Production Process Lead at CREATIVE WERKS LLC – Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Job Summary:

The Process Lead is responsible for improving and standardizing production performance through a positive, safety, efficient, and quality-focused work environment. The Process Lead is responsible for the assigned lines and Zone’s process analysis and optimization, including but not limited to: downtime, mechanical failures, operator and crew skills, quality issues, and scrap through project management. The Process Lead will make necessary operational improvements across all three shifts while maintaining a safe workspace.

Responsibilities of the Position:

Employee Safety

• Communicate safety as the number one priority for employees by encouraging safe work practices and immediately addressing safety concern
• Observe and implement safety corrections on assigned lines
• Train employees to work in safe manner

Production Efficiency

• Responsible for the assigned line(s) budgeted performance
• Maintain and publishing OEE and line performance metrics
• Maintain White Boards displaying KPI metrics at the line, including downtime paretos
• Trend and report analysis of performance
• Identify opportunities for improvement and take ownership of actions
• Responsible for reporting and documenting any changes made to the machines (based on item running) that have proven to improve efficiency
• Maintain and publish an active action register of tasks to meet KPIs, with priorities, owners, due dates, etc.
• Follow up with responsible parties to complete assigned tasks
• Escalate to management if tasks are incomplete by the due date
• Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with Dozuki software
• Review and train SOPs with responsible work (Production, Maintenance, etc.)
• Analyze scrap and create actionable tasks to meet annual KPIs
• Capture and analyze data to optimize and standardize machine setup, including but not limited to recipes, best practices, and material changes

Production Duties

• Support a clean production floor with equipment, pallets, and personnel in proper positions
• Monitor and revise 6S areas
• Monitor scrap and overfill
• Track and audit machine settings / speeds
• Participate in site DMS meetings
• Primarily work their scheduled shifts but will come in early or stay late as needed to support all shifts, including some work on weekends as needed
• Responsible for selecting and training production team on all three shifts to ensure world class performance
• Be available to communicate with and support all shifts throughout the day as necessary

Collaboration with other Departments

• Work together with personnel in various operations departments to ensure the production floor runs safely and efficiently
• Maintenance
• Responsible for ensuring that the lines are in perfect mechanical condition
• Enter maintenance work orders for any mechanical issues
• Follow up and escalate with management if maintenance work orders are not completed to satisfaction
• Suggest changes to the PM plan to maintenance management to decrease mechanical breakdowns
• Responsible for coordinating and partnering with maintenance on setting up the machine
• Quality
• Responsible for all quality related issues on the lines
• Responsible for root cause analysis (within one week of incident)
• State corrective actions to prevent condition in the future (within one week of incident)
• Changing written process procedures to permanently prevent future incidents (within one week of incident)

Employee Management

• Maintain a positive work environment to ensure creative werks is the employer of choice for all employees
• Supervise activities of team leaders/operators and line workers and report issues to supervisors
• Continually coach and train team leaders and operators and line workers in new procedures and skills
• Report disciplinary issues with employees to Production Supervisor

Perform other duties as assigned by Management

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Basic math/mechanical aptitude
• Basic statistical analysis and problem-solving skills required
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, in writing and verbally
• Ability to prioritize and organize workload
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred but not required

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma, GED with 4 years experience, or Bachelors degree preferred
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis, problem solving, Six Sigma, or Lean Manufacturing preferred

Working Conditions:

• Ability to work between an office setting and warehouse environment with temperature range of 55 – 80 degrees
• This position may required the employee to work weekends or shifts other than their own to meet the needs of the business

Physical Requirements:

• Operate standard office equipment
• Reach with hands and arms
• Lift up to 49 pounds
• Stand and/or walk for up to 8 hours a day
• Frequently push, pull, squat, bend, and reach, all with or without reasonable accommodation