Group Lead

Lucas Milhaupt, Inc. (“Lucas” and/or “the Company”) is the most diversified, vertically integrated brazing alloy producer in the United States. We melt, process and fabricate alloys, which allows us to offer our customers high quality product with shorter lead times and reduced risk to supply disruptions. With manufacturing facilities in North America, China and France, Lucas Milhaupt is an equal opportunity employer valuing integrity, teamwork, diversity, continuous improvement, urgency and analytical thinking.

Steel Partners Diversified Industrial Group

Lucas is part of the Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (“Steel Partners”) Diversified Industrial Group. Steel Partners is a diversified global holding company that engages in multiple businesses through consolidated subsidiaries, associated companies and other interests. It owns and operates businesses and has significant interests in leading companies in various industries, including diversified industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics, banking and youth sports.

Steel Business System

Lucas utilizes the Steel Partners Business System (SBS) to maximize its productivity and eliminate waste. Using Lean Manufacturing, Design for Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Strategy Deployment and other operational efficiency initiatives that form the foundation of this program, LUCAS is committed to embedding continuous improvement within its organization as a means of achieving profitable growth.

At Lucas, we use Group Leads to help coordinate work and manage team members in an assigned area. Reporting to a Manager or Supervisor, Group Leads encourage teamwork and collaboration and drive assigned goals. Their priorities are safety, quality, continuous improvement and employee engagement. The position requires strong communication, problem solving and time management skills, the ability to work effectively with people and a technical expertise in the specific work to be performed. The position demands strong problem solving and communication skills, and the ability to drive a team to meet performance targets. Individuals must possess a strong understanding of production manufacturing and lean processes, and be able to lead by example.

• Support production assignments by providing training to team members or resolving issues as capable.
• Support group efforts to meet deadlines by elevating issues that cannot be resolved promptly.
• Communicate issues with staffing (including performance issues or the need for more resources).
• Communicate time off plans shared by team members to ensure proper staffing levels.

• Ensure safety requirements are met including the use of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Identify and report unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.

• Ensure team understands Quality protocols.
• Check regularly throughout shift to ensure team members are conducting required quality checks and overall Quality specifications are being met.

• Verify that team members conduct daily maintenance checks on equipment in assigned area.
• Ensure equipment is operated properly to reduce wear, failure and/or non-performance.
• Communicate maintenance needs promptly.

• Quickly assess options and regularly choose best course of action.
• Utilize experience and knowledge to anticipate issues that might impact performance.
• Remain alert to problems that occur and respond promptly.
• Elevate issues requiring additional support quickly and effectively.

• Cascade Tier 1/other company information to assigned team members and promote questions up from the group.
• Build relationships with assigned team members to promote mutual respect and a sense of belonging.
• Ensure employees understand their purpose and have adequate training.
• Communicate timecard issues from team members to Supervisor (missed punches/payroll issues).
• Elevate conflict between team members.
• Lead by example and inspire team performance.
• Elevate issues to supervisor related to company policy and/or practices.

• Promote lean tools to achieve improvement.
• Encourage and elevate process improvement suggestions.
• Recognize improvement achieved by team.
• Support 5s and 5-why training and application.
• Sustain improvements achieved.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 5 years technical experience relevant to specific work area preferred.
• Ability to understand written and verbal assignments, including the ability to interpret related documents such as Quality specifications, Kanban cards and work orders.
• Ability to understand and achieve compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to build teams.
• Basic PC skills (experience with MS Office Suite preferred).
• Demonstrated problem solving and time management skills.
• Experience developing and/or training team members preferred.
• Good people skills and willingness not only to teach and help others, but learn from others.
• Strong sense of responsibility and ownership.