Machining Lead - Graveyard

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc; Oregon (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. is seeking a Machining Lead to drive safe, efficient production in the machining department. You will monitor output, coordinate with operators and support teams, and implement continuous improvement to meet quality, delivery, and cost targets.

This role requires strong problem-solving, lean manufacturing knowledge, and the ability to train staff. You will lead 6S activities, enforce safety standards, and manage small to medium projects across the production floor.

Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving skills for complex issues.
• Lean manufacturing experience and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to train and develop shop personnel.
• Reading and understanding GD&T.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Monitor area output to goals for safety, quality, productivity, delivery and cost.
• Manage process control and sustainability in respective work centers.
• Oversee R&D and pilot jobs with proper documentation and reporting.
• Ensure processes can be run by operators and are standardized.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to resolve issues.
• Drive setup reduction and tooling improvements.
• Lead 6S activities and train operators.
• Ensure safety standards are followed and equipment is maintained.
• Support continuous improvement projects across production areas.

Skills

Problem solving

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Training

GD&T

Root cause

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

MS Office

Industrial maintenance tools

Job description

We are people powered — by makers, problem-solvers, and leaders who elevate everything they do. Guided by our core values and a relentless pursuit of better, we continue to set the bar for premium. Start your Benchmade career today!

Our Core Values

ELEVATE EVERYTHING – We each bring a specific set of skills to the table, offering up our expertise and resources to enhance the work of others. We challenge each other to be the best in order to achieve enduring value in the eyes of our customers.

BETTER IS BETTER – There is no finish line; we strive for continuous improvement in everything we do. We obsess over every detail to find ways to improve both our products and our process.

UNAPOLOGETICALLY ACCOUNTABLE – We’re open and honest in how we speak and listen. We celebrate each other’s successes, and collectively rally to solve every challenge. We own it!

COURAGEOUS INNOVATION – There are elegant ideas awaiting discovery in everything we do. We push everyone around us to pursue those ideas openly so we can continue to dominate the category.

COMMUNITY DRIVEN - As a family business, we understand the importance of enriching the communities we call home. As a company, and as individuals, we work to make our expertise available to do the most good for those around us.

The Machining Lead is responsible for ensuring the most efficient work steps are being taken to achieve safety, quality, productivity, on time delivery and cost-effective production of our products within the Machining department. Their effort to produce this standard work is focused on personal performance, identifying, and solving both logistical manufacturing problems that occur in their respective work centers with staff, materials, and equipment. This role is responsible for working with operators and supporting departments to solve problems that allow for continuous improvement in safety, quality, productivity, on time delivery and cost-effective production of our products.

Job Responsibilities

• Monitor Area Output to desired goals and Metrics (Safety, Quality, Productivity, Delivery and Cost) Serves as primary problem solver to resolve issues and restore process control.
• Responsible for the process control and sustainability within respective work centers.
• Responsible for all R&D and Pilot jobs in area, ensuring full process documentation, production run-times, and any production issues are fed back to Manufacturing and Design Engineering.
• Upon completion, the process should be able to be run by all operators within the area (i.e., standard production).
• Work with Manufacturing Engineering to resolve any manufacturing issues.
• Review current processes and drive continuous improvement through such activities as set-up reduction, speeds/feeds modifications, and tooling improvements.
• Serve as primary trainer within the area.
• Leads 6S activities within the area, ensuring organization and cleanliness standards meet or exceed standards and drives expectations to operators within area.
• Reviews new PCI’s for any issues.
• Assist the operators with problems as they occur utilizing root cause analysis methodologies.
• Familiar with all work centers to give effective advice.
• Responsible for training in all respective work centers.
• Follow and enforce all company safety standards/practices.
• Assure that equipment is adequately maintained and safely operated.
• Support all continuous improvement related activities / projects in all areas.
• Balance the workflow to ensure the best and safe use of capacity and staff.
• Aid in management of consumables.
• Flexible and resourceful, capable of identifying and implementing actions in timely manner while understanding all associated risks involved.
• Support manufacturing process variation reduction and internal quality systems through use of quality tools and techniques to drive process and product improvements.
• Manage small to medium scale projects related to the production environment.

Lead Responsibilities

• Coordinate training of personnel on technical aspects of the job.
• Demonstrates leadership role in sharing knowledge with shop personnel.
• Facilitates the daily work assignments for operators to ensure production requirements meet performance targets for safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost.
• Coach team members to maximize their productivity.
• May participate in the interview/hiring process, as well as in disciplinary action and reviews.
• This role is not responsible for the direct management/supervision of the department employees.
• Support manufacturing process variation reduction and internal quality systems through use of quality tools and techniques to drive process and product improvements.
• Manage small to medium scale projects related to the production environment.

Qualifications

• A High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Ability to provide positive constructive feedback both within and between departments.
• Understanding with ability to conduct maintenance and machine troubleshooting and repair.
• Experience in edged product manufacturing a plus.
• Reading and GD&T understanding.
• Strong ability to prioritize and adjust based on organizational needs.
• Proven problem-solving skills of complex issues.
• Proven ability to collect and analyze root cause data and drive to a closed corrective action.
• Capable of providing timely and meaningful training to develop skills of other employees.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and team skills.
• Sound decision making and time management skills.
• Strong understanding of product quality standards & requirements.
• Basic MS Office computer skills.
• Technical support experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in and leading initiatives within a “Lean” environment.
• Strong problem solving/troubleshooting skills.

Working Conditions

Working Environment: Manufacturing Floor.

Position Physical Demands: Lifting up to 25 lbs. frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally. Sitting and doing data entry for periods of time. Able to work in a manufacturing environment (exposure to noise, coolants, abrasives, heat, cold, adhesives, and automated and manual machinery) wearing required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, closed shoes, arm sleeves and designated PPE gloves as required.

Travel Requirements: As needed, less than 5% of the time.

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Benchmade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, benefits, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact [e-mail] or 1-800-800-7427.

We can't let a good thing rest. It's in our DNA to look ahead and see the promise of what could be.

As a family-owned, American business, we never quit striving for more. More innovation, more value. That's why more than thirty years later, we're still the only knife company making tools that are yours, for life. We craft remarkable customer experiences that endure for generations. Introduce yourself to our talent team and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match.