Factory Manager

Company: Penpoint Converters Limited

Location: Zambezi, Kenya
Employment Type: Full-time

About the Company
Penpoint Converters Limited is a Kenyan manufacturer and converter of paper hygiene products. The company currently manufactures serviettes/napkins under the TASH brand and is expanding into additional tissue and paper hygiene products, including toilet paper, facial tissues, hand towels, kitchen towels, and institutional rolls.

Role Summary
We are looking for a hands-on Factory Manager to oversee daily production, staff supervision, inventory control, quality assurance, dispatch coordination, and factory reporting. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that production runs efficiently, machines are properly used and maintained, wastage is controlled, and finished goods are produced to the required quality standards.

This is a practical role suited to someone who can manage the factory floor directly, not just supervise from an office.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management

●       Plan and supervise daily production activities.

●       Ensure machines, operators, raw materials, and packaging materials are ready before production starts.

●       Monitor production output against targets.

●       Track downtime, wastage, rejects, and production delays.

●       Ensure production schedules are followed and customer orders are prioritized.

Staff Supervision

●       Supervise machine operators, packers, casuals, loaders, and other factory staff.

●       Allocate duties and monitor staff performance.

●       Enforce discipline, punctuality, safety, and cleanliness.

●       Train staff on proper handling of machines, materials, and finished goods.

●       Report staffing gaps or performance issues to management.

Inventory and Stock Control

●       Monitor raw material, packaging material, work-in-progress, finished goods, and wastage.

●       Ensure all stock movements are properly recorded.

●       Prevent theft, misuse, damage, and unexplained stock losses.

●       Coordinate with finance/admin on stock records and production reports.

●       Support regular stock counts and reconciliations.

Quality Control

●       Ensure products meet company quality standards for size, count, packaging, cleanliness, and finishing.

●       Identify quality issues early and take corrective action.

●       Ensure rejects and wastage are recorded and separated properly.

●       Maintain high standards of hygiene and product handling.

Machine and Maintenance Oversight

●       Ensure machines are operated correctly and safely.

●       Monitor machine condition and report maintenance needs early.

●       Coordinate routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting.

●       Keep records of machine downtime, breakdowns, and repairs.

Dispatch and Customer Orders

●       Coordinate packing and dispatch of finished goods.

●       Ensure customer orders are prepared correctly and on time.

●       Support loading and dispatch documentation.

●       Maintain order and accountability in finished goods storage.

Reporting

●       Prepare daily and weekly reports on production, stock, wastage, staff attendance, machine performance, and dispatches.

●       Escalate operational issues to the directors promptly.

●       Recommend improvements to reduce wastage, improve output, and strengthen controls.

Minimum Requirements

●       Diploma or certificate in production management, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or a related field.

●       At least 3–5 years’ experience in a factory, manufacturing, packaging, paper, tissue, FMCG, or related production environment.

●       Prior experience supervising factory workers or production teams.

●       Strong understanding of production planning, stock control, quality control, and machine operations.

●       Basic computer skills, including Excel or Google Sheets.

●       Ability to prepare simple production and stock reports.

●       Experience in tissue, paper converting, printing, packaging, or hygiene products will be an added advantage.

Personal Attributes

●       Hands-on and practical.

●       Honest, disciplined, and accountable.

●       Strong supervisor with good people-management skills.

●       Cost-conscious and able to control wastage.

●       Quality-focused and detail-oriented.

●       Able to work in a start-up factory environment.

●       Good problem-solving skills.

●       Reliable and willing to take ownership of factory performance.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply with an updated CV. Shortlisted candidates may be required to attend an interview and demonstrate their understanding of production planning, stock control, machine supervision, staff management, and factory reporting.