Production Manager Assistant

PRODUCTION MANAGER ASSISTANT
Wire & Fencing Manufacturing Plant

Reports to: Production Manager
Supervises: Production Supervisors, and through them Machine Operators, Line Attendants and General Workers
Works with: Maintenance, Quality Control, Logistics, Stores, Safety Officer

POSITION IN THE STRUCTURE

• Sits between the Production Manager and the Supervisors / floor staff
• Acts as the Production Manager's second-in-command for the section
• Stands in for the Production Manager whenever they are absent
• Is being developed to move into a Production Manager position

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• Assist the Production Manager with the day-to-day running of the section
• Keep production flowing, targets met and quality holding
• Manage the section through the supervisors, and be visible on the floor
• Take full operational responsibility for the section when the Production Manager is away
• Build the experience and competence to run a section outright

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Production planning and execution

• Assist in planning daily, weekly and monthly production schedules
• Monitor machine uptime and coordinate changeovers, coil loading and line setups
• Ensure production targets are met — tons/day, rolls/day, units/day
• Confirm raw material and consumables are available before the shift starts, not after the line stops
• Report delays, bottlenecks and equipment downtime immediately

2. Quality control

• Ensure wire diameter, zinc coating, mesh dimensions and product specifications comply with SANS standards
• Ensure first-off samples are checked and approved on every product changeover
• Work with QC to address non-conformance, rejects and scrap
• Investigate quality deviations and see corrective actions through to closure
• Do not release product for despatch that has not been signed off

3. Managing the supervisors and the workforce

• Direct and support the Production Supervisors on shift
• Hold supervisors accountable for output, quality, safety and discipline on their lines
• Allocate manpower across the section according to production priorities
• Ensure shift handovers are done properly — what ran, what stopped, what is outstanding
• Step in directly on the floor when a supervisor is absent or a problem needs a higher hand
• Ensure operators are trained on safe machine operation and work instructions
• Monitor attendance, timekeeping and performance across the section
• Handle discipline that falls above the supervisors' level and escalate serious matters to the Production Manager

4. Health, safety and environment

• Ensure safety guards, interlocks and emergency stops are functioning before the line runs
• Enforce PPE use and safe working procedures — no exceptions, no matter the production pressure
• Report incidents and near-misses, and assist with investigations
• Ensure toolbox talks happen and are properly recorded
• Drive housekeeping and compliance with OHS Act requirements

5. Equipment and process monitoring

• Monitor mechanical descaling units, drawing blocks, galvanising lines, fencing weavers, compactors, barbed wire machines and related equipment
• Act on reports of abnormal noise, overheating, vibration, lubrication issues and wear
• Log breakdowns, set repair priorities and coordinate with technicians and artisans
• Ensure machines are released for planned preventative maintenance rather than run to failure

6. Data, reporting and administration

• Compile and check daily production reports — manhours, tonnage, scrap, downtime, rejects
• Track KPIs: manhours per ton, overtime, scrap and reject rates, line efficiency, machine uptime
• Record material usage — wire rod, zinc, gas, dies, spares
• Ensure traceability documentation is completed and accurate
• Assist with stock counts and month-end reporting

7. Process improvement

• Identify inefficiencies and propose improvements to workflow, line speed and setup times
• Assist with cost saving, quality improvement and productivity projects
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives (5S, Lean, SMED)

8. Standing in for the Production Manager

• Take full operational responsibility for the section when the Production Manager is absent
• Represent the section in production planning and management meetings
• Make operational decisions within delegated authority
• Escalate anything outside that authority — safety incidents, major quality failures, customer complaints — directly to the Plant Manager

9. Own development

• Work to a development plan agreed with the Production Manager and Plant Manager
• Build competence across every process and product line in the section, not just the ones they came up on
• Spend structured time with Quality, Maintenance and Planning to understand how the section connects to the rest of the plant
• Take on delegated management tasks — budgets, reporting, planning — with increasing independence
• Be assessed against readiness for a Production Manager position

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Matric (NQF4)
• Technical qualification or trade an advantage — Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial
• 2–3 years production experience in manufacturing, including supervisory experience; wire industry an advantage
• Knowledge of galvanising, wire drawing or steel processing beneficial
• Computer literate — MS Excel essential
• Willing to work shifts, weekends and overtime when required

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Able to manage through supervisors, not around them — supports them in front of their teams and corrects them in private
• Credible on the floor: knows the machines and the product well enough to be respected by the people running them
• High attention to detail, especially on quality and safety
• Good problem-solving ability
• Handles pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Understands mechanical equipment and basic troubleshooting
• Communicates clearly with operators, artisans and management
• Reliable, disciplined, and takes responsibility — including for mistakes

Ambitious and coachable — this role is a stepping stone, and the person must want the step.

Work Location: In person