Associate Director (Digital Manufacturing System)

About the job

Who We Are

We help to create icons. We help to build marvels. Our products feature in some of the most iconic buildings in the world.

RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics brands globally, specializing in ceramic and gres porcelain wall and floor tiles, sanitaryware, faucets, and tableware. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, we serve clients in over 150 countries through operational hubs in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, North & South America, and Australia .

With over 12,000 employees from 40+ nationalities , we are a truly global and diverse organization. RAK Ceramics is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dhaka Stock Exchange .

The Role

As Associate Director – Digital Manufacturing System, you will lead process automation and digitalization of end-to-end manufacturing operations for our tile production facilities. This role is accountable for achieving automation, driving process improvement through technological advancements, establishing digitally capable and advanced production units, ensuring high product quality, optimizing costs, and fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement across all operational units.

What You Will Be Doing

• Digital transformation Initiatives related to integration of ERP or MES systems into daily operations, setting up digital twins to run production simulations and using data analytics for real-time decision-making
• Lead & encourage technology adoption to modernize operations, assess, implement, and maximize cutting-edge production technologies including advanced digital printing, kiln automation, Internet of Things (IoT), IIOT/sensors etc.
• Ensure seamless integration between ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and shop floor technologies, driving digital transformation, automation and data transparency
• Manage the entire manufacturing process & ensure a constant product quality and great operational efficiency, lead and oversee every facet of tile manufacturing
• Promote Process Excellence in order to increase yield, cut waste, and decrease downtime through application and constant monitoring of implemented TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), Six Sigma techniques and lean manufacturing processes
• Verify quality and compliance, encourage a culture of safety and compliance by upholding stringent adherence to environmental laws, industry standards (EN, ISO etc.) and internal quality benchmarks
• Manage the entire manufacturing process & ensure a constant product quality and great operational efficiency, lead and oversee every facet of tile manufacturing
• Implement sustainability initiatives to reduce energy consumption, minimize emissions, and optimize resource utilization in line with set sustainability goals
• Employee management, motivating, supporting, and providing guidance to production staff and department heads
• Monitor production KPIs on a periodic basis and resolve issues to get the maximum output and ensure that the output meets all quality standards
• Establishing a balance between increased productivity and reduced costs of manufacturing operations
• Review all housekeeping and safety inspections and follows up on open issues

What We Are Looking For

Some of the key competencies required for the role include:

• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Mechanical, Industrial or Automation. Master of Technology (M.Tech.) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) preferred
• 15+ years in manufacturing industries including 7–10 years leading automation or digital transformation projects
• Demonstrated skillset & background in manufacturing process improvement & transformation projects
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or similar
• Ability to work with machine control systems
• Familiarity with digital twin simulations and predictive maintenance.
• Expertise in process improvement methodologies: Lean, TPM, Six Sigma
• Strong leadership, mentoring and change management skills
• People management and development of high-performance teams

RAK Ceramics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, nationality, disability, age, or marital status.