Plastics Extrusion Cell Lead — Drive Performance

Silvergate Plastics; Pentre Maelor; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Silvergate Plastics is seeking a Cell Leader for the Plastics Extrusion department. You will lead shift-based production, drive targets, and coordinate across lines, weigh stations, and QC to maintain quality and output. Your role combines hands-on leadership with a focus on safety, productivity, and continuous improvement.

You will train and develop operators, manage staffing across shifts, and work closely with Quality to meet stringent specifications in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.

Responsibilities

• Drive daily, weekly, and monthly production targets, ensuring maximum efficiency and output.
• Organise and coordinate priorities across all lines and weigh stations to meet production schedule.
• Continuous communication with the QC department to highlight issues and rectify immediately.
• Ensure reworks are highlighted quickly and priority is changed accordingly.
• Monitor and report performance metrics to management via emails with progress updates.
• Promote a results-driven culture, ensuring team members understand and work towards key objectives.
• Lead daily shift meetings to communicate SQCDPE metrics.
• Ensure all team members are informed of current performance, priorities, and challenges.
• Encourage team engagement and accountability through structured communication.
• Train, coach, and develop extrusion operators to improve skill levels and performance.
• Support a multi-skilled workforce, ensuring flexibility to meet production demands.
• Manage shift manning levels effectively to optimise productivity across shifts.
• Set clear expectations for your team and provide relevant training.
• Work closely with Quality to ensure products meet specs and standards.
• Support investigations into quality issues and implement corrective actions.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement within the team.
• Identify barriers to output/quality and communicate this upwards.
• Actively learn and own clean-down and start-up processes for critical grade materials.
• Train and develop team members in these processes to ensure consistency.
• Take responsibility for maintaining and controlling process parameters to ensure product quality and minimise waste.
• Monitor machine performance and report downtime, faults, and maintenance issues promptly.
• Suggest performance improvement ideas to maximise output.
• Act as a Health & Safety champion and promote safe working practices.
• Ensure compliance with all HSE policies and procedures.
• Proactively identify and address potential risks.
• Own housekeeping activities and delegate roles to your team.
• Maintain high housekeeping standards across the production area (5S).
• Ensure workspaces are organised, clean, and safe.
• Improve shift handovers for accurate information transfer between Team Leaders and senior staff.
• Ensure continuity of operations across shifts through clear communication of priorities, issues, and actions.
• Undertake cross-blending and re-bagging as required, ensuring materials meet quality standards.
• Drive awareness of performance targets across all team members.
• Motivate the team to perform in a fast-paced production schedule.

Job description

Silvergate Plastics is seeking a Cell Leader for the Plastics Extrusion department. You will lead shift-based production, drive targets, and coordinate across lines, weigh stations, and QC to maintain quality and output. Your role combines hands-on leadership with a focus on safety, productivity, and continuous improvement.

You will train and develop operators, manage staffing across shifts, and work closely with Quality to meet stringent specifications in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.