What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Team Lead position at HBK - Hottinger Brüel & Kjær?
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate daily production activities to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets
- Assign work, balance labor, and ensure adequate coverage for production needs
- Monitor production output, downtime, scrap, and efficiency; escalate issues as needed
- Ensure adherence to standard work instructions, SOPs, and production schedules
- Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and support to production team members
- Train new hires and cross-train team members to support operational flexibility
- Promote a positive, respectful, and accountable work environment
- Support performance management through feedback, attendance monitoring, and documentation
- Enforce safety rules, PPE usage, and safe work practices at all times
- Conduct safety talks, audits, and incident investigations as required
- Ensure products meet quality standards and support root-cause analysis for defects
- Partner with Quality and Engineering to implement corrective actions
- Identify and drive improvement opportunities related to safety, quality, productivity, and cost
- Participate in Lean, Kaizen, 5S, or other continuous improvement initiatives
- Support process improvements, equipment optimization, and waste reduction efforts
- Communicate production goals, priorities, and shift handoffs clearly
- Escalate equipment issues, material shortages, and staffing concerns promptly
- Maintain accurate production, downtime, and labor records in ERP/MES systems
- Collaborate with Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and Supply Chain teams
- Other duties as assigned
- High school diploma or GED required
- 3–5 years of manufacturing or production experience
- 1–3 years of experience in a lead, senior operator, or supervisory capacity
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma exposure or certification
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production workflows
- Basic computer skills (ERP/MES systems, Microsoft Office)
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field
- Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (ISO, FDA, GMP, etc.)
- Experience leading union or non-union teams
- Strong leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills
- Clear verbal and written communication
- Problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment
- High attention to detail and commitment to safety and quality