Production Manager

About the job

We are looking for a passionate and results-driven Production Manager to lead our manufacturing operations, drive operational excellence and develop a high-performing production organization. In this role, you will take ownership of Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost performance, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and people development. You will play a key role in strengthening our manufacturing capabilities, embedding the Franke Production System (FPS) and developing frontline leaders who can deliver sustainable results.

È essenziale assicurarsi di soddisfare i requisiti per questo ruolo; la preghiamo di leggere attentamente quanto segue.
Your Mission

Success in this role means more than achieving production targets. It means creating a manufacturing organization where safety comes first, quality is everyone’s responsibility, performance is consistently delivered, continuous improvement becomes a daily habit, and people are empowered to grow and succeed. You will make a lasting impact by building strong leaders, reliable processes and a culture of operational excellence that delivers sustainable results.

Your tasks1. Lead Safety with No Compromise

• Champion a Safety-First culture through visible shopfloor leadership, Gemba walks, risk prevention and proactive employee engagement.
• Ensure compliance with HSE regulations and corporate standards, including delegated responsibilities as Dirigente per la Sicurezza under Italian Legislative Decree 81/08.
• Drive incident investigations, root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions to prevent accidents and unsafe conditions.

2. Deliver Quality and Customer Excellence

• Foster a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility, ensuring first-time-right production and compliance with product and process standards.
• Reduce defects, scrap, rework and customer complaints through structured problem solving and data-driven improvements.
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering and Supply Chain to enhance process reliability and customer satisfaction.

3. Drive Operational Performance and Delivery

• Lead manufacturing operations to achieve production targets, customer commitments and On-Time In-Full (OTIF) performance.
• Optimize capacity, workforce allocation and production flow in close collaboration with Planning, Supply Chain and Logistics.
• Drive FPS Daily Management routines, visual performance tracking and effective escalation processes.
• Ensure operational readiness for new product introductions, engineering changes and industrialization projects.

4. Accelerate Productivity and Continuous Improvement

• Improve productivity, manufacturing efficiency, equipment utilization and cost performance, taking ownership of production budgets and operating expenses.
• Lead the deployment of the Franke Production System (FPS), embedding Lean principles, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work and Visual Management.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and support investments in technology, equipment and automation.

5. Build and Inspire High-Performing Teams

• Lead, coach and develop frontline leaders, strengthening their people management capabilities, accountability and decision-making.
• Set clear expectations, drive performance management and address performance gaps fairly and decisively.
• Foster engagement, collaboration and ownership while leading organizational and cultural change.
• Build talent pipelines and succession plans, promoting a culture of respect, continuous improvement and Franke Values.

RequirementsExperience & Background

• Degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• 10–15 years of manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years leading large production teams in complex industrial environments.
• Experience in manufacturing organizations with over 150 employees is preferred.
• Background in metal processing, stainless steel manufacturing, stamping, welding, finishing or similar processes is highly valued.
• Proven success in Lean Manufacturing, operational improvement and organizational change, including the development of frontline and middle management teams.
• Experience in an international manufacturing environment.

Leadership & Technical Capabilities

• Strong people leadership: a hands-on, credible leader who inspires trust, develops talent, empowers teams and drives accountability.
• Operational excellence: solid expertise in SQDC performance management, Lean Manufacturing and production systems such as TPS, FPS or WCM.
• Analytical mindset: ability to interpret data, identify root causes and translate insights into effectiv