Production Team Lead

HRT Solutions; Lowellville (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HWI is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Production Technician to coordinate daily workflow and supervise technicians on the production floor. This hands-on leader balances direct production tasks with shift planning, safety enforcement, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The role requires experience in a highly automated environment, managing a production shift, and strong adherence to SOPs and safety rules.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Associate degree in a technical or manufacturing field is preferred.
• 2–5 years of experience in highly automated production environment.
• 2–5 years managing a production shift/team with scheduling responsibility preferred.
• Experience in a flexible team-based Production/Manufacturing environment.
• Practical experience in Continuous Improvement / Lean Manufacturing activities.
• Basic computer skills (MS Office) and ERP experience (Oracle preferred) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Running the plant day to day activities including: Coordinating scheduling of the shift and allocate resources, adjusting and operating machinery, line change overs, coordinating with maintenance to follow maintenance schedule, ensuring quality checks, and executing 1st level and autonomous maintenance by the Team.
• Preparing technical documentation regarding process phases and cycle times; updating SOP manuals; participating in sequence definition, cycle time calculation, and analysis of production phases; sharing cycle time data with internal teams; maintaining KPIs (OEE, Adherence to Plan, C/O time, Waste).
• Driving safety mindset: leading by example, enforcing LOTOTO, machine guarding, working at heights, electrical safety; updating SOPs; reporting and correcting at-risk situations; conducting Root Cause analysis on incidents/near misses; communicating safety results in daily meetings; leading safety improvement projects.
• Applying 5S and Lean manufacturing principles; proposing housekeeping and organizational improvements; leading Lean-based improvement projects; supporting customer complaint resolution as a resolution owner through Root Cause Analysis and problem solving.
• Developing team competencies and updating/training team on Standard Operating Procedures.

Education

High school diploma or GED required

Associate degree in a technical or manufacturing field preferred

Two (2) to Five (5) years of experience in highly automated production environment

Two (2) to Five (5) years managing a production shift/team

Experience in a flexible team-based Production/Manufacturing environment

Continuous Improvement / Lean Manufacturing

MS Office and ERP experience (Oracle preferred)

Job description

HWI has a fantastic opportunity to join our Production Team as a Lead Manufacturing Production Technician.

Summary

The Team Lead is responsible for coordinating and leading the daily workflow of tasks executed by the Manufacturing Production Technicians. The Team Lead ensures the safety and health of employees takes precedence over any other duties of this position. The Team Lead is a hands-on leader performing direct production tasks while also responsible for the daily scheduling and production for the shift. Requirements include directing the production team, making production changes as the schedule and or machinery equipment dictate, ensuring SOP’s are being followed, ensuring quality standards are met and coordinating with Maintenance to optimize production and minimize down time.

Responsibilities

• Running the plant day to day activities including: Coordinating scheduling of the shift and allocate resources appropriately, adjusting and operating machinery, anticipating and performing line change overs, coordinating with maintenance to ensure adherence to maintenance schedule, ensuring quality checks are performed as required and actions taken according to results and adhering to and execution of 1st level maintenance and autonomous maintenance by the Team.
• Preparing technical documentation regarding the process phases and the related methods and cycle times. Documenting changes to process in SOP manuals, participating in the sequence definition, cycle time calculation, and analysis of the working phases of production processes/products. Sharing cycle time data with internal teams. Keeping performance indicator updated: OEE, Adherence to Plan, C/O time, Waste, etc., and communicating to and engaging the team to continuously improve them.
• Driving the right mindset and behavior for Safety to include: Leading by example by holding self and team members accountable, reinforcing key safety rules: LOTOTO, machine guarding, working at high, and electrical safety. Updating Safe Operating Procedures, identifying, reporting and correcting at risk situation and behavior, driving Root Cause analysis on incidents or near misses, communicating safety results during daily meeting and driving safety improvement projects.
• Applying 5S principles and taking part in 5S activity throughout the plant, continuously proposing actions to improve housekeeping and organization, learning and applying Lean Manufacturing principle in the day to day activity to remove waste and non-value activity. Leading improvement projects following Lean manufacturing principle. Supporting the customer complaint resolution process as a resolution owner for production related issues through Root Cause Analysis and problem solving.
• Developing Team Members Competencies and modifying, updating and training team on Standard Operating Procedure.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associate degree in a technical or manufacturing field preferred
• Two (2) to Five (5) years of experience in highly automated production environment.
• Two (2) to Five (5) years managing a production shift/team (conflict resolution, providing feedback, goal setting) with scheduling responsibility preferred
• Previous experience working in a flexible team-based Production/Manufacturing environment
• Practical and pragmatic experience in Continuous Improvement / Lean Manufacturing activities
• Basic computer skills (MS Office). Previous practice of ERP systems (Oracle preferred) is a plus.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Physical Activity: Requires more than 2/3 of time reaching; 1/3 to 2/3 of time standing, sitting, speaking/hearing; and less than 1/3 of time walking, climbing/balancing, stooping/ kneeling/ crouching/crawling, tasting/smelling.
• Lifting: Requires lifting up to 100 pounds less than 1/3 of time.
• Vision: Requires accurate close and distance vision, color vision, and the ability to focus.
• Environment: Requires 1/3 to 2/3 of time in an office setting; and less than 1/3 of time working near moving technical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic/caustic chemicals, outdoor weather, and/or in extreme heat.
• Noise: Requires exposure to moderate noise.

About Us

HWI, a member of Calderys

HWI is the largest supplier of refractory products and services in the United States.

With manufacturing sites and distribution centers across the Americas, as well as the major refractory industry research facility in North America, HWI serves virtually every major industry that requires refractory solutions to enhance production and protect assets. HWI is consistently recognized for its talented experts, industry firsts, and intensely driven excellence.

We’re actively expanding our team of dedicated, enthusiastic people — particularly in research and development, engineering and manufacturing, product management, and sales. As a dynamic, growing global refractory leader, we offer competitive compensation, benefits packages, and wellness programs. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a diverse workforce.

For more information, visit https://thinkhwi.com/