Production Lead

Production Lead

The Production Lead is a senior operator role that provides hands-on coordination and floor-level leadership within a steel tube manufacturing environment. This position works alongside operators on the plant floor and supports the Production Supervisor in executing daily production plans.

This is not a formal supervisory position but serves as a working lead responsible for reinforcing safety, supporting production flow, and helping drive performance against OEE targets. This role is designed for experienced manufacturing professionals who demonstrate leadership capability and are interested in developing into future supervisory roles.

High School Diploma/GED Required

3+ years of experience in heavy manufacturing (steel, metals, pipe/tube, industrial production, or similar).

Forklift and overhead crane certification preferred

Demonstrated informal leadership experience (lead operator, trainer, senior team member).

Strong understanding of industrial safety standards

Experience operating and supporting industrial production equipment

Basic understanding of OEE, downtime drivers, and production metrics

Experience in steel tube or roll forming operations

Prior experience training or mentoring operators

Exposure to lean manufacturing principles

Model and reinforce proper safety procedures and PPE usage at all times.

Address unsafe behaviors in real time and escalate concerns to the Supervisor.

Support daily safety checks and maintain strong housekeeping standards (5S).

Participate in incident reporting and corrective actions as needed.

Provide day-to-day guidance to operators during shift.

Assist with work assignments as directed by the Production Supervisor.

Serve as a point of contact for operators when the Supervisor is not immediately available.

Help onboard and train new operators on safe work practices and standard procedures.

Promote teamwork and accountability on the floor.

Operate production equipment as needed.

Assist with machine setups, changeovers, and minor troubleshooting.

Monitor downtime, scrap, and throughput during shift and communicate issues.

Support execution of the daily production schedule.

Help drive shift-level performance aligned with OEE targets.

Support lean manufacturing initiatives and standard work adherence.

Identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements.

Participate in continuous improvement activities and kaizen efforts.

Reinforce discipline around process control and waste reduction.

100% plant floor presence.

Exposure to noise, heat, moving machinery, and heavy materials.

Required use of PPE at all times.

Physical activity including standing, walking, lifting, bending, and material handling.

Excellent benefits include medical with a standard PPO plan with deductibles as low as $1,500 and wellness credit up to $750; voluntary 401k plan with company match up to 12%; voluntary dental and vision plans; free telemedicine services; basic life and short term disability coverage.

EOE M/F/D/V