Job Description: Production Associate
Department: Operations
Reports To: Operations Manager
Location: Hialeah, FL (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-Time
About Us:
We are a specialized supplier of law enforcement and public safety equipment, including firearms, ammunition, body armor, uniforms, and tactical gear. We are headquartered in Hialeah, FL, with a strategic focus on expanding our distribution into new markets and providing critical supplies to government entities. We leverage Odoo ERP (v17) as our primary system to manage all aspects of our business.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Production Associate to support and manage our in-house production operations, including industrial sewing and commercial embroidery. This role is responsible for the construction, customization, and finishing of law enforcement uniforms, as well as the setup and operation of embroidery equipment for badges, name tapes, department patches, and custom insignia. The ideal candidate takes ownership of the production workflow, maintains quality standards, and ensures timely order fulfillment to meet the demands of our law enforcement clientele.
Key Responsibilities:
- Industrial Sewing Operations: Operate industrial sewing machines to construct, alter, and customize law enforcement uniforms including pants, shirts, jackets, and outerwear. Perform hemming, patching, tapering, and other garment modifications per department specifications and customer requirements.
- Embroidery Machine Operations: Set up, program, and operate commercial embroidery machines to produce agency badges, name tapes, rank insignia, department patches, and custom embroidered designs. Load and manage digitized embroidery files, select appropriate thread colors, and ensure accurate placement and registration on garments.
- Production Workflow Management: Manage the day-to-day production schedule, work on orders in a FIFO system (first in first out), prioritize incoming orders, and coordinate turnaround times to meet customer deadlines. Track order status and communicate production timelines to the sales and operations teams.
- Quality Control: Inspect all finished products for accuracy, stitch quality, alignment, and overall craftsmanship before packaging and delivery. Ensure all output meets Lou’s Police Distributors’ quality standards and law enforcement agency specifications.
- Equipment Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance on sewing and embroidery equipment, including cleaning, oiling, needle changes, bobbin threading, and tension adjustments. Troubleshoot mechanical issues and coordinate with service technicians for repairs as needed.
- Inventory & Supply Management: Monitor and manage production supply inventory including thread, fabric, backing materials, stabilizers, bobbins, and needles. Place replenishment orders as needed and maintain organized storage of production materials.
- Workspace Organization: Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production area in compliance with workplace safety standards. Ensure tools, materials, and equipment are properly stored and accessible.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 2 years of experience operating industrial sewing machines in a production or manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated proficiency in garment construction, alterations, and finishing techniques.
- Ability to read and follow work orders, patterns, and technical specifications.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
- Ability to manage multiple orders simultaneously and meet production deadlines.
- Reliable, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
- Physical ability to stand for extended periods, lift up to 30 lbs, and perform repetitive hand/arm motions.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience operating commercial embroidery machines (e.g., Tajima, Barudan, Brother, SWF), including file loading, hooping, and multi-head operation.
- Experience working with law enforcement, military, or public safety uniform production.
- Familiarity with embroidery digitizing software (e.g., Wilcom, Hatch, Pulse).
- Knowledge of fabric types, thread specifications, and stabilizer selection for different materials.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish).
- Experience with inventory management or ERP systems (e.g., Odoo).
Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
