Laminating Department Lead

Position Summary

The Laminating Department Lead is responsible for leading the safe, efficient, and quality-driven operation of the Laminating Department. This role supports Production Supervisors by ensuring laminators are properly 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, warp control, bonding, moisture management, and production efficiency.

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 laminator 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 machines are being run at appropriate speeds to minimize post-warp and quality issues.
• Communicate delays, material issues, or equipment concerns promptly to supervision.

Quality Control

• Ensure all jobs are set up and produced per job jackets, prints, and internal quality standards.
• Monitor and control board flatness, warp (including post warp), bonding strength, and adhesive application.
• Develop and maintain written SOPs.
• Pull and inspect samples throughout the run for quality, alignment, and bonding.
• Verify correct liner, medium, coatings, and adhesives are being used.
• Stop production immediately when quality issues are identified and involve supervision.
• Ensure nonconforming material is properly identified, segregated, and documented.

Pre-Production & Job Readiness

• Responsible for participating in pre-production meetings to review upcoming laminator jobs.
• Identify and provide solutions to jobs with higher risk for warp, bonding, moisture sensitivity, or special coatings.
• Assist with verifying correct materials, adhesives, and machine settings prior to startup.
• Ensure board handling, stacking, wrapping, and storage methods support quality requirements.

Leadership & Training

• Serve as a lead resource for laminator operators and an extension of Plant Superintendent
• Coach operators on machine operation, quality expectations, and efficiency.
• Assist with training and cross-training of operators.
• Reinforce proper use of production systems, downtime codes, and quality checks.
• Identify performance or training gaps and communicate them to management.
• 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.
• Monitor condition of belts, glue systems, heaters, and compression sections and report issues.

• Minimum 5 years of laminator or corrugator experience in a corrugated manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of board construction, adhesives, coatings, and moisture control.
• Experience troubleshooting warp, bonding failures, and quality defects.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability and willingness to work hands-on on the production floor.

Work Expectations

• Spend the majority of your working day on the production floor supporting laminating operations.
• Be flexible to work off shift when needed.
• Be proactive in identifying and correcting quality, safety, and efficiency issues.
• Maintain clear, professional communication with operators, supervisors, and support teams.
• Take ownership of laminating department performance.
• Help lead and finish any test job/test job protocols.
• Work on and help improve any corrective actions.
• Other duties as assigned.