Ovens - Operator, Oven Lead

Elkhart Plastics Inc.; Middlebury (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Elkhart Plastics Inc. is seeking a Lead to oversee all production activities in the designated shift for rotational molding, driving productivity, quality and schedule attainment while upholding safety.

You will coordinate daily schedules, train staff, conduct 5S and LEAN practices, monitor performance, and escalate issues to ensure targets are met. The role requires a high school diploma, 2–4 years in production, forklift certification, strong communication, and leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• 2–4 years of production experience, preferably in a lead role.
• Forklift certification from Elkhart Plastics/Myers Industries required.
• Must operate, understand, and transfer knowledge of all machinery and equipment.
• Strong reading and mathematical skills required.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Computer literacy, Microsoft Office products required.

Responsibilities

• Owns and drives productivity, quality and schedule attainment for the shift.
• Coordinates daily production schedule to develop rotation based on scheduling needs while ensuring training needs are met.
• Responds to production-related issues, orders and production demands, meeting or exceeding production targets.
• Learns processing of rotational molding equipment and can start/stop machines.
• Performs production duties and fills-in as required to relieve for breaks and vacations.
• Conducts training of new employees and retraining as required.
• Leads 5S activities and ensures daily clean-up of work areas.

Skills

Forklift experience

Leadership

Strong communication

Computer literacy

Machinery operation knowledge

Hazard communication

Production experience (2–4 yrs)

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

Forklift certification

Job description

Job Overview

The Lead is responsible for overseeing all aspects of production related to their designated work area for the shift including goals/targets, quality, training, and data recording, ensuring that all rotational molding production activities are carried out in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Owns and drives productivity, quality and schedule attainment for the shift
• Coordinates daily production schedule to develop rotation based on scheduling needs while ensuring training needs are met
• Responds to production-related issues, orders and production demands, meeting or exceeding production targets
• Learns processing of rotational molding equipment, observes machines and equipment in operation for malfunctions, and able to start and stop all machinery
• Performs production duties and fills-in as required to relieve employees for breaks, absenteeism, and vacations
• Conducts training of new employees and retraining as required
• Leads 5S activities through the shift, requires clean-up of work areas on a daily basis
• Learns and understands LEAN tools and their use and is a champion in leading the usage of these tools and behaviors for the shift
• Continually monitors and assesses personnel and coaches them on ergonomics, behavior, participation, cross-training, etc
• Promotes a positive safety culture by ensuring all safety policies and procedures are being followed and sustaining a safe work environment
• Completes accident reports immediately after an accident occurs, notifying Safety Coordinator, Production Manager/Supervisor, Plant Manager, and HR
• Actively takes the role of leadership in the area of responsibility and reinforces the company’s policies
• Assists in administering an effective employee relations program which ensures employee needs are met while helping to provide overall support with production operations
• Ensures all non-conforming reports are filled out, coordinated and closed properly
• Reviews employee training data and coordinates with supervisors to ensure all training needs are met
• Adheres to attendance policy
• Assists with projects as assigned by manager/supervisor

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required
• 2 – 4 years of production experience, preferably most recent in a lead role
• Minimum of one year forklift experience preferred
• Knowledgeable with and/or able to learn key areas of responsibility
• Must be able to operate, understand, and transfer knowledge of all machinery and equipment
• Must be able to communicate workplace hazards and handle different situations that will arise, including emergency situations
• Forklift certification from Elkhart Plastics/Myers Industries required
• Strong reading and mathematical skills required
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), interpersonal and leadership skills required
• Computer literacy, Microsoft Office products required

Working Conditions

Able to work in hot humid environment for extended periods of time. This job is in a typical manufacturing environment, to include:

• Ovens, torches, and rotating tools
• Forklifts and other moving machinery
• Loud work environment

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Required to frequently sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Walking and standing on concrete surfaces the majority of the time (8-12 hours) as this position requires a continuous presence on the manufacturing floor
• Required to be able to operate and use all necessary safety equipment
• Must be able to tolerate repetitive motions for extended periods of time
• Must be able to tolerate extreme temperatures