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This apprenticeship has been retired

Overview of the role

Directing production activities and operations.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

Process Leaders are found in organisations with high volume manufacturing or advanced manufacturing processes in which large volumes of products are made in assembly, moulding, metal processing, chemical processing, pharmaceutical, textiles, food and drink, or similar processes.

They are also found in organisations with engineering operations or low volume manufacturing processes in which lower volumes of products are made in a bespoke or workshop type environment. The core knowledge, skills and behaviours of this apprenticeship will be developed and demonstrated in a specific manufacturing context and are broadly transferable to other manufacturing sectors.

The broad purpose of this occupation  is to undertake and direct production activities and operations and deliver against core production Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Process Leaders effectively lead and manage large teams as well as providing technical/specialist input and direction to their own team and to others. Process Leader are responsible for determining and managing budgets and resources. They use core production KPIs as the basis of the continuous improvement cycle and undertake and manage quality resolutions. Process leaders manage health, safety and environment within their area of responsibility, ensuring staff are compliant with all requirements and driving improvements and use project management tools to plan, organise and manage resources, monitor progress, identify risks and mitigation. They develop, build and motivate team members as well as manage performance and industrial relations.  As well as providing clear direction and leadership to their own team and others, Process Leaders build and maintain strong relationships across different disciplines, to ensure that the activities of functions such as HR, Purchasing, Planning, Finance focus on core production KPIs. Effective communication is a core responsibility of the Process Leader role, whether this be communication corporate vision and strategy or using data and information to create compelling presentations and drive management decisions

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with:

  • Team leaders and their wider team
  • Quality Managers
  • Health and Safety Managers
  • HR Managers
  • Finance Managers
  • Quality Improvement Manager
  • Operational Directors
  • Directors
  • Managing Director/CEO

Process Leaders act autonomously as part of a wider production team and are responsible for the delivery of core production KPIs, people, budgets, equipment, materials, supplies, health, safety, environment and risk.

Typical job titles include:

Process lead manager Process leader Production lead Section leader

Occupation duties

Duty Criteria for measuring performance KSBs

Duty 1 Work autonomously as part of a wider production team to undertake and direct production activities, plant operations, maintenance and performance against KPIs. Provide technical/specialist input and direction to own team and to others

Follow organisational procedures

Work effectively across teams

Accuracy

Quality

K1

S1 S2 S3

B1 B6

Duty 2 Manage resources effectively to ensure the efficient running of their department in line with organisational procedures and budgets

Use of data and information

Accuracy

Planned approach

K2 K3

S4 S5 S6

B1 B2 B4

Duty 3 Use KPIs as the basis of the continuous improvement cycle for quality, cost and volume, using lean, operational excellence and production improvement techniques

Accuracy

Analytical approach

K4

S7

B2 B6

Duty 4 Undertake and manage quality resolutions as well as volume problem resolution

Accuracy

Speed

Analytical approach

K5 K6 K8

S8

B5 B6

Duty 5 Manage health, safety and environment within their area of responsibility, ensuring staff are compliant with all requirements and driving improvements

Follows organisational procedures for health, safety, environment and risk

Applies health, safety, environment, and risk guidance

Accuracy

K7 K8

S9 S10

B4 B5 B6

Duty 6 Use project management tools to plan, organise and manage resources, monitor progress, identify risks and mitigation

Following organisational procedures

K9

S11

B2 B3 B6

Duty 7 Develop, build and motivate team members as manage performance and industrial relations to achieve production, quality and cost targets

Fairness

K10 K11

S12 S13 S14 S15

B3 B4 B5

Duty 8 Provide clear direction and leadership to own team and others, giving open and honest feedback

Demonstration of fairness

K12 K13 K14

S16 S17 S18 S19

B1 B3 B5

Duty 9 Build and maintain strong relationships across different disciplines, to ensure that the activities of functions such as HR, Purchasing, Planning, Finance focus on core production KPIs

Work effectively across teams

Follow relevant legislation

Follow relevant organisational policies

K15

S20 S21 S22

B2 B3 B5

Duty 10 Lead the communication of corporate vision and strategy to own team. Use data/information to create compelling presentations and drive management decisions

Accurate analysis of data and information

K16 K17 K18

S23 S24 S25

B3 B4 B5 B6


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Principles of production/manufacturing techniques including: material handling systems, maintenance, production planning/scheduling, ergonomics, work place study, plant organisation, decommissioning, Statistical Process Control, process types such as flow and batch, product/raw material principles Back to Duty

K2: How to identify and procure sufficient, suitable resources (e.g. finance, staff, equipment, supplies) including use of management tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 Back to Duty

K3: Budgeting, forecasting and control of direct and indirect costs, fixed and variable costs including actual, accrued and committed costs Back to Duty

K4: Lean operational and quality improvement practices such as workplace organisation, visual management, waste reduction and shop floor problem solving Back to Duty

K5: Delivery of quality management and assurance systems Back to Duty

K6: Problem definition: Cost of Poor Quality, problem analysis models such as Is/Is Not Back to Duty

K7: Safe and professional working practices including health, safety, environment and legislative requirements relevant to the sector, the organisation and own role Back to Duty

K8: Production procedures and regulations to meet legislative/organisational requirements Back to Duty

K9: Planning and project management principles, problem solving, relationship building and leading through KPIs Back to Duty

K10: Employment law, employee rights and responsibilities, organisation staff management policies/procedures for e.g. recruitment, performance, development, discipline, grievance, equality/diversity, industrial relations Back to Duty

K11: Theories of performance management and their use and organisations tools and policies for managing teams Back to Duty

K12: The theory of managing, motivating and developing people Back to Duty

K13: The purpose of organisational vision and goals and how these apply to teams Back to Duty

K14: Awareness of the differing strengths team members have and how these can be effectively applied in the workplace Back to Duty

K15: Approaches to colleague, stakeholder/ supplier relationship management including collaboration, negotiation, influencing, managing conflict, and networking Back to Duty

K16: How to communicate and cascade information effectively at all levels and to a diverse audience Back to Duty

K17: How to identify the information required for decision making, how it should be gathered and reported Back to Duty

K18: How to develop and present a case to management when requesting change including single page reporting Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Undertake and direct production activities and operations Back to Duty

S2: Propose, undertake, manage and coordinate changes to the product, production operations, processes and equipment, to improve productivity, efficiency and quality Back to Duty

S3: Solve problems - predict and prevent failures through the analysis of data and information Back to Duty

S4: Manage resources effectively to ensure their availability and the efficient running of department in line with organisational procedures Back to Duty

S5: Deliver cost achievements against budget targets Back to Duty

S6: Plan resources to support variations in production schedules Back to Duty

S7: Use KPIs as the basis of the continuous improvement cycle for quality, cost and volume achievement using lean operational and product improvement techniques Back to Duty

S8: Undertake and manage quality resolutions as well as volume problem resolution Back to Duty

S9: Manage health, safety and the environment within area of responsibility, ensuring staff are compliant with all requirements and driving improvements Back to Duty

S10: Conduct workplace risk assessments, manage near-miss or similar processes, conduct investigations as necessary Back to Duty

S11: Use project management tools to plan, organise and manage resources, to monitor progress, identify risks and mitigation Back to Duty

S12: Recruit the right people into the right job Back to Duty

S13: Develop, build and motivate teams by identifying strengths and enabling training and development within the workplace Back to Duty

S14: Recognise excellence, effectively manage performance, discipline, attendance, grievance Back to Duty

S15: Manage industrial relations and equality and diversity Back to Duty

S16: Support development through coaching and mentoring Back to Duty

S17: Leading and communicating the management of change Back to Duty

S18: Provide clear direction and leadership, giving open and honest feedback. Apply and adapt own leadership style to different production situations and people Back to Duty

S19: Delegate and enable delivery though others Back to Duty

S20: Build and maintain strong relationships across different disciplines. Negotiate and influence. Manages conflict Back to Duty

S21: Identify and share good practice, work collaboratively Back to Duty

S22: Utilise specialist advice and support to deliver plans Back to Duty

S23: Communicate effectively (verbal, non-verbal, written, digital) in manner relevant to the target audience Back to Duty

S24: Chair meetings and present (formally and informally) using a range of media. Listen actively, challenge, give feedback Back to Duty

S25: Analyse data/information to compellingly and succinctly present information to drive management decisions Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: ecision Making: Makes decisions based on personal initiative, technical knowledge, analysis and understanding of the different interests of stakeholders. Accepts responsibility for decisions and recognises limit to own authority Back to Duty

B2: Agile: Flexible and adaptable to the needs of the organisation. Is creative, innovative and enterprising when seeking solutions to business needs. Positive and open to new ways of working, responds well to feedback and change Back to Duty

B3: Inclusive: Open, approachable, authentic, and able to build trust with others. Promotes a respectful culture embracing diversity and inclusion. Seeks and provides feedback to manage continuous development of self, team and processes Back to Duty

B4: Responsibility, Accountability and Resilience: Drive to achieve in all aspects of work. Demonstrates resilience and accountability. Determination when managing difficult situations. Seeks new opportunities Back to Duty

B5: Professionalism: Sets an example, and is fair, consistent and impartial. Open and honest. Operates within organisational values. Promote and instil the values of the organisation to all colleagues Back to Duty

B6: Problem solver: Identifies issues quickly, enjoys solving complex problems and applies appropriate solutions. Has a strong desire to push to ensure the root cause of any problem is found and solutions identified which prevent recurrence Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Professional recognition

This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:

  • Achievement of the standard is designed to be recognised by relevant Professional Engineering Institutions such as the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for at the appropriate level of professional registration (EngTech).


Additional details

Occupational Level:

4

Duration (months):

24

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Status: Retired
Level: 4
Reference: ST0695
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 07/02/2024
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway: 24 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £11000
LARS Code: 419
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: BMW UK, Activate Apprenticeships, Movetech, Mahle, Rolls Royce, Pektron, WHS Plastics, Nasmyth Group, De La Rue, Bath ASU, Siemens, Toyota, Nissan, CMFED, Textile Training, National Skills Academy for Food & Drink

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date Latest end date
1.1 Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. 07/02/2024 Not set Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery 04/03/2019 06/02/2024 Not set

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