champion the adoption and embedding of lean manufacturing principles across all engineering and maintenance activities. * Lead the implementation of lean tools and methodologies including 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, SMED, TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA). * Identify and eliminate waste in engineering processes, reducing downtime, material costs, and inefficiencies. * Establish and track KPIs aligned with lean objectives: GE (Global Efficiency inc. OEE), MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), and MTTR (Mean Time to Repair). * Facilitate cross-functional workshops and training sessions to build lean capability across the wider plant team. Plant Reliability & Continuous Improvement * Own the plant's asset management strategy, ensuring long-term reliability and lifecycle cost optimisation. * Lead failure investigations and root cause analyses for significant breakdowns, implementing corrective and preventive actions. * Drive capital expenditure (CapEx) projects for equipment upgrades, replacements, and process improvements. * Collaborate with Production, Quality, Health & Safety, and Supply Chain teams to align engineering priorities with business objectives. Compliance, Safety & Standards * Ensure all engineering activities comply with relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations and industry standards. * Maintain up-to-date documentation including P&IDs, SOPs, risk assessments, and equipment records. * Support internal and external audits and ensure engineering readiness at all times. Required Qualifications & Experience: * A high level of experience in an engineering or maintenance leadership role within a manufacturing or process plant environment. * Food industry experience is advantageous but not essential * Proven track record of implementing lean manufacturing techniques (e.g., TPM, 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping). * Demonstrated experience in transitioning maintenance strategies from reactive to preventative/predictive models. * Strong knowledge of CMMS platforms (ideally., SAP). * Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams in a 24/7 operational environment. * Solid understanding of health and safety legislation and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing setting. Desirable Qualifications: * Degree (or equivalent) in related Engineering field * Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt). * Experience with predictive maintenance technologies (vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasonic testing). * Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts, including IoT-enabled monitoring and data-driven decision-making