Plant Director

Our client is a food manufacturing company specialising in chocolate and pastry production, seeking a Lean Manager to lead continuous improvement across their Wellgrow site.
This role sits at the intersection of technical process ownership and lean transformation, leading active Quality Improvement Projects on the shop floor, running Gemba Walk and Daily Performance Management systems, and building the team’s problem-solving capability from foundational 5S and Lean Basics through to advanced OEE, root cause, and bottleneck analysis methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of and lead the site’s active Quality Improvement Projects covering chocolate production, pastry production, maintenance, and warehouse operations
• Lead the recurring Gemba Walk cadence, rotating leadership across area owners, generating reports, and tracking issues to closure
• Maintain and drive shop-floor use of the Daily Performance Management Dashboard across chocolate and pastry areas
• Keep core Lean Management routines running continuously including Lean Basics training, 5S, Gemba, and area-specific Lean projects
• Own Cost Saving tracking and equipment and process qualification documentation
• Prepare Process Flow and Routing documentation ahead of any new project or process change, validated with the technical team before release
• Maintain the OEE and Productivity tracking system
• Track ongoing QIPs against timeline, closing open actions with production owners
• Complete root cause analyses, link defect data to work methods, and formalise findings into Work Instructions and standards
• Set up and finalise Quality Acceptance Standards for new and existing products
• Deliver and refresh Lean Basics and 5S training for supervisors and operators
• Maintain the One-Point Lesson library and document control index
• Facilitate a monthly Project Review to update progress, close actions, and brainstorm countermeasures
• Progressively upskill the team on 8 Wastes, 6 Big Losses, OEE, PDCA, 5 Why, Fishbone and 6M analysis, Cycle Time and Process Flow mapping, Spaghetti Diagrams, Autonomous and Preventive Maintenance, and CAPA
• Build and maintain KPI Dashboards visible from operator to management level
• Maintain an Action Tracking Sheet with clear escalation rules for unresolved issues

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Management, or Operations Management
• 3 or more years of experience in a Lean Manager, Technical Lead, or process improvement role, ideally within food, confectionery, or pastry manufacturing
• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, or Total Productive Maintenance credentials are strongly preferred
• Practical, hands-on experience with core Lean tools including 5S, Gemba Walks, Value Stream and Process Flow Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, and Work Instruction development
• Working understanding of OEE and how to use it as a shared performance language across a production line
• Experience running structured problem-solving including PDCA, 5 Why, and Fishbone and 6M with cross-functional shop-floor teams
• Comfortable owning and maintaining data tracking systems including KPI dashboards, DPM boards, and action tracking sheets
• Experience preparing and validating Process Flow and Routing documentation for new products or process changes
• Excellent written and spoken English and Thai communication skills
• Results-driven mindset with genuine ownership of cost saving initiatives

Our client is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered sensing, control, and sealing components, serving the appliance, HVAC, refrigeration, industrial equipment, automotive, and aerospace sectors.
With over 3,000 employees across five manufacturing facilities worldwide, they are seeking a Plant Manager to provide full site P&L leadership at their Prachinburi facility.
Reporting to the Operations Director and VP Operations, this role drives operational excellence across production, quality, EHS, supply chain, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations ensuring safe, efficient, and profitable manufacturing performance
• Develop and execute operational strategies across gross profit, productivity, quality, delivery, and customer satisfaction
• Champion a zero-harm safety culture with full EHS regulatory compliance across the site
• Drive quality excellence through CAPA programmes, defect reduction, and compliance with industry standards
• Lead cost reduction through OEE improvements, yield optimisation, scrap reduction, and overhead control
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, automation, and digitalisation initiatives across the plant
• Build a high-performance organisation through leadership development, coaching, and succession planning
• Collaborate cross-functionally on NPI, demand planning, and business growth initiatives
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, and CAPEX investment plans

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; an MBA is preferred
• 10 or more years in manufacturing operations, including at least 5 years in senior management
• Proven track record managing plant operations with full P&L and CAPEX and OPEX responsibility
• Experience in automotive, HVAC, or electronics manufacturing is preferred
• Lean, Kaizen, and Six Sigma expertise
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken
• High flexibility with the ability to work with global teams across time zones and travel regionally