ESSRecruit’s Post

The Unsung Heroes of Manufacturing A Line Manager’s Journey 👷♂️ I have worn many hats throughout my career But if I am being honest, the role that shaped me the most was not at the top of the ladder It was in the middle Being a Line Manager I still remember those days 📌Sleepless nights 📌Long shifts 📌And never ending pressure I was in touch with the plant floor 24/7 ✅Problem-solving on the go ✅Making sure production stayed on track It was relentless But here is the thing Line Managers are the ones who keep the machine running They are the unsung heroes of manufacturing ♂️Executing the strategy ♂️Ensuring the process flows smoothly ♂️And solving problems as they arise. If you are in this role right now I know how tough it can be Here’s what helped me in my journey 1️⃣ Effective communication Always keep your team in the loop and take time to listen to the operators on the ground 2️⃣ Manage your time like a pro With so many things to juggle, break tasks into priorities, and focus on the critical ones first 3️⃣ Motivate your people Your team is your biggest asset. When they feel supported and trusted, they will go the extra mile. 4️⃣ Build a strong 360° network Inside and outside your organization. Having that network to lean on is invaluable. 🌐 Believe me on last one, I have seen the power of networking around me Build one and you will love it To all the Line Managers out there You are the heartbeat of manufacturing ❤️ If you are working in this role or have worked in the past What challenges are you facing or have faced ?

Sometimes, the hardest part of being a manufacturing engineer is finding a way to stand out in the middle of all the action. You’re focused on the details, solving problems on the production floor, and ensuring that every process runs smoothly. But when it comes to career growth, just doing great work isn’t always enough. That’s why I work with engineers who feel stuck in the background and help them step into leadership roles. Because you deserve to be seen for the impact you make every day. If you’re ready to move from overlooked to recognized, let’s talk.

Right person for the right job! - sounds simple? It's not always. We had positioned a competent engineer as a factory manager, years back. He had all reasons to succeed - good shopfloor experience, good with people, technically strong, had done union agreements. But in a completely new geography, with the language and culture unknown, he couldn't do well. Any number of conversations on inputs, support didn't work. We moved him to a completely different, in a new geography and setting. He did reasonably well there. We positioned a bright IITian as incharge of quality in a plant. It was a very exciting role and his predecessors with similar profiles had done very well in this role. The role was demanding in terms of complexity and interface with a diverse set of stakeholders. He miserably failed, to our shock and disbelief. We had conversations on concerns and support required, but situation hardly changed. We moved him into another role, in another plant, focused on a new technology project. He did pretty well. While, we deploy well oiled processes to identify and position talent for critical positions, we can get it wrong a few times. The system also considers growth and learning aspirations of individuals in positioning people.Thankfully, instead of labeling the resource as incompetent, we try to match the requirements with specific capabilities after such experiences. But these experiences dent the confidence of individuals. And despite such efforts in offering newer and different roles, few individuals may still not fit into these roles well, and fail to deliver.

Are you looking for a new plant manager? It's time to invest strategically to attract top talent! 💰 In an increasingly competitive market, recruiting the right candidates requires a well-thought-out strategy. Here are some key tips for navigating the hiring landscape and finding the ideal leader to lead your team to success. What are you doing to ensure you attract the right talent for critical positions in your organization?

We asked Bhavit Shah, Assistant General Manager, Production, what's kept him motivated and energized through his fifteen year long journey with us and here's what he had to say: "I have been working at Süd-Chemie India for the last fifteen years. The “home to home” company culture and the opportunities to learn and grow have been the key stimuli that have kept me inspired through this journey. We have freedom not only to work and share our ideas with our seniors and colleagues but also to implement them. There is no hierarchical barrier. While our efforts at work are appreciated and acknowledged, whenever issues arise, the management’s focus is not to find fault in an individual but on how to improve the system so that the mistake is not repeated. We have access to various training tools to continuously improve leadership skills, conflict resolution and time management. I became the first person to go through the “Six Sigma Black Belt Training” program organized by Süd-Chemie Germany. Last year, I also had the opportunity to go to Osaka, Japan for “Productivity Improvement training” to learn Japanese Production Management systems”. Süd-Chemie India prioritizes employee longevity through a learning-focused environment, giving employees opportunities to expand their perspectives and freely share and implement their ideas. Our employees are empowered not only to grow their skills and knowledge base but also to share them and play a significant role in defining the company's culture and values.

If you are a Manufacturing Engineer in WNY with 5-10 years experience looking for something new but unsure what is out there, or where to start, reach out to our team! The market is looking great in this space, and odds are we have something. QUICK NOTE- #1 piece of advice before entering a "hot" market where things can move quickly and people will jump at your skills: talk to your current employer about your pain points. If you enjoy your current role but may be unhappy with one or two small things, bring that to your current management team before dedicating yourself to making a move. No role is perfect. Save the time and see what is possible in your current position, then you can evaluate if its time to explore something new.

🌟 Embrace the Possibilities: A Message from Your Production Manager 🌟 Team, As we step into another week in the dynamic world of production management, let's remember: every challenge is a chance for growth. Despite market fluctuations and obstacles, these moments of uncertainty are where we truly shine. We're the architects of efficiency, the leaders through complexity, and the drivers of operational excellence. Approach each task with unwavering positivity, empathy, and determination. Listen to our team's needs, address their concerns, and provide solutions that exceed expectations. Behind every project lies a narrative—a company's goals, a team's ambitions, a vision waiting to be realized. It's an honor to be part of this journey, and it's our duty to make it unforgettable. Let's embrace the challenges, seize the opportunities, and inspire each other to achieve greatness. Together, there are no limits to what we can accomplish. Here's to a week filled with productivity, purpose, and success! With gratitude, John, Production Manager.

LEARNING TO DEAL WITH 130 PEOPLE 🕒 Since 2017, Mauro at DA-TOR SpA has been dedicated to organizing production and managing workflow, from raw materials to finished products, to meet deadlines. With 130 people to manage and four direct reports, his workday is varied and demanding. In his role as Operations Manager, tackling different problems is part of his routine, but it's also an opportunity to continuously learn new things. “𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧? 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦.” Before joining us, Mauro held a similar role in other companies, enriching his experience with skills in procurement and supply chain. The versatility of his skills has been crucial in effectively collaborating with colleagues from different departments. Psychology and interpersonal relationships are crucial elements in his role, and passion makes these challenges less daunting. Calm and endowed with excellent soft skills, Mauro is committed to transferring these qualities to his team members, emphasizing the importance of good communication and involvement of all team members. “𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯; 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.” The passion for production work is the driving force behind Mauro. Going beyond the numbers and measuring passion and commitment in employees is essential for the company's success: “You do this job out of passion; it makes work activity lighter”. #Leadership #WorkPassion #ProductionManagement

Teach Your Team How Not To Do Their Job (And Why It’s Crucial) Ever train your employees on something completely outside their job description? I just did—and it’s been one of the most impactful decisions for our Q4 planning. Yesterday, while training some of my team members on Q4 offer creation, our senior strategists started asking a lot of questions about manufacturing, lead times, and negotiating with factories. Technically, these topics aren’t part of their role, but I found it essential to dive into these areas. Why? Because understanding the bigger picture equips them to make smarter, more informed decisions for both our clients and our internal brands. Sure, it’s not their job to handle factory negotiations or supply chain logistics—but when they understand these dynamics, their strategic choices become sharper, faster, and more aligned with the realities of the market. It’s not just about doing the job you’re hired for—it’s about having the knowledge to connect all the dots and drive better results. Training your team beyond their roles isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing better.

Excited to Connect with Industry Leaders, Recruiters and HR Professionals! As a dedicated professional in the manufacturing industry, I have led factory operations, implemented SOPs, and achieved record-high production outputs. My journey includes: Leadership & Team Management: Successfully headed factory operations, hiring skilled professionals, and training engineers on industry standards and machinery maintenance. Operational Excellence: Maintained optimal KPIs for uptime, wastage, quality, and inventory levels, ensuring efficient production with high quality and minimal wastage. Strategic Planning: Prepared and monitored plant budgets, providing ongoing financial forecasts to support strategic decision-making. Technical Expertise: Oversaw the installation of new machines like KDF2 and Gensets, enhancing operational capabilities, as well as setting up a Green Field Manufacturing Plant. I'm passionate about driving efficiency and excellence in manufacturing, and I'm eager to bring my skills to new opportunities. Let's connect and explore how we can collaborate! #Manufacturing #OperationsManagement #Leadership #Efficiency #Production #Engineering #StrategicPlanning