Mr Popiah Pte Ltd are seeking an experienced and strategic Production Manager to lead our production department. This role is responsible not only for day-to-day production but also for building systems, managing budgets, and driving long-term efficiency and scalability within the factory.

The ideal candidate is someone who has previously set up production systems and implemented operational controls in a food manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Planning & Operations

• Lead and oversee daily production activities to ensure targets, quality, and timelines are met.
• Develop production plans based on sales forecasts, inventory levels, and manpower availability.
• Ensure smooth coordination between production, warehouse, logistics, and procurement teams.
• Maintain proper traceability, documentation, and reporting of production data.

2. System Setup & Process Improvement

• Design, implement, and maintain structured production systems (SOPs, digital tracking, KPI dashboards).
• Streamline workflow to enhance productivity and reduce downtime or wastage.
• Introduce production performance metrics and regular reporting structures.
• Drive automation or systemisation initiatives to improve efficiency.

3. Budgeting & Cost Control

• Prepare and manage the annual production budget, including manpower, raw materials, packaging, and utilities.
• Control production costs and optimize resource utilization.
• Conduct cost analysis on production output, wastage, and yields.
• Work with management to determine production targets and financial KPIs.

4. Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure production activities comply with SFA, HACCP, Halal, and internal QA standards.
• Enforce strict hygiene and food safety practices across all processes.
• Conduct regular audits, inspections, and corrective action planning.
• Maintain documentation for internal and external audits.

5. Team Management & Leadership

• Lead, train, and motivate a team of supervisors and production workers.
• Build a strong culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate team performance and identify skill gaps for training.
• Ensure manpower scheduling aligns with operational needs and efficiency.

6. Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Managing Director and Business Development Director to align production capacity with business growth.
• Collaborate with R&D and marketing teams for new product trials and scale-up.
• Participate in strategic planning for factory expansion, layout redesign, and equipment investment.

Requirements

• Diploma/Degree in Food Science, Manufacturing, Engineering, or equivalent.
• At least 5-8 years of relevant experience in food manufacturing, with at least 2-3 years in a managerial capacity.
• Proven experience in system implementation, cost control, and production planning.
• Strong analytical and leadership skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety standards (HACCP, ISO 22000, Halal).
• Hands-on, structured, and proactive in driving change and efficiency.