Group Manufacturing Director – Europe & Asia Manufacturing Interface

The Business

Established in 1909, the Group is a long-standing international manufacturer of high-quality fittings and valves serving the Plumbing, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration (PHAR) sectors.
Manufacturing is based in Germany, Spain, and Poland, with global distribution and a strong reputation for engineering excellence, reliability, and long-term customer partnerships.

Position Purpose

The Manufacturing Director is accountable for the operational, financial, and strategic performance of all European manufacturing facilities and the effective coordination with Asian manufacturing partners where required.

The primary objective is to achieve or exceed all budgeted KPIs while ensuring safe, efficient, cost-competitive, and customer-focused manufacturing operations.

The role requires a strong engineering and manufacturing background with proven multi-site leadership experience.

Key Responsibilities & KPI Accountability

Operational Performance

Ensure all manufacturing facilities achieve budgeted operational targets.

KPIs:

• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): ≥ 85%
• Labour Productivity: ≥ Budget Target
• Schedule Adherence: ≥ 98%
• Capacity Utilization: 85-95%
• Manufacturing Lead Time: ≤ Budget Target
• Unplanned Downtime: < 2% of available hours
• On-Time Production Completion: ≥ 98%
• CRM Adoption & Call Planning Compliance: ≥ 95%
• Attendance at Major Strategic Trade Fairs

Cost Management & Profitability

Own all manufacturing costs and continuously improve competitiveness.

KPIs:

• Manufacturing Cost per Unit: ≤ Budget
• Conversion Cost Variance: ≤ ±2% to Budget
• Direct Labour Cost Variance: ≤ ±2% to Budget
• Factory Overhead Variance: ≤ ±2% to Budget
• Annual Productivity Savings: Minimum 3–5% of manufacturing spend
• Scrap & Waste Cost: ≤ 1.5% of production value
• Inventory Obsolescence: ≤ 0.5% of inventory value

Quality Performance

Ensure products consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements.

KPIs:

• First Pass Yield (FPY): ≥ 98%
• Customer Complaints: < 5 per million units shipped
• Internal Defect Rate: < 1%
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ): ≤ Budget
• Corrective Action Closure: 100% within agreed timeline
• Implement necessary regulatory requirements: 100% within required timeline

Supply Chain Execution

Work closely with the Supply Chain Director to deliver customer service objectives and execute the approved production plan.

KPIs:

• Production Plan Adherence: ≥ 98%
• Customer Service Level (OTIF): ≥ 98%
• Finished Goods Availability: ≥ 98%
• Recovery Plans for Schedule Risks: Implemented within 24 hours
• Monthly S&OP Commitment Achievement: ≥ 98%

Capital Expenditure Management

Prepare, justify, execute and monitor capital investment projects.

KPIs:

• Annual Capex Delivery: 100% within approved budget
• Capex Project Completion: ≥ 95% on time
• Approved ROI Achievement: ≥ 100%
• Payback Achievement: Within approved business case timeline
• Monthly Post-Investment Reviews: 100% completed
• Annual Productivity Gain from Capex: ≥ Target approved in business case

Asia Manufacturing Coordination

Ensure alignment, performance, quality, cost competitiveness, and supply reliability from Asian manufacturing operations.

KPIs:

• Asia Supplier OTIF: ≥ 98%
• Asia Quality PPM: ≤ Target
• Cost Reduction Initiatives Delivered: ≥ Budget
• Quarterly Supplier Performance Reviews: 100% completed
• Corrective Actions Closed on Time: ≥ 95%

Health, Safety & Environment

Ensure a safe working environment and full regulatory compliance.

KPIs:

• Lost Time Accident Rate (LTIR): Zero
• Recordable Incident Rate: Continuous annual reduction
• Safety Audits Completed: 100%
• Corrective Actions Closed: 100% within target date
• Environmental Compliance: Zero violations

Leadership & Team Development

Demonstrates the energy, resilience and organisational capability to successfully lead a demanding international manufacturing operation with frequent weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual business reviews, performance meetings and international travel.

KPIs:

• Employee Engagement Score: ≥ 80%
• Management Succession Coverage: 100% of key roles
• Annual Training Completion: 100%
• Voluntary Employee Turnover: ≤ Budget
• Individual Performance Reviews Completed: 100%

Business Partnership & Communication

Collaborate closely with Commercial, Sales, Supply Chain and Executive Leadership teams.

KPIs:

• Monthly Manufacturing Performance Review: 100% completed
• KPI Reporting Accuracy: 100%
• Cross-Functional Improvement Projects: Minimum 5 per year
• Executive Action Plans Closed on Time: ≥ 95%
• Escalated Critical Issues Resolved: Within agreed timeline

Reporting & Governance

The Manufacturing Director shall:

• Deliver monthly KPI reporting against budget and prior year.
• Present operational and financial performance to the CEO monthly.
• Escalate significant risks within 24 hours.
• Implement corrective action plans for any KPI below target.
• Maintain a rolling 12-month manufacturing improvement plan.

Customer Relationship Management

Ensure that the BUDs and their teams have a disciplined approach to call planning and CRM usage

• Attendance at all major Trade Fairs

Experience & Qualifications

• Ideally possesses knowledge and experience within the Plumbing, Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (PHAR) sector or closely related industrial manufacturing sectors.
• Excellent communication skills with fluent spoken and written English.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive international travel across Europe and Asia.

Success Measure

The Manufacturing Director will be considered successful when:

• Budgeted EBITDA contribution from manufacturing is achieved or exceeded.
• All manufacturing facilities meet or exceed agreed operational, quality, service, safety and financial KPIs.
• Capital investments achieve approved returns and payback periods.
• Customer service commitments are consistently met.
• Continuous year-on-year improvements are delivered in productivity, cost, quality, and safety.