Established in 1997 as the first manufacturer of sushi for the UK supermarket industry, Taiko has evolved into the most innovative manufacturer of Sushi, Food To Go, Prepared Meals and Snacking products in the UK, supplying Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s to name a few. Over the past 25 years Taiko has launched more first to market Sushi and Food to Go products than any other sushi manufacturer in the UK.

The Production Shift Manager is responsible for leading a team of 5-6 supervisors on a shift pattern, working alongside an equivalent manager on the opposite shift to ensure daily production targets are met. This role involves ensuring the efficient and cost-effective delivery of production output while promoting a culture of continuous improvement and maintaining high standards in safety, quality, and productivity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of supervisors to deliver production output in line with the daily plan.
• Develop and monitor production schedules, ensuring efficient and cost-effective use of labour by coordinating the activities of operators.
• Collaborate with the Production Manager to promote a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging staff to generate ideas for process improvements.
• Ensure the timely and accurate recording of any damage to buildings or equipment.
• Attend monthly Health & Safety Committee meetings (as applicable to the shift schedule).
• Conduct monthly Health & Safety staff briefings based on any issues or accidents that may have occurred.
• Oversee accident and near-miss reporting, ensuring all forms are completed correctly, and appropriate evidence is gathered at the time of the incident.
• Ensure all team members adhere to relevant Health & Safety practices, such as wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Manage risk assessments for any changes to line layouts or configurations before implementation.
• Monitor and manage key production performance indicators (KPIs) using LEAN tools to improve areas such as labour utilisation, OEE, standard cost variance, downtime, and waste.
• Ensure product quality, operator safety, and hygiene standards are consistently maintained.
• Work closely with production scheduling teams to ensure production plans are aligned and achievable.
• Lead, motivate, and monitor the performance of all team members on your shift, ensuring their attendance, conduct, and performance meet company standards.
• Provide strong leadership by demonstrating best practices and making key decisions on the shop floor to positively impact site performance.
• Support the development of team members through skills planning, coaching, training, and performance management, in consultation with the Production Manager and the Learning & Development Coordinator, to meet both company and individual goals.

• Proven experience in production management or supervisory roles within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and guide a team effectively.
• Experience in monitoring and improving production KPIs using LEAN tools and other performance management systems.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to liaise with various departments.
• In-depth understanding of Health & Safety regulations and practices.