Production Lead

Röchling Automotive; Duncan (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Röchling Automotive seeks an experienced Production Shift Leader – 2nd Shift in Duncan, SC. You will oversee hourly staff in a fast-paced automotive plastics environment, drive safety, quality and productivity, and ensure on-shift targets are met.

Lead continuous improvement efforts, monitor OEE and KPIs, and promote 5S and Lean practices. This hands-on leadership role requires strong coaching, scheduling, and problem-solving to keep manufacturing running smoothly.

Qualifications

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision to production employees
• Ensure daily production schedule meets safety, quality, delivery and productivity targets
• Assign employees based on production requirements and staffing
• Coordinate break coverage, overtime and short-term workforce planning
• Escalate employee, production, quality and operational issues
• Monitor KPIs (OEE, productivity, scrap, quality, safety) and drive improvements
• Ensure compliance with policies, EHS and quality standards
• Conduct shift handovers and maintain production records
• Maintain training matrices and coordinate training
• Coach employees and support appraisals
• Promote 5S and maintain a safe, clean production environment
• Support Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives
• Coordinate maintenance and quality activities to minimize downtime
• Foster a culture of accountability and teamwork

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Lean Manufacturing

5S

Kaizen

Conflict resolution

Scheduling

Team motivation

Education

Technical education

Apprenticeship

Tools

Production reporting systems

Lean tools

Job description

Röchling Automotive is looking for an experienced Production Shift Leader – 2nd Shift to join our team in Duncan, SC. This is a hands‑on leadership position responsible for overseeing production activities, leading hourly employees, and ensuring safe, efficient, and high‑quality operations throughout the shift.

The ideal candidate will have strong manufacturing leadership experience, a background in the automotive industry, and experience working in a fast‑paced, high‑volume production environment. Experience with plastic injection moulding is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct leadership and supervision to production employees, including operators, setters, forklift drivers, quality auditors, and other shift personnel.
• Ensure the daily production schedule is executed while meeting safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Assign employees based on production requirements, qualifications, and staffing needs.
• Coordinate break coverage, overtime, and short‑term workforce planning.
• Serve as the first level of escalation for employee, production, quality, and operational issues.
• Monitor key production KPIs, including OEE, productivity, scrap, quality, and safety performance, and drive appropriate improvement actions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, EHS requirements, quality standards, and manufacturing procedures.
• Conduct effective shift handovers and maintain accurate production documentation and records.
• Maintain employee training matrices and coordinate required training and development activities.
• Coach employees, provide performance feedback, and support employee appraisal and development discussions.
• Promote 5S standards and maintain a safe, clean, and organized production environment.
• Support KVP/Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
• Coordinate short‑term maintenance and quality activities to minimize downtime and production disruptions.
• Foster a positive team culture based on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 5+ years of manufacturing, production, or operations experience.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of automotive manufacturing experience.
• Previous experience leading hourly employees in a fast‑paced, high‑volume production environment.
• Strong understanding of production processes, safety, quality standards, and manufacturing KPIs.
• Plastic injection moulding experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in an automotive Tier 1 manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, KVP/Kaizen, continuous improvement, and layered audits is a plus.
• Experience with production reporting systems and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and remain organized in a fast‑paced production environment.
• Technical manufacturing education, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience is a plus.
• Ability to work 2nd shift and provide overtime or weekend support as needed.

Ready to take the next step in your manufacturing leadership career?

Join Röchling Automotive as a Production Shift Leader – 2nd Shift in Akron, Ohio, and lead a team in a fast‑paced automotive manufacturing environment.

If you have strong production leadership experience and a passion for safety, quality, and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you!