Printing Press Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Printing Press Manager

Position

Job Title: Printing Press Manager

Department: Printing & Production

Reports To: General Manager / Managing Director

Location: Umm Al Quwain, UAE

Job Purpose

To manage and supervise the overall operations of the printing press, ensuring efficient production, high-quality output, cost control, timely delivery, proper utilization of machinery and materials, and compliance with company policies and safety standards.

The Printing Press Manager is responsible for coordinating Offset Printing, Digital Printing, Packaging Printing, Thermal Roll Production, and Computer Forms Printing.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Management

• Plan, organize, and supervise daily, weekly, and monthly production activities.

• Allocate jobs to the appropriate machines and production sections.

• Ensure production targets are achieved according to customer requirements and deadlines.

• Monitor production schedules and minimize machine downtime and production delays.

• Coordinate between pre-press, printing, finishing, packaging, and dispatch departments.

• Ensure efficient utilization of machines, manpower, paper, ink, plates, and other materials.

2. Offset Printing

• Supervise offset printing operations and ensure proper machine setup.

• Monitor color accuracy, registration, ink density, paper quality, and printing standards.

• Ensure proper plate preparation and press calibration.

• Reduce paper waste, ink consumption, make-ready time, and rejected production.

• Coordinate preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of offset printing machines.

3. Digital Printing

• Supervise digital printing operations and job scheduling.

• Ensure correct file preparation, color management, paper selection, and finishing.

• Monitor machine productivity, consumables, and print quality.

• Ensure efficient utilization of digital printing equipment.

4. Packaging Printing

• Manage production of cartons, boxes, labels, bags, sleeves, and other packaging products.

• Coordinate printing, die-cutting, folding, gluing, lamination, and finishing operations.

• Ensure packaging specifications, dimensions, colors, and materials meet approved samples.

• Monitor production waste and ensure accurate quantity control.

5. Thermal Roll Production

• Supervise production of thermal paper rolls according to customer specifications.

• Ensure correct roll width, length, core size, winding, cutting, and packaging.

• Monitor material consumption and minimize production waste.

• Ensure finished rolls are properly packed and protected from heat, moisture, and damage.

6. Computer Forms Printing

• Manage production of continuous computer forms and business forms.

• Ensure correct paper size, ply, perforation, numbering, punching, printing, and folding.

• Monitor alignment, sequence, numbering, and job specifications.

• Ensure accurate counting and packing of finished forms.

7. Quality Control

• Establish and maintain quality standards for all printing products.

• Inspect production samples and approve jobs before mass production.

• Investigate customer complaints, printing defects, and rejected products.

• Implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurring quality problems.

• Maintain approved samples and production specifications for repeat jobs.

8. Cost & Waste Control

• Control production costs and minimize unnecessary expenses.

• Monitor paper, ink, plates, chemicals, packaging materials, and other consumables.

• Analyze production waste and implement measures to reduce wastage.

• Monitor machine productivity and production efficiency.

• Assist management in preparing accurate production costs and quotations.

9. Maintenance & Equipment

• Ensure all printing and finishing machines are properly maintained.

• Establish preventive maintenance schedules.

• Coordinate with maintenance technicians and external service providers.

• Ensure machine breakdowns are handled quickly to minimize production losses.

• Maintain records of machine maintenance, repairs, and spare parts.

10. Staff & Team Management

• Supervise operators, technicians, production workers, and supervisors.

• Prepare manpower allocation and production shift schedules.

• Train employees on machine operation, quality standards, and safety procedures.

• Monitor employee performance, attendance, discipline, and productivity.

• Promote teamwork and maintain a professional working environment.

11. Purchasing & Inventory

• Coordinate with purchasing and stores departments to ensure availability of raw materials.

• Monitor stock levels of paper, ink, plates, thermal paper, chemicals, packaging materials, and spare parts.

• Review material requirements according to the production schedule.

• Avoid both material shortages and excessive inventory.

12. Customer Orders & Delivery

• Coordinate with sales and customer service departments regarding job specifications and delivery dates.

• Review customer requirements before production.

• Ensure urgent and priority jobs are properly scheduled.

• Ensure completed jobs are delivered according to agreed deadlines.

• Handle production-related customer complaints professionally.

13. Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety requirements.

• Ensure employees use appropriate personal protective equipment.

• Maintain safe operating procedures for printing and finishing machinery.

• Ensure proper storage and handling of inks, chemicals, solvents, and other materials.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time delivery percentage

• Production efficiency

• Machine utilization

• Production waste percentage

• Rejection and reprint percentage

• Material consumption

• Production cost per job

• Machine downtime

• Customer complaints

• Employee productivity

• Overall production profitability

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Printing Technology, Graphic Arts, Production Management, Industrial Management, or a related field.

• 5–10 years of experience in printing production, preferably with experience managing a commercial printing press.

• Strong practical knowledge of:

• Offset printing

• Digital printing

• Packaging printing

• Thermal roll production

• Computer/continuous forms printing

• Finishing and binding operations

• Experience in production planning, costing, quality control, and staff management.

• Good knowledge of printing materials, machinery, and production processes.

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Authority

The Printing Press Manager is authorized to:

• Allocate production jobs and manpower.

• Approve production schedules.

• Stop production when serious quality or safety issues are identified.

• Request maintenance and technical intervention.

• Recommend purchase of materials, spare parts, and equipment.

• Recommend employee training, disciplinary action, and performance improvements.

• Report production performance, costs, quality issues, and operational requirements to management