Assembly Production Group Leader

Come grow with us…North American Stamping is expanding and looking to hire. We are looking for an experienced Assembly Production Supervisor to join our team! North American Stamping Group is a privately held company founded in 1978. We continue to explore the most innovative processes and technologies to stay on the leading edge of the automotive industry.  Our strategic locations within North America allows us the manufacturing footprint to cover you in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. NASG is an industry leader in the manufacturing of stampings and automated assemblies.  A Tier II supplier of components, systems and aftermarket products for the automotive industry with a core business market consisting of seating, ride control, exhaust components, heat shields, noise, vibration and harness (NVH), chassis and structural and window regulators.      Your success is our success… Our sales have grown annually at a compounded rate of 18.0% for the last eight years, tripling our business, while making us one of the largest leading Tier II automotive stamping and assembly suppliers. The Production Group Leader reports to the Production Manager or designate. This position is to oversee and coordinate all manufacturing related activities in their designated area while providing motivation, Job Instruction Training and Mentoring to Team Leaders and Team Members that focus on Safety, Quality, efficiency, & cost reductions using the TQPS principles of NASG.  The Group Leader ensures Team Leaders are maintaining the standardized work processes, training team members in proper methods, Lean, 5-S, and TQPS tools to maintain and improve the KPI's in their boundary area.    What you get in return … We offer the most competitive pay in the industry, along with a full benefits package.   Experience Requirements: Demonstrated Leadership, Communication, & Facilitation Skill Sets Prefer 2 years as an Area / Production Leader - managing others preferably in a fast-paced Stamping/Welding Environment. Minimum three (3) years of press experience with progressive and/or transfer dies. Weld assembly process experience is also preferred.   Demonstrated capability of using measuring instruments (calipers, micrometers, gauging, etc.)                                                                                Personal/Technical Skills: Demonstrated organization and interpersonal skills Demonstrated writing and computer skills Demonstrated leadership skills Interest and skill in developing subordinates; recognize individual strengths & weaknesses Accountable - Teachable - Approachable Able to flex to address changing needs Ability to problem solve.     Essential Job Functions: Safety                                                                                     Conducts daily and weekly safety inspection and training to ensure departmental operations and personnel are in compliance with OSHA and corporate Safety Policies and Practices.                                                                                          Ensure & Enforce the use of Safety Blocks.                                                          Ensure & Enforce the lockout/tag out procedure.                                                                  Ensure & Enforce all safety curtain/guards in place during operation.                      Report all accidents, injuries and/or illnesses and near misses in area with assistance from Team Leader while working together to track performance and countermeasure problems (and risks).                                                                                       Communicate all accident information personally during communication meetings.            Review & submit suggestions to improve the Safety Environment in assigned areas.         Train and coach Team Leads in creating a mentally-engaged, physically, emotionally, and professionally safe environment.                                                                                Frequently check on team members by visiting the area and stay engaged to support their welfare.                                                                        Personally observe team members techniques as they perform job functions.        Train and coach team leads on their observation techniques.                                  Improve the techniques and methods of the awkward movements in order to minimize physical burdens.                                                                        Collaborate with the Safety and EH&S experts to continuously improve the ergonomics of the work.                                                                                                      5-S Process                                                                                       Develop a 5-S plan.  Review process with check sheets, mentor Team Leaders to "heighten their awareness and educate them on desired standards.”                       Evaluate the 5-S condition daily by observing the process area.  Coach Team Leads on abnormalities. Follow up on any 5-S condition that is not within standard.                                                                                       Standardized Work                                                                                       Assist Team Leaders or their assigned designee to train the team members in Standardized Work practices and follow up on any concerns that arise. Actively listening for team members’ techniques or methods that potentially improve the standardized work. Observe that the team members are following standard work.  Check 1 or 2 processes within boundary area daily ensuring all processes are checked each week.              Lead by example to ensure consistency of standardized work by team leads and all team members.            Check to confirm the “continuous improvement” of Standardized Work and follow-up to ensure changes are made or abnormalities are resolved.                                Ensure adherence to the ongoing use of the Standardized Work Layered Process Audit system.                                                                                     Perform checks to ensure Team Leads train using the standardized work teaching methodology: 1) Prepare the team member; 2) Present the operation to the team member; 3) Allow the team member to try out the operation; and 4) Provide coaching and follow up. Monitor the training, coaching and mentoring of each trainee, and be a resource to Team Leader.                                                                                            Confirm Team Leads validate job breakdown sheets and standardize work processes with the team. Assist in the training of audit team members in standardized work and ensure the Team Leader completes the training matrix to document all training. Assist Team Lead in providing department/new hire orientation as required for replacements.                                                                                          Cell Operations (Quality, Productivity, Equipment, Operations)                                    Audit part quality throughout the shift . Assist team member on first/last off part quality check at changeover and sign first/last piece ticket Drive SMED – Coach and mentor changeover times to ensure target are met or exceeded. Final visual audit inspection of all parts leaving press area for quality. Verify that containment pans are being used as specified for batch quantities. Ensure proper containment procedures are followed when poor quality is detected. Ensure the Containment Checklist procedures are executed if product becomes contaminated.                                                                                       Assist with Requisition of Corrective Actions related to Quality Issues. Allocate manpower as needed within boundary area to meet production requirements. Must adhere to the targeted labor quoted (number of FTE’s) Ensure presses and equipment are running at targeted run rate.  Ex. SPM must align with die set up sheet.  If it can be exceeded a TCS Worksheet must be submitted. Provide direction to team leads and team members to maintain compliance with process standards. Monitor the hourly production board to ensure team leads are keeping abreast of the current production rate.                                         Plan, coordinate, and supervise the activities of assigned personnel to efficiently and productively meet production schedules and to hold employees accountable for their performance.                                                                                       Respond as primary support to team lead calls when needed and to avoid a line stop including immediate escalation when line is down.       Continuously monitor and record KPI's (safety, quality, efficiency, downtime, etc.) for boundary area with responsibility to identify and implement countermeasures when abnormalities occur.                                                                                                 Back up team leads and provide first response to line problems (product or process), document problems, and resolve when possible, follow up with resources to assure that the problem is corrected.                                                                                                Coordinate shift activities & personnel schedules to maximize throughput in the Area of Responsibility.            Able to fill-in as needed for any assigned job in the area of responsibility to include the Team Leader's role in case of absence. Confirm quality of materials and finished goods. Ensure set-up and operation of equipment in accordance with production requirements, procedures, and policies. Enter into ShopEdge all Production data accurately, efficiently, and immediately after shift completion.            Follow the Standard Operating Procedures (i.e. dies/fixtures come out if they are not running).                                                                                         Suggest methods of improvement (i.e. Continuous Improvement Plan & TMI Suggestions using electronic suggestion log) while coaching and mentoring Team Leaders. Produce & Assist in the writing & implementing the area's process production documents, (SOP's), process related tracking and investigation reports.                Identify opportunities to reduce waste and increase effectiveness. Complete and review production process documents. Conduct walk-thru's for confirmation that team members are adhering to daily activities - 5-S, TPM, etc… Track team member time off & attendance - to respond in a timely matter to any related issues.                                                                                       Track team member training & ensure that all team members maintain the expected level of training on required documents, procedures, & processes. Follow overtime procedure to assign team members to work on weekends and holidays. Responsible for appraisal & discipline of work team members. Hourly review of Production Lean Boards. Write & follow-up on Work Orders as needed for repairs in assigned area. Assist other Manufacturing requirements as needed.                                                                                                Problem Solving / Continuous Improvement                                                                                Lead actions to countermeasure a problem’s root cause, monitor the results and standardize the changes made to correct the problem. Be proactive in resolving problems in the cell, and elevate the need for assistance as necessary.                                                                                             “Go see” and observe problems first hand, investigate and ensure an effective understanding of the facts/data.                                           Practice, teach and coach problem solving utilizing the “scientific method.” Deepen process learning through rapid low-cost trials/experiments to solve problems. Manage and monitor the relationship of downtime, changeovers, and process improvements through Cell and Area level KPI's as it directly relates to quality, efficiency and scrap.                                                                                            Continuously improve safety, quality and productivity through cell team huddle brainstorming sessions.                                                            Mentor the team leader to continuously improve their processes towards True North utilizing Lean principles and TQPS processes at the cell and department levels.                                                                                                                                                  Teamwork and Communication                                                                                          Communicate with the next shift any and all issues/concerns resulting from your shift’s operations.                                                                                           Provide timely and effective feedback to help team members to strengthen specific skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.       Discuss in team meetings [huddles] information concerning safety, quality, inventory, production schedules, etc. and fosters continuous improvement through communication. Listen and talk to the team members to get a better sense of their concerns and issues while driving the TQPS philosophy Assure upward communication of the issues and/or successes of the cell on an as-needed basis.                                                                                            Complete required paper work such as production record charts, quality information and logbook for shift-to-shift communication. Evaluate & Review goals with each team member; provide feedback, correction, or direction as needed. Ensure that all work cells are completed and replenished and adherence to keeping KPI board updated as required: Safety Cross, Quality Cross, Birdseye View, Training Matrix, 31 day KPI charts, 5S checklist, TPM book checks, production reports, Escalation Protocol, etc. Report all quality, production or safety problems to the Production Manager. Address problems and implement the corrective actions immediately and initiate a temporary process change if the problem cannot be resolved quickly. Ensure work orders are submitted for items needing repair in your area.    Assist Team Leaders in tracking all Work Orders, Tooling or Maintenance, for timely & accurate repairs.            Review and issue die set-up sheets as updated by Team Leaders and team members. Be available for A.I. team meetings as required & requested. Ensure adequate information is passed to on-coming shifts to avoid unnecessary downtime.                                                                                                Self                                                                                           Lead by example in promoting safety practices and policies, including but not limited to, initiating start-of -shift stretches, wearing proper PPE, and holding all team members accountable for wearing theirs; following LOTO procedures; reminding the team about the importance of Hazardous Communication labels (present, correct and legible data) and SDS information.                                                                                           Demonstrate strong work ethic, job knowledge, and honesty to gain/keep the respect of team members. 100% commitment to the TQPS principles. Challenge the status quo.       Demonstrate a positive attitude/outlook. Model and promote teamwork to ensure achievement of objectives. Good communications skills. Work non-routine hours as required to maintain production schedule compliance. Assure compliance of self and subordinates with NASG procedures and standards. Self-disciplined & self-directed to apply time as value added   Education Requirements: Prefer Bachelors Degree High school diploma or GED - Minimum Proficient Math, Computer & Communication skills