Production & Quality Manager (Ceramic)

* Drive production planning and control by setting daily, weekly, and monthly targets, optimizing resource allocation, and coordinating with the supply chain to ensure timely delivery of raw materials. * Architect and oversee the entire production process, encompassing body preparation, casting, drying, glazing, and firing, while ensuring adherence to precise process parameters. * Lead resource optimization initiatives to reduce cycle time, increase productivity, and minimize waste, while improving mold life and kiln efficiency. * Collaborate with the maintenance team to implement preventive maintenance schedules, minimizing downtime of critical equipment such as kilns, casting machines, and dryers. * Manage and supervise production staff and shift supervisors, providing training on standard operating procedures and safety protocols, while ensuring effective shift planning and discipline. * Develop and implement a robust quality control system, establishing and maintaining QA/QC procedures that comply with internal and external standards, such as ISO. * Inspect incoming raw materials to verify their quality, including clay composition, chemicals, and glaze materials, ensuring they meet required specifications. * Conduct in-process quality control checks, monitoring parameters such as casting thickness, drying cracks, glazing consistency, and kiln temperature curves to ensure production meets quality standards. * Perform final product inspections to identify defects, including cracks, pinholes, warpage, color inconsistency, and dimensional inaccuracies, while assessing water absorption and strength. * Analyze defect causes, such as black spots, glaze crawling, and deformation, and implement corrective and preventive actions to minimize rejection rates and improve overall product quality.