Die Cut Department Lead

Position Summary

The Die Cut Department Lead is responsible for leading the safe, efficient, and quality-driven operation of the Die Cut Department. This role works closely with Production Supervisors to ensure die cutters are properly prepared, set up, operated, production optimized and monitored to meet internal standards and customer requirements. The Lead is a hands-on resource for operators, with a strong focus on board quality, production efficiency, and a strong floor-level leader for die cut operators.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety & Compliance

• Lead by example in all safety practices and enforce company safety policies.
• Ensure guards, safety devices, and machine safety systems are in place and used correctly.
• Maintain clear walkways, fire exits, and organized work areas.
• Address unsafe behaviors immediately and escalate concerns as needed.

Production & Efficiency

• Develop and manage die cut production performance, ensuring minimal downtime, efficient changeovers, and alignment with daily production goals.
• Assist with machine setups, changeovers, and troubleshooting.
• Support operators in achieving expected run speeds and efficiency targets.

• Ensure upcoming jobs are prepped while current jobs are running (dies staged, tooling ready, materials verified).

• Assist operators in achieving expected speeds and efficiency.
• Communicate delays, shortages, or issues promptly to supervision.

Quality Control

• Ensure all jobs are set up and produced per job jackets and internal quality standards.
• Participate in pre-job signoffs and pre-production reviews.
• Develop and maintain written SOPs.
• Pull and inspect samples during runs for cut quality, scores, stripping, blanking, and warp.
• Stop production when quality issues are identified and involve supervision immediately.
• Ensure nonconforming product is properly identified and segregated.

Pre-Production & Die Ordering

• Responsible for participating in pre-production meetings to review upcoming die cut jobs.
• Assist with reviewing customer artwork and CADs from a die cut perspective.
• Support ordering of cutting dies by working with supervisors, CAD, and die vendors.
• Help ensure dies are ordered correctly and meet production requirements.

Leadership & Training

• Serve as a lead resource for die cut operators and an extension of Plant Superintendent
• Coach operators on machine operation, quality expectations, and efficiency.
• Assist with training and cross-training of operators.
• Identify skill gaps and communicate training needs to management.
• Reinforce proper use of production systems, downtime codes, and quality checks.
• Identify performance or training gaps and communicate them to supervision.
• Responsible for participating/leading monthly production review.

Documentation & Equipment Care

• Ensure accurate reporting of production, waste, downtime, and labor.
• Ensure machines are cleaned, maintained, and properly shut down at shift end.
• Ensure PMs are completed accurately and documentation turned in per schedule.
• Ensure dies, tooling, and work areas are cleaned and properly stored at shift end.
• Monitor die condition and report damaged or worn tooling.

• Minimum 5 years of die cut or corrugator experience in a corrugated manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of die cut setup, operation, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of quality standards and customer requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and communicate effectively.
• Ability and willingness to work hands-on on the production floor.

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  Work Expectations

• Spend the majority of the shift on the production floor.
• Be flexible to work off shift when needed.
• Be proactive in identifying and addressing issues.
• Maintain clear, professional communication with operators, supervisors, and support departments.
• Take ownership of die cut department performance during the shift.
• Help lead and finish any test job/test job protocols.
• Work on and help improve any corrective actions.
• Other duties as assigned.