Röchling Automotive is looking for an experienced Production Shift Leader – 3rd Shift to join our team in Akron, Ohio. This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for overseeing production activities, leading hourly employees, and ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality operations throughout the shift.
The ideal candidate will have strong manufacturing leadership experience, a background in the automotive industry, and experience working in a fast-paced production environment. Experience with plastic injection molding is highly preferred.
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Provide direct leadership and supervision to production employees, including operators, setters, forklift drivers, quality auditors, and other shift personnel.
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Ensure the execution of the daily production schedule while meeting safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
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Assign employees to work areas based on production requirements, qualifications, and staffing needs.
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Coordinate break coverage, overtime, and short-term workforce planning.
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Serve as the first level of escalation for employee, production, quality, and operational issues.
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Monitor key production KPIs, including OEE, productivity, scrap, quality, and safety performance, and drive appropriate improvement actions.
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Ensure compliance with company policies, EHS requirements, quality standards, and manufacturing procedures.
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Conduct effective shift handovers and maintain accurate production documentation and records.
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Maintain employee training matrices and coordinate required training and development activities.
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Coach employees, provide performance feedback, and support employee appraisal and development discussions.
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Promote and maintain 5S standards and a safe, clean, and organized production environment.
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Support KVP/Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
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Coordinate short-term maintenance and quality activities to minimize downtime and production disruptions.
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Foster a positive team culture based on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
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5+ years of manufacturing, production, or operations experience.
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2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
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2+ years of automotive manufacturing experience.
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Previous experience leading hourly employees in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.
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Strong understanding of production processes, safety, quality standards, and manufacturing KPIs.
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Plastic injection molding experience strongly preferred.
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Experience in an automotive Tier 1 manufacturing environment preferred.
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Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, KVP/Kaizen, continuous improvement, and layered audits is a plus.
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Experience with production reporting systems and manufacturing performance metrics.
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Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
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Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and remain organized in a fast-paced production environment.
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Technical manufacturing education, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience is a plus.
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Ability to work 3rd shift and provide overtime or weekend support as needed.
