Production Team Lead

Position Overview

Reporting to the KNIPEX Tools LP (KTLP) Production Supervisor, the Production Team Lead is primarily responsible for the timely physical and electronic processing of KTLP Production orders for the Buffalo Grove Distribution Center. This position is responsible for demonstrating safety and operational expertise within a quality and productivity driven environment. In addition to ensuring on-time completion of orders, this position will assist with other production functions, along with assisting other functional areas of the business (material handling, etc.) as needed to support business operations.

Position Responsibilities

• Adheres to all KTLP safety procedures and company policies.
• Evaluates the daily work order schedules with the Production Supervisor and works with the other Production Associates to assign work in the designated work cell for processing, based on due dates and requests from the Supply Chain Manager
• Prints daily work schedules and KPI indicator charts for posting at the production cells
• Physically verifies accuracy of picked line items on Production Orders
• Ensures that all post – production paperwork and electronic transactions are completed timely and accurately
• Assists warehouse and accounting teams, as needed, with inventory discrepancies and or material conflict resolution, as required.
• Participates in assigned 5-S housekeeping tasks and is accountable for organization and cleanliness of the Production areas, ensuring that the production team is actively engaged.
• Assists Management in training, coaching, process development, and KPI monitoring and performance metrics tracking of Production team.
• Trains new Production team members on work processes and work instructions.
• Assists other team members to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Knowledge

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum of 2-3 years of general warehousing/production experience, preferably in a kitting or assembly environment, required.
• Previous leadership experience in a production-assembly environment required.
• Previous experience with work cell data collection and productivity metric tracking desired.
• Solid, basic math skills (counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication) along with a good attention to detail.
• Familiarity with general industrial safety protocols (5S, ergonomics, etc.).

Skills

• Solid written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under deadline pressure.
• Excellent follow up.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to contribute daily in a teaming environment with peers and management in huddle meetings, Gemba walks, Kaizen blitzes, and Lean project meetings.
• Sense of urgency mindset with an assertive “let’s get it done” attitude.
• Energetic, dynamic, and friendly personality.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with teams.
• Results oriented, self-motivated, and ability to meet all deadlines.
• Customer oriented.
• Flexibility for occasional overtime coverage.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Capable of working in a fast-paced warehouse and distribution environment. Some heavy lifting may be required, up to 40 lbs. (utilizing safe lifting techniques, assisted lifting, and/or team lifts).
• Able to work in normal seasonal warehousing temperatures (cold in the winter, hot in the summer).
• Capable of standing on a concrete floor or similar surface or sitting for several hours a day.
• Position requires frequent, stooping, bending, and reaching required. Ability to push, pull, grasp, and fine manipulation of equipment using hands is ongoing throughout the work hours.
• Regular, reliable and predictable onsite attendance necessary for adequate scheduling and work coverage.

Company Values Knowledge:

• Improvement is GREAT. Change is GREAT. Wanting to be better is GREAT.
• Innovate; take initiative and be curious. Learn from mistakes.
• Continue to develop our skills; challenge ourselves and others to achieve possibilities.

Teamwork:

• First and foremost, we are a team. Our competition is outside these walls.
• We are all role models and lead by good example.
• Our cooperation and communication is characterized by kindness, openness, honesty, and valuing each other’s contributions.

Loyalty:

• Demonstrate reliability, responsibility, and ownership – not just through words, but through actions.
• Keep commitments; say what you will do, and do what you say.
• Trust each other and continue to earn that trust every day.

Passion:

• Strive to achieve consistently superior quality, service, performance, productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Take pride in our product, our company, and our people.
• Embrace sustainable initiatives and give back to the community.

The hourly range for this position is: $19.50-$24.00/Hour. Please note that the specific compensation for this role will be determined based on experience, qualifications, location, and internal equity considerations.