Production Manager - Snus Manufacturing & Packaging

Job Description

Position: Production Manager – Snus Manufacturing & Packaging

Job Purpose

The Production Manager – Snus Manufacturing & Packaging will be responsible for the end-to-end management of snus manufacturing and packaging operations, including machinery selection, technical evaluation, installation, commissioning, production ramp-up, and ongoing operational performance. The role will ensure that equipment and production lines achieve the required capacity, efficiency, quality, reliability, and productivity targets while driving continuous improvement.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Machinery Selection, Evaluation & Procurement:

• Coordinate the selection of suitable snus manufacturing and packaging machinery based on required capacity, product specifications, and operational requirements.
• Obtain and technically evaluate machinery quotations, technical proposals, and supplier submissions.
• Compare equipment based on capacity, efficiency, automation, reliability, utilities, maintenance requirements, and operating costs.
• Coordinate with management and suppliers for final machinery selection and technical negotiations.
• Coordinate and participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), where applicable.
  
  

Installation, Integration & Commissioning

• Coordinate machinery delivery, installation, positioning, and integration at the plant.
• Coordinate requirements for electrical power, compressed air, HVAC, utilities, and other plant services.
• Ensure machinery is installed according to manufacturer specifications and approved plant layouts.
• Coordinate mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, automation, and control-system connections.
• Coordinate machinery commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Organize and supervise dry runs, trial runs, and initial production trials.
• Coordinate with machinery suppliers to resolve installation, commissioning, and performance-related issues.
• Ensure machinery achieves agreed capacity, speed, efficiency, reliability, and quality requirements.
  
  

Production Operations & Performance

• Supervise day-to-day snus manufacturing and packaging operations.
• Ensure production is carried out according to the approved production plan, operating procedures, and required standards.
• Monitor production output against planned targets and take corrective action where required.
• Monitor machine efficiency, OEE, downtime, breakdowns, waste, and production losses.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement corrective and improvement measures.
• Monitor and optimize manufacturing and packaging processes, including changeovers, machine settings, and operating parameters.
• Monitor raw-material utilization, product yield, packaging-material consumption, and production waste.
• Monitor and improve production productivity, machine utilization, and overall line performance.
  
  

Maintenance, Quality & Process Improvement

• Coordinate with Maintenance on preventive maintenance, breakdown resolution, and machine reliability.
• Coordinate with Quality to address product-quality, process, and packaging issues.
• Support identification and resolution of recurring equipment and process problems.
• Coordinate with suppliers regarding warranty issues, technical support, spare parts, and machine modifications.
• Ensure availability of critical machine spare parts, components, and consumables.
• Drive initiatives to reduce downtime, waste, production losses, and operating inefficiencies.
  
  

Procedures, Training & Operational Standards

• Coordinate operator training with machinery suppliers and ensure adequate operator competency.
• Develop and maintain machine operating, cleaning, changeover, and basic troubleshooting procedures with relevant teams.
• Ensure operators follow approved procedures and equipment operating requirements.
• Support the standardization and continuous improvement of manufacturing and packaging processes.
  
  

Cross-Functional & Supplier Coordination

• Coordinate with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Warehouse, and machinery suppliers to ensure smooth plant operations.
• Maintain effective communication with equipment suppliers throughout installation, commissioning, production ramp-up, warranty, and post-installation support.
• Follow up on outstanding technical issues, supplier commitments, machine modifications, and spare-parts requirements.
• Ensure timely resolution of operational, technical, and equipment-related issues.
  
  

Reporting & Management Information

• Provide regular management reports covering production output, machine performance, OEE, downtime, breakdowns, waste, quality, and outstanding technical issues.
• Monitor key production and equipment-performance indicators and highlight deviations against agreed targets.
• Provide recommendations and action plans to improve productivity, efficiency, reliability, and production performance.
  
  

Commercial Production & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the transition from machinery installation and commissioning to stable commercial production.
• Ensure production lines achieve the required capacity, speed, efficiency, quality, and reliability during ramp-up.
• Continuously identify and implement opportunities to improve production productivity, machine utilization, process efficiency, and overall line performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to achieve sustainable and reliable manufacturing and packaging operations.
  
  

Key Performance Areas

• Production output versus plan.
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Machine availability, utilization, and reliability.
• Downtime and breakdown performance.
• Production efficiency and line performance.
• Product yield and material utilization.
• Packaging-material consumption.
• Waste and production losses.
• Changeover performance.
• Product and packaging quality.
• Machinery commissioning and ramp-up performance.
• Achievement of stable commercial production.
• Continuous improvement and productivity initiatives.
  
  

Key Interfaces

Internal: Production | Maintenance | Engineering | Quality | Warehouse | Management

External: Machinery Manufacturers | Equipment Suppliers | Technical Service Providers | Contractors

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree/Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in production management, manufacturing, and packaging operations.
• Experience in machinery selection, technical evaluation, installation, commissioning, FAT, SAT, and production ramp-up.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing and packaging machinery, OEE, production efficiency, downtime management, and continuous improvement.
• Experience coordinating with machinery suppliers and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong problem-solving, technical, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Experience in snus, nicotine/oral-pouch, tobacco, FMCG, or a similar high-speed manufacturing environment will be an advantage.