Production Unit Manager

arcenciel

1. Production Planning and Operations

• Develop and implement production plans based on sales forecasts, beneficiary needs, and project commitments.
• Ensure optimal workflow, capacity utilization, and scheduling across all production stages.
• Monitor daily production outputs and adjust plans to meet deadlines and quality standards.
• Coordinate procurement and inventory levels of raw materials, and tools to avoid production interruptions.

2. Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Ensure all products meet technical specifications, safety standards, and internal quality control procedures.
• Collaborate with technical specialists (e.g., occupational therapists, R&D) to validate product functionality and user suitability.
• Establish corrective action processes for defects, returns, and customer feedback.
• Maintain production documentation and traceability of products.

3. Team Management and Capacity Building

• Supervise and coach workshop supervisors, technicians, and production staff.
• Support on-the-job training programs, apprenticeships, and skill development pathways.
• Promote safe working practices and compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
• Foster an inclusive and respectful work environment aligned with arcenciel s disability inclusion principles.

4. Cost Control and Efficiency Improvement

• Monitor production costs, material wastage, and labor productivity.
• Identify process improvement opportunities using lean manufacturing principles adapted to small-scale social enterprises.
• Contribute to pricing strategies by providing accurate cost structures and production estimates.
• Support initiatives to reduce operational costs while maintaining product quality.

5. Product Development and Design Innovation

• Lead and coordinate the development of new assistive and adaptive products in response to beneficiary needs, market demand, and programmatic priorities.
• Collaborate with R&D team, occupational therapists, engineers, and end users to ensure user-centered, functional, and safe product design.
• Coordinate with R&D team prototyping, field testing, and refinement of new products prior to scaling up production.
• Ensure that new designs comply with relevant technical standards, safety requirements, and accessibility principles.
• Document technical specifications, bills of materials, and production procedures for all new products.
• Identify opportunities for cost-effective design improvements, local material sourcing, and environmentally sustainable production methods.
• Support intellectual property documentation and product registration where applicable.

7. Vocational Training and Inclusion of People with Disabilities

• Design and oversee structured on-the-job vocational training programs for people with disabilities within the production unit.
• Adapt workstations, tools, and workflows to accommodate diverse functional abilities in line with reasonable accommodation principles.
• Coordinate with arcenciel s Inclusive Employment unit to align training pathways with individual capacities and career plans.
• Monitor trainee progress and contribute to skills certification, employability assessments, and job placement readiness.
• Train supervisors and team leaders on inclusive supervision practices and disability inclusion, behavior and communication.
• Promote retention, career progression, and professional development opportunities for workers with disabilities.

8. Coordination with Other Units

• Work closely with Customer Service, Sales, Logistics, and Technical teams to ensure alignment between demand, production, and delivery.
• Participate in project planning meetings related to donor-funded production activities.
• Provide technical input for proposals related to production expansion, equipment upgrades, or new product lines.

9. Reporting and Data Management

• Prepare regular production reports covering outputs, costs, quality indicators, and staffing.
• Maintain production KPIs and contribute data for sector-level strategic planning.
• Support audits and donor reporting related to production activities when required