Head of Manufacturing and Production

CFW Fans (Pty) Ltd holds a respected market position in Southern Africa, specialising in designing, manufacturing, and distributing high performance fans for the industrial, mining, power generation, marine, and HVAC sectors.

With roots dating back to 1966 under the name Continental Fan Works, our decades of experience have earned us a strong reputation as a preferred supplier to major corporations across the region. Today, CFW fans are proudly used in industrial applications around the globe.

The company employs a diverse workforce with a strong skill set in engineering. We are currently seeking a Head of Manufacturing & Production to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Provide strategic leadership and overall management of manufacturing and production operations, including fabrication, machining, assembly and finishing.
• Develop, manage and continuously improve production planning and scheduling to ensure work is prioritised effectively and production targets and customer deadlines are achieved.
• Translate sales requirements into realistic production plans, considering capacity, labour, machinery, materials and lead times.
• Monitor production progress against schedules, identify bottlenecks and delays, and implement corrective action to keep production on track.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing productivity, improving efficiencies, reducing waste and optimising manufacturing processes.
• Ensure manufacturing processes and outputs meet required quality standards and identify opportunities for ongoing quality improvement.
• Work closely with Engineering, Sales, Procurement and Logistics to ensure effective planning and seamless operational flow.
• Ensure appropriate materials, drawings, labour, machinery and other resources are available to support the production schedule.
• Oversee manufacturing processes and ensure that operational procedures, policies and controls are implemented and maintained.
• Lead, develop and mentor factory managers, supervisors, artisans and production teams, ensuring clear accountability and performance standards.
• Promote effective communication, teamwork, employee engagement and accountability throughout the manufacturing environment.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements and actively promote a strong safety culture.
• Take ownership of production related challenges and provide timely, practical and commercially sound solutions.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Tertiary qualification (N5 minimum)
• Proven experience in a senior production, manufacturing or factory management role.
• Strong experience in manufacturing and metal fabrication environments.
• Proven experience in production planning, scheduling and capacity management.
• Experience managing complex production environments with multiple projects, competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience with production management systems, ERP systems or manufacturing software will be advantageous.

Attributes Required for position:

• Strategic and operational leadership
• Strong production planning and scheduling capability
• Commercial and business awareness
• Strong technical knowledge
• Analytical and data-driven approach
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead and develop teams
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines
• Proactive and results-oriented approach
• Strong accountability and ownership
• Process improvement mindset
• Adaptability and resilience
• Ability to identify operational risks and implement practical solutions
• Policy development, implementation and governance

What working for us will be like:

• You will be part of a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive team culture
• You will work alongside a diverse group of professionals
• You will enjoy continuous opportunities for personal growth and career advancement
• You will receive a competitive, market related salary and benefits package
• You will experience a flexible and balanced work environment
• Your standard working hours will 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Thursday, and 08:00 to 15:00 on Fridays