London, UK
Production manager
Soane Britain is looking for a production manager to join its London practice.
Company overview:
Soane Britain was established in 1997 by Lulu Lytle to fill the need for boldly scaled, architecturally inspired furniture, upholstery and lighting. Nineteen years later, Soane Britain has a portfolio of over 500 designs, each made in Britain. Soane’s clients include top international decorators and architects, hotels, restaurants and high profile retail customers. Soane Britain is often featured in the design press, including World of Interiors, House and Garden, Architectural Digest, Veranda and FT Weekend House and Home.
In 2010 Soane was awarded the Walpole Award for Craftsmanship. The company works with more than 40 British workshops and also owns the last rattan weaving workshop in Britain. In 2011 Soane launched a fabric and wallpaper collection.
The company has a London showroom and head office on the Pimlico Road and a distribution centre in Battersea. There are Soane Studios in New York and San Francisco.
For more information please visit www.soane.com or join our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Purpose of the position:
The production manager, assisted by the production assistant, will be responsible for ensuring that all Soane’s workshops are able to deliver challenging revenue targets. As well as building strong relationships with existing and new workshops, the production manager will be expected to build collaborative relationships with all members of the sales team in order that they can offer the highest levels of craftsmanship and service to their own clients.
In 2018 Soane will be implementing a new ERP which will move sales, finance, manufacturing and production on to a software solution.
At the same time, the company is planning to implement significant additional manufacturing capability which is expected to generate additional revenue, increase margin and reduce lead times in line with the company’s five-year plan.
Duties and responsibilities:
WIP management:
– ensure all client orders are issued to the workshop within 48 hours of deposit
– oversee the management of client orders from deposit through to completion
– to ensure the order to ensure it comes in on price, on time and to the required specification
Workshop management:
– regular visits to existing and new workshops
– keep workshops updated with news and information
– record our workshop’s seasonal shut downs
– help the head of production to find new workshops
– to deal direct with the workshops with any anomalies on their invoices
Sales liaison:
– ensure each sales manager is kept up to date on all WIP
– ensure that the sales team is kept fully updated with all aspects of production and workshops
Product routing document and processes:
– ensure our systems are updated with current workshop pricing
– ensure that the unity is updated with current workshop cycle times and instructions
Component stock control:
– utilise effective and accurate stock control methods to achieve lean and efficient stock levels to meet order demands
– to raise component stock orders to workshops within 48 hours of receipt of POR, where we have all details
– all purchase orders sent to our workshops must have a price
– ensure stock checks are done monthly by our workshops/Battersea
– should any information in Unity be incorrect to find out the correct information and amend
– communicate with the workshops throughout the order to ensure it comes in on price, on time and to the required specification
– liaise with the person who placed the order to inform them of weekly progress
– report to the head of production, monthly sale through rates
Leathers
– accountable for the organisation and recording of Soane’s standard leathers
– keep the Soane leather stock inventory up-to-date
Samples orders
– help sales by ordering the Soane standard finish samples, within a six week lead time, once quality checked by QC manager/assistant, sales person notified and invoice signed off
Quality control
– carry out all activities that will lead to a piece exceeding our clients expectations
– help QC pieces in the absence of the QC manager, within 48 hours where possible
– ensure Battersea have up-to-date Soane’s standard metal, wood, leather etc samples to check against every order
– should a piece fail QC you are to communicate with the workshop to resolve the issue, and then inform Battersea of the outcome
Product ambassador
– know the product
– a champion and promoter of Soane craftsmanship
– know the workshops we work with
Qualifications for the position:
– education: an interior design or furniture design qualification an advantage
– at least two years experience in a production role, ideally in the luxury sector
– excellent Microsoft Office skills required
– excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
– immaculate attention to detail
– able to communicate clearly and warmly with our workshops
– driving license
– knowledge of furniture and/or lighting manufacture
Qualities for the position:
– proactive, can-do attitude
– enthusiastic and self-motivated
– team player
– excellent organisational skills, able to meet regular deadlines
– long term commitment to our company, happy to strategise and take on new challenges
Please send CV to [email protected]