WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE

We are seeking a visionary and execution-focused manufacturing leader to build and lead our next-generation Manufacturing Continuous Improvement (MCI), Automation and Digital Transformation capability. This role will be responsible for developing and executing a multi-year strategy that accelerates automation, AI adoption, digital manufacturing, process optimization, and operational excellence across our global promotional toy manufacturing supply base. Working closely with our manufacturing partners, product development teams, sourcing organization, and existing MCI engineers, the successful candidate will elevate our manufacturing capabilities beyond traditional labor-intensive models and drive the transition toward more automated, efficient, resilient and geographically flexible production networks.

The role combines strategic leadership, advanced manufacturing expertise, supplier transformation, and hands-on execution to improve productivity, quality, cost competitiveness, speed, and supply chain resilience across plastic molding, electronics assembly, packaging, and soft toy manufacturing operations. We are looking for this role to be either based in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. 

Key Responsibilities

Define and Execute Manufacturing Transformation Strategy

• Develop and lead a 3-5 year manufacturing automation and digital transformation roadmap.
• Establish a clear vision for how automation, AI, robotics, smart manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies can transform our supplier network.
• Identify and prioritize productivity improvement opportunities across our manufacturing footprint.
• Build a strategic roadmap that reduces reliance on low-cost labor while increasing operational flexibility and resilience.
• Partner with senior leadership to align manufacturing capabilities with long-term geographic diversification strategies.

Lead Automation and Advanced Manufacturing Adoption

• Drive implementation of automation solutions across supplier factories, including:
• Injection molding automation
• Robotic handling and material movement
• Vision inspection systems
• Automated assembly solutions
• Packaging automation
• Collaborative robotics (cobots)
• Digital work instruction systems
• Smart factory technologies
• Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies and assess applicability across the supplier base.
• Build automation business cases and ROI models.
• Standardize best-practice solutions that can be replicated across factories and regions.

Accelerate Digital Manufacturing and AI Adoption

• Develop a digital manufacturing strategy leveraging:
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• Industrial IoT
• Real-time production monitoring
• Data analytics platforms
• Predictive maintenance
• Digital quality management
• AI-driven process optimization
• Computer vision applications
• Partner with suppliers to improve manufacturing data availability, visibility, and decision-making.
• Drive adoption of AI-enabled productivity and quality improvement solutions.

Lead Supplier Manufacturing Capability Development

• Serve as the company's senior manufacturing transformation expert with external manufacturing partners.
• Build trusted relationships with factory owners, general managers, and operational leaders.
• Establish supplier capability assessment frameworks covering:
• Automation maturity
• Digital maturity
• Operational excellence
• Capacity scalability
• Labor dependence
• Manufacturing resilience
• Coach supplier leadership teams on transformation priorities.
• Create supplier development programs that promote continuous improvement and technology investment.

Lead Manufacturing Continuous Improvement Organization

• Lead and develop a team of Manufacturing Continuous Improvement engineers across key manufacturing regions.
• Establish standardized continuous improvement methodologies and governance.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and Operational Excellence practices.
• Develop capability-building plans for MCI engineers and supplier teams.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on measurable outcomes and sustainable improvements.

Deliver Measurable Results

Own performance improvement programs across the manufacturing supply base, including:

• Labor productivity improvements
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Factory throughput
• Quality improvement
• Scrap reduction
• Yield enhancement
• Lead-time reduction
• Energy efficiency
• Automation penetration
• Digital maturity advancement

Establish clear KPIs and reporting systems to track progress and value creation.

Support Supply Chain Resilience and Network Strategy

• Assess manufacturing readiness for future geographic diversification.
• Identify automation strategies that enable production transfer and replication across regions.
• Support development of a more resilient and balanced manufacturing footprint.
• Strengthen supplier capabilities to accommodate future network expansion and risk mitigation strategies.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION 

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 15+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• 8+ years leading manufacturing transformation, automation, or operational excellence programs.
• Demonstrated success implementing automation within high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Strong experience with supplier-facing manufacturing operations.
• Deep understanding of:
• Plastic injection molding
• Assembly operations
• Factory automation
• Manufacturing engineering
• Lean Manufacturing
• Experience developing multi-site improvement and transformation strategies.
• Strong executive presence with ability to influence both internal and external senior leaders.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout Asia.

Preferred

• Experience within toys, consumer products, electronics, promotional products, or contract manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Knowledge of AI applications in manufacturing.
• Green Belt, Black Belt, or Operational Excellence certifications.
• Experience with manufacturing operations across China and Southeast Asia.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin.