What is the role of a Factory Director?
The Factory Director is responsible for managing the entire production site. He oversees and organizes operations from a human, financial, and material standpoint. He plans and schedules the different production activities. The Factory Director supervises several dozen employees, as well as temporary staff depending on workload.
What are the responsibilities of a Factory Director?
- The Factory Director oversees the five divisions of the plant: rebar assembly, precast concrete manufacturing, transport, maintenance, and administrative services. He ensures that quality, deadlines, and safety standards are met.
- He defines and monitors key performance indicators to assess how efficiently all workshops are running.
- He also liaises with suppliers of raw materials and equipment, architects, and external clients of GA Smart Building, who account for around 20 to 30% of the factory’s revenue.
- Each month, the Factory Director reports to the Industrial Director as part of financial oversight. He is also in charge of negotiating the prices of raw materials and supplies, in close collaboration with the Purchasing Department.
- As the lead manager of the plant, the Factory Director assesses recruitment needs and constantly seeks to improve methods and working conditions. He ensures compliance with safety and environmental protection regulations in line with the Group’s headquarters policies.
What are the key skills and qualities of a Factory Director?
Rigor and method. A Factory Director has excellent interpersonal skills, listens to his teams, and remains accessible.
Core skills include:
- Strong communication and availability
- Leadership
- Responsiveness and the ability to prioritize
- Rigor and organization
A Day in the Life of Julien, Factory Director at PREGA Labège – GA Smart Building
Start of the day
Distribute the plans received the previous day from the design office across different departments to stay informed about the products scheduled for production. Finalize product scheduling with the planning manager.
8:00 AM
Respond to questions from staff, design office, construction sites, and sales teams. Maintain smooth communication between all stakeholders.
2:00 PM
Lead working meetings to address ongoing topics related to concrete product prefabrication or client clarification requests.
Once or several times a week, meet with clients, users, architects, or suppliers visiting the factory. Present the factory’s operations and off-site construction expertise. Visit construction sites to monitor product installation before final delivery.
End of the day
At Niwa, GA Smart Building’s headquarters in Toulouse. Submit invoices to Accounting, check in with the Sales and Construction departments to follow up with project engineers. Maintain constant communication to ensure smooth information flow.