Line Lead

Job Purpose: To contribute to the success of our customers by producing their products in a way that meets or exceeds the production schedule and our customer's quality requirements.

Job Responsibilities and Job Duties:

1. 1. Effectively perform duties to set up, change over, troubleshoot, and operate all aspects of production equipment to ensure production output meets the production schedule.
   • Conducts equipment operator preventive maintenance (PM) activities for production lines including inspection/changing of belts, oil, gaskets, etc. as needed as well as lubrication; accurately records such activities as required.
   • Ensure changeover activities occur in the specified time with 100% readiness and first pass quality.
   • Assists with filler set up.
   • Effectively communicate with incoming and outgoing shifts as it is related to the optimal running of our production lines.
   • Utilize "line stop" mentality when it comes to equipment, quality, or safety issues.
   • Report continuous or major problems to maintenance department immediately.
2. Responsible for maintaining and improving production's portion of APEX's quality systems.
   • Demonstrate a working knowledge of APEX's quality system as it relates to production.
   • Pulls samples for testing and performs testing as needed (i.e. tensile testing).
   • Identify, report, and assist in resolving quality issues.
   • Proactively interface with Apex's quality department.
   • Ensure cleaning and sanitizing procedures are done correctly.
   • Ensure all line paperwork (including test records, batch records, line audit records, etc.) is completed accurately and in compliance with government and company standards.
3. Management-Supports the efforts of the department Team Lead and Supervisor in their efforts to develop and maintain a line organization of high performing people, who are aligned with Apex Vision, Purpose and Values.
   • Training and Coaching-Acting as a certified Apex trainer, provides other line employees and temporary workers with the skill and information they need to perform their jobs successfully. Knows how to follow through to ensure learning.
4. 4. Creates and maintains an area that ensures our employees have no exposure to unsafe conditions or work habits.
   • Identify report and assist in resolving safety issues.
   • Ensure a safe work environment is maintained at all times.
5. Understand and maintain a culture of "lean action" within the department so that we live lean better than any organization.
   • Assist in implementing and maintaining standards and processes that eliminate waste throughout the department.
   • Apply and utilize "lean tools" to permanently implement improvements.
   • Institutionalize 5-S in all aspects of the department. (Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.)
6. Perform other work as assigned.

Direction and oversight of others: Will be responsible for coaching and mentoring teammates.

Qualification and Skill Requirements:

Required Experience-Candidates must possess the following in order to be considered for the role:

• 2-3 years of prior relevant experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• A High School Diploma (or equivalent) is preferred.

Preferred Experience

• Lead experience in a production/manufacturing environment, preferably in a GMP and FDA regulated environment.
• Prior training experience or be able to complete Train -the -Trainer certification.
• Post secondary education a plus.

Knowledge Requirements-to be effective the position requires:

• Fluency in the English language in order to train others, communicate effectively with line, supervisory, maintenance and quality personnel.
• Reading for comprehension to understand and train others on product specifications, quality control documents, complete line set up sheets, follow line set up procedures, etc.
• Ability to follow directions, written processes and procedures which can change frequently with the addition of new products, new customer requirements, etc.
• Math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and be able to work with fractions, decimals, and calculate averages, net weights and percentages.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitudes that will allow incumbent to successfully set up/tear down/troubleshoot problems on the equipment and to successfully conduct operator preventive maintenance (PMs) and lead the line changeover activities.

Licenses and Certifications: Must be capable of obtaining Apex Training Certification for Production training.

Technical Competencies:

• Can read and write at a 12th grade level and follow procedures, processes and specifications written in English.
• Can demonstrate strong attention to detail.
• Competent in applying sound judgment, troubleshooting and resolving basic to moderately complex problems (i.e. when machine goes down can troubleshoot to help determine possible causes using 5-Why, 8D or Fishbone).
• Competent in interpreting, recording, and comparing data (i.e. on batch records, lot codes, production records, part numbers on control documents, etc.)
• Can follow directions accurately and safely.
• Basic knowledge of good manufacturing practices and sanitation/safety procedures.
• Knowledge of equipment maintenance and processes such as preventive maintenance.
• Must be able to demonstrate proficiency to become a "certified Apex trainer".

Work Requirement:

• This position may require significant work hours beyond the normal workday based on the demands of the business cycle, customer volume of business, and specific sales efforts underway. It requires reliable transportation. It has a moderate to high demand for tight deadlines. This position entails work of a cyclical nature. This position will experience moderate interruption in workflow for product changeovers. It has no requirement for overnight or day travel.

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires:
  • Continuous (6 or more hours per day) bending, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting and grasping.
  • Continuous (6 or more hours per day) standing and walking.
  • Continuous (6 or more hours per day) talking, teaching, and repetitive motion, hand/wrist movement.
  • Sensory requirements: Good eyesight, normal hearing, and fluent in the English language.

Working Conditions:

• Indoors, seasonally hot and humid.
• Will be exposed to various fragrances which at times may be at elevated levels.
• Moving and lifting objects, sometimes 50 lbs., frequently.
• This job involves working with FDA approved substances which may have allergic potential in some people.

Work Schedule:

This position usually works for 8-10 hours during a shift. However, hours of work are flexible and will fluctuate based on the needs of the business and the customers. The job may require a maximum of 5-20 hours of work beyond the normal 40 hour work-week schedule depending on work demands. The work hours can vary depending on customer requirements and staffing.