Production Improvement Lead

Production Improvement Lead – Dechra

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£37,500 salary

Summary

Production Improvement Lead (referred to internally as "Value Stream Improvement Lead, Manufacturing")

Shift details:
Day shift 8.00 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday (nine‑day fortnight). Yes, we work a nine‑day fortnight with every other Friday off.

Based at our Skipton, North Yorkshire manufacturing site.
Please only apply if you live within a commuting distance of Skipton.

We are Dechra, a growing, global specialist within the world of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high‑quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

The Role

To lead and embed a culture of continuous improvement throughout the value stream. The Improvement Lead is responsible for identifying inefficiencies, implementing sustainable solutions, and supporting operational teams in achieving performance excellence across all aspects of people. Safety, quality, delivery, and cost, utilising methodologies such as Practical Process Improvement (PPI).

Other responsibilities include:

• Own and coordinate the skills matrix for the department, coordinating with shift managers to plan training for individuals to improve flexibility and agility across the team.
• Support shift briefings and team communications to ensure alignment and engagement.
• Contribute to the people plan, supporting development and succession planning.
• Participate and encourage use of recognition schemes.
• Support incident investigations and lead on the timely closure of the resulting actions.
• Participate in hazard identification and drive closure of open hazards and actions.
• Own the area risk assessments, conducting alongside the area team to ensure the correct level of detail and own mitigation actions.
• Ensure housekeeping standards are maintained and improved through schemes such as process confirmation and 5S.
• Lead major deviation investigation using root cause analysis tools and support minor deviation management with the shift managers.
• Own and implement Corrective & Preventative Actions (CAPAs), change controls, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) periodic reviews through the quality management system (QMS).
• Drive Right First Time (RFT) improvements through data analysis of errors and deviations, taking corrective actions to proactively improve.
• Department lead for the preparation and execution of internal and external audits from document control through to housekeeping standards.
• Conduct telemetry analysis, taking remedial actions as required and track equipment calibrations for the department.
• Lead analysis of short interval control (SIC) data and consequent overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, maximise output and drive schedule adherence.
• Support alignment of production plans through the Sales and Operational Planning (S&OP) process and delivery through process optimisation.
• Conduct yield analysis and drive improvement projects to reduce waste during production.
• Reduce batch rejects through CAPA closure and improvement of RFT.
• Provide back‑up support for the shift manager where required.
• Act as the point of contact/production workstream lead for new product introductions and capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects and other key projects as required, ensuring that operational issues are addressed.

What Makes You Awesome

A self‑motivated, enthusiastic individual who can lead improvements and work well within a team environment. Ability to deliver performance improvements whilst supporting day‑to‑day production activities and remaining compliant under a regulated environment.

• Experience in low to medium volume production, manual/semi‑automated processes.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Health & Safety compliance.
• Proven industry experience from a highly regulated GMP production facility.
• A working knowledge…