Group Lead

Key Responsibilities

Production Oversight

• Lead, guide, and support hourly production team members across assigned work areas.
• Monitor daily production schedules, adjust staffing as needed, and ensure workstations are properly manned.
• Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality requirements, and customer specifications.
• Conduct start‑of‑shift meetings and communicate priorities, changes, or issues.
• Confirm the output hourly to ensure planned production targets are met.   If production delays occur, take action to correct the shortfall and notify Supervisor.
• Remain in your assigned area to ensure standardized work is followed, quality practices are in place, and cross training is accomplished.
• Promote and maintain the Usui Production System.  Train the operators to observe and follow the guidelines of the Usui Production System.
• Promote and maintain ART-4S.  Train the operators to observe and follow the guidelines of the ART-4S System.
• Possess the ability to operate all machinery on your production lines.

• Substitute for the operators when operator has stepped away from the line for unscheduled breaks, to ensure the line never stops.             
• Identify and understand all components.
• Responding to ANDON calls:

• Respond promptly to ANDON calls.
• Contact others, Supervisor, Maintenance, Quality, as necessary to resolve issues. 
• If unable to promptly respond, then contact Supervisor to seek instructions.
• Material Handling:

• Supply the material, parts, and sub-materials for the production lines prior to the depletion of the material and parts.  Ensure line is stocked for the next shift.
• Transport products and empty boxes: Transport semi-finished products and finished products and transport empty boxes (internal process).  Ensure boxes are disposed of properly.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Quality & Safety

• Enforce safety policies and promote a safety‑first culture.
• Perform safety checks, audit, and ensure proper use of PPE.
• Identify and escalate quality issues; work with the Quality team to execute corrective actions.
• Support root‑cause analysis and participate in problem‑solving activities such as 5 Why or fishbone analysis.
• Report employee injuries and assist Supervisor in completing accident reports when any injury occurs in the plant.
• Ensure all employees are trained in and following all Quality procedures.
• Train employees in all quality critical requirements. 
• Use all Quality issues as coaching opportunities with the employees.
• Promote and maintain ART-4S.  Train the operators to observe and follow the guidelines of the ART-4S System.
•  

• Provide hands‑on training for new employees and cross‑training for existing team members.
• Coach team members on performance expectations, productivity, and work standards.
• Assist with performance feedback and recommend improvement plans when needed.

Process & Efficiency

• Monitor workflow, material availability, and equipment uptime to minimize downtime.
• Support lean manufacturing initiatives (5S, Kaizen, waste reduction).
• Recommend process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce scrap, and enhance output.

Administrative Tasks

• Maintain accurate production records, downtime logs, and shift reports.
• Track production metrics such as throughput, cycle time, and scrap rates.
• Assist supervisors with shift handoff communication.

Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED
• 2–4 years of experience in a manufacturing environment; automotive preferred.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and coordinate teams in a fast‑paced production setting.
• Strong knowledge of safety standards, quality systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Basic mechanical aptitude and problem‑solving abilities.

Preferred

• Experience in automotive parts (e.g., stamping, molding, machining, assembly).
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Ability to read blueprints, work instructions, and measurement tools.
• PLEX software proficiency.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Lift up to 30–50 lbs as required.
• Work in a production environment with varying temperatures, noise levels, and moving machinery.