What are the responsibilities and job description for the Precision Deburring & Finishing Team Lead position at Acme Machining?
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL – Acme Industries
A day in this roleYou start on the floor, not behind a desk. Travelers in hand, you review priorities, match jobs to each Finisher’s strengths, and brief the team on what success looks like for the shift. You’re hands-on—tackling the complex, close‑tolerance parts yourself—while coaching a trainee through safe tool use and proper documentation. Mid‑shift, you pause to resolve a bottleneck, confirm QMS sign‑offs, and confer with Quality on a flagged edge condition. As the day winds down, you prepare a clean handoff for second shift: status notes, open jobs, and any quality holds. You leave knowing parts met print—and people grew.
What you’ll lead- Coordinate daily workflow across the Finishing team—assign jobs to Finishers and trainees by priority, skill, and traveler requirements.
- Track throughput in real time; communicate job status, delays, or quality holds to the Production Manager and shift supervision.
- Verify travelers/work orders are followed correctly; ensure documentation is complete before jobs advance.
- Surface and escalate obstacles (missing tooling, incorrect travelers, bottlenecks) that threaten on‑time flow.
- Own the first‑to‑second‑shift handoff at the Lead level with clear notes on work in progress and issues.
- Deburr, blend, and prepare surfaces on precision machined castings, forgings, and components using hand tools, air tools, files, stones, and abrasive media.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings including GD&T, surface finish callouts, material specs, and special notes.
- Inspect in‑process parts; identify and flag nonconformances before they reach Quality or Shipping.
- Handle complex, tight‑tolerance, or high‑value parts that demand superior judgment and care.
- Perform or support cleaning and preparation for outside processing (plating, coating, heat treat).
- Set the bar: if it doesn’t meet print, it doesn’t leave Finishing.
- Initiate nonconformance documentation when defects are found—never pass suspect parts.
- Follow Acme’s ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D QMS requirements: traveler sign‑offs, controlled documents, accurate records.
- Maintain 5S in the Finishing area; own cleanliness and organization.
- Spot recurring upstream machining issues and relay patterns to Production Management and Quality.
- Teach technique, print reading, inspection methods, traveler documentation, and safe tool handling to trainees and Finisher I employees.
- Align on‑the‑floor coaching with the Workforce Development & Apprenticeship Program: 30/60/90‑day skill goals, ToolingU reinforcement, daily training logs.
- Run daily check‑ins; document progress and flag concerns to the Production Manager and/or Workforce Development.
- Provide input on readiness to progress trainee → Finisher I → Finisher II in collaboration with Dalibor, Greg, and Production supervision.
- Model pride in craft, attention to detail, clear communication, and ownership.
- Enforce PPE, proper tool usage, safe handling of heavy/awkward parts, and housekeeping standards.
- Lead by example—no shortcuts; address unsafe behavior immediately.
- Support safety orientation for new team members in Finishing.
This working lead reports to the Production Manager and partners closely with Acme’s Workforce Development program to build a dependable entry point and pipeline for production talent.
QualificationsRequired- 5 years in manufacturing finishing, deburring, or handwork on precision machined components.
- Proven expertise finishing complex machined castings/forgings to exact print—where edge condition and finish matter.
- Fluent blueprint reading including GD&T, surface finish, materials, and tolerances.
- Ability to perform/direct in‑process inspection with calipers, micrometers, surface comparators, and visual checks against print.
- Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, or peer coaching on the floor.
- Clear, timely communicator across teams (Production, Quality, Engineering).
- Highly organized and dependable—able to coordinate and work hands‑on simultaneously.
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Ability to stand and handle workpieces up to 50 lbs. throughout the shift; team lift for heavier components.
- Experience leading/coordinating a production cell, work center, or shift.
- Comfort with ISO 9001/AS9100D environments and QMS documentation.
- Experience onboarding or coaching new hires in manufacturing.
- Familiarity with ERP/job shop traveler management.
- Familiarity with ToolingU or similar training platforms.
- Worked on both 1st and 2nd shift—understands handoff dynamics.
- Finisher Trainee — Entry level; 120‑day apprenticeship with Dalibor and the Lead; no prior experience required.
- Finisher I — Runs routine deburr/handwork to print; completes training and passes skill assessment.
- Finisher II — Tackles complex parts, achieves spec surface finishes, supports inspection; mentors newer team members; $24–$29/hr.
The Lead role anchors the department and can progress into Finishing Supervisor or Production Supervisor as the team grows—an intentional path, not a theoretical one.
Compensation & benefits- Hiring bonus
- Medical, dental, vision from Day 1
- Company‑paid life insurance; short‑ and long‑term disability
- HSA and FSA options
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Weekly pay
- Gainsharing bonus
- Tuition assistance
- A leadership seat in a department built the right way—career paths, structured training, and real investment in people
Since 1948, Acme Industries has delivered precision manufacturing for aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation from Elk Grove Village, Illinois. We are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified and specialize in large, complex machined castings and forgings. Our Finishing team is the last touch our customers feel—this role defines that standard.
Tools & technologies- Surface Grinder
- CNC Grinder
- Overhead Crane
- Calipers and Micrometers
Salary : $24 - $29