Assistant Production Manager

About the role
Walkinshaw Group is a leader in performance engineering, advanced manufacturing, and product development across automotive, motorsport, and emerging mobility sectors. With a proud history of innovation and quality, we deliver world-class engineering solutions for global OEMs and performance brands. Our Dandenong South facility is home to state-of-the-art engineering capability, a highly skilled team, and a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and technical excellence.

We are seeking a talented and experienced Assistant Production Manager to join our RAM vehicle production team. You will represent your parts at integration meetings with both internal and external stakeholders and resolve issues as they arise. You will provide critical operational support to the RAM team, ensuring production production runs smoothly by managing core vehicle parts supply, vehicle assembly plant faults (VAP / Core Vehicle faults), tooling, and preventative maintenance of production equipment. The role establishes as maintains the systems and processes required to keep the production line operating safely and efficiently, and works closely with Production Engineering and Design Engineering to support these systems, along with managing daily production activities.

This is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic manufacturing environment where your expertise will directly influence the performance, safety, and quality of the vehicles we build.

What you'll be doing:

• Managing and improving the inbound Vehicle Acceptance (VAP) fault management process

• Overseeing and improving the fault investigation process for VAP issues

• Liaising with production engineering and design engineering teams to resolve recurring faults

• Tracking and reporting on VAP fault trends and resolution outcomes

• Monitoring parts stock levels and coordinating with suppliers to avoid production delays

• Maintaining accurate records of parts usage and inventory

• Maintaining the production tool store

• Coordinating and maintaining the preventative maintenance system for critical production equipment

• Ensuring critical production equipment is safe and in good working condition

• Coordinating equipment servicing with external maintenance providers as required

• Monitoring daily production activities including shift condition, quality and DPU, VAP faults and staffing

• Providing general support as required to RAM production teams and management to ensure smooth production

• Liaising with cross-functional teams to set up and maintain key production systems

• Initiating continuous improvement activities in your key areas of responsibility

What we're looking for:

You’ll be successful in this role if you bring:

• Relevant automotive qualification and experience in automotive manufacturing (minimum 2 years), or equivalent automotive manufacturing/production experience

• Ability to diagnose mechanical and technical vehicle faults

• Demonstrated experience supervising and coordinating a production team

• Strong organisational and communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to manage administrative systems and processes

• Intermediate understanding of Microsoft Office applications, with an ability to develop data and trend charts

• Team-minded, continuous improvement approach

What we offer

• Work on cutting-edge automotive programs

• Be part of a respected Australian automotive organisation with a rich motorsport and performance heritage

• Competitive salary and career development pathways

• A supportive team culture that values innovation and passion

If you're excited by the prospect of joining our team, we encourage you to apply now.