Position Summary
To successfully perform this job, the individual must be able to perform each essential job responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Job descriptions represent a general outline of job responsibilities and qualifications. They are not intended to be comprehensive in nature. As business needs evolve, responsibilities may change accordingly.
General Description: The Process Control Shift Lead serves as the primary operational and technical leader during assigned shifts when the Process Control Supervisor is not present. This position is responsible for coordinating daily production activities, supporting Process Control Operators and production personnel, maintaining process stability, ensuring product quality, promoting a safe work environment, and facilitating effective communication across departments.
The Process Control Shift Lead provides day-to-day leadership by coordinating work assignments, assisting with troubleshooting, supporting process improvements, and serving as the first point of escalation for operational issues. While this position provides direction and guidance to employees during the shift, it does not perform formal supervisory responsibilities such as hiring, disciplinary actions, performance evaluations, scheduling, or compensation decisions.
This position is strategically assigned to provide operational leadership during weekends, late-shift operations, and other periods when supervisory coverage is limited, ensuring continuous production support, rapid decision-making, and uninterrupted communication across all manufacturing functions.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
- Shift Coordination & Operational Leadership
- Coordinate daily production activities to ensure production schedules are achieved.
- Assign work priorities based on production requirements established by the Process Control Supervisor.
- Serve as the primary operational leader during periods without supervisor coverage.
- Monitor production flow and respond quickly to changing production priorities.
- Coordinate staffing assignments to maximize efficiency and productivity.
- Conduct effective shift handoff meetings and communicate production status to incoming personnel.
- Maintain shift communication logs and operational documentation.
- Promote teamwork, accountability, and a positive work environment.
- Technical Process Support
- Support machine start-ups, shutdowns, process adjustments, and production changeovers.
- Assist Process Control Operators with troubleshooting molding process issues.
- Verify machine parameters remain within approved processing windows.
- Monitor production performance, process stability, and machine efficiency.
- Escalate significant process deviations to the Process Control Supervisor.
- Coordinate with Maintenance when equipment failures occur.
- Assist Engineering during validations, trials, and process improvement initiatives.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement activities focused on reducing scrap, improving cycle times, and increasing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
- Verify production complies with approved work instructions and quality standards.
- Assist with first-piece approvals and process verification activities.
- Ensure SPC documentation and production records are completed accurately.
- Stop production when quality or safety concerns exist.
- Coordinate containment activities for suspect material.
- Support investigations involving process deviations and non-conforming products.
- Ensure compliance with ISO, customer, cleanroom, and regulatory requirements.
- Promote compliance with all company safety policies and procedures.
- Perform routine safety observations throughout the shift.
- Ensure PPE requirements are consistently followed.
- Maintain housekeeping and 5S standards.
- Report safety concerns immediately.
- Assist during emergency situations until management arrives.
- Promote safe work practices and proactively identify potential hazards.
- Communication & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Coordinate communication between Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Warehouse, and Logistics.
- Escalate operational issues requiring management attention.
- Maintain effective communication during shift changes.
- Prepare shift reports documenting production performance, downtime, quality issues, corrective actions, and significant events.
- Support implementation of management directives and communicate operational priorities to employees.
Additional Job Responsibilities:
- Assist in onboarding and training new Process Control Operators.
- Coach employees on standard work instructions and best processing practices.
- Participate in Kaizen events and continuous improvement projects.
- Recommend improvements to SOPs, work instructions, and production methods.
- Assist with inventory verification and material coordination when required.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Process Control Supervisor or Head of Production.
Decision-Making Authority:
The Process Control Shift Lead is authorized to:
- Assign work within the shift.
- Coordinate production priorities established by supervision.
- Stop production due to quality or safety concerns.
- Request Maintenance support.
- Hold suspect material pending Quality review.
- Coordinate available resources to maximize production efficiency.
- Escalate operational issues requiring management involvement.
- Make routine operational decisions necessary to maintain production continuity.
The Process Control Shift Lead is not authorized to:
- Hire, terminate, promote, or transfer employees.
- Conduct performance evaluations.
- Issue disciplinary or corrective actions.
- Approve vacations, PTO, or schedule changes.
- Approve overtime outside established company guidelines.
- Modify production schedules established by management.
- Change employee compensation.
- Modify approved process windows without authorization.
Acting Supervisor Coverage
During designated periods when the Process Control Supervisor is not onsite, the Process Control Shift Lead serves as the designated operational leader for the assigned production area. In this capacity, the Shift Lead is responsible for ensuring production continuity, maintaining process stability, supporting employees, coordinating resources, and serving as the primary point of contact for production, quality, maintenance, and safety matters.
The Process Control Shift Lead is expected to make timely operational decisions within established procedures and escalate issues outside their authority to the Process Control Supervisor, Head of Production, or other designated management personnel as appropriate.
While acting as the shift's operational leader, the Process Control Shift Lead does not assume formal supervisory responsibilities, including but not limited to:
- Hiring, terminating, promoting, or transferring employees.
- Conducting performance evaluations or compensation discussions.
- Issuing disciplinary or corrective actions.
- Approving vacation, leave requests, or schedule changes.
- Authorizing overtime outside established company guidelines.
- Modifying production schedules, staffing levels, or operational priorities established by management.
- Deviating from approved process parameters, quality standards, or company policies without proper authorization.
The Process Control Shift Lead is expected to exercise sound judgment, demonstrate leadership by example, and maintain effective communication with management to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant manufacturing operations during periods of limited supervisory coverage.
