Production Team lead

Operations Team Lead - Job Description Role Summary The Operations Team Lead is responsible for leading a production line to meet safety, quality, delivery, and morale targets. This role is primarily leadership-focused (70%), with a strong emphasis on coordinating people, maintaining flow, and eliminating disruptions to performance. Technical capability (30%) is required to support execution, troubleshooting, and changeovers. Team Leads do not hold direct disciplinary authority but are expected to lead through influence, accountability, and presence on the floor. Key Responsibilities Safety Leadership Ensure a safe working environment by enforcing all safety standards and promoting proactive behaviors. Enforce PPE compliance and workstation-specific safety requirements Actively observe, coach, and correct unsafe behaviors in real time Maintain strong floor presence and reinforce safety culture daily People & Productivity Ensure effective use of labor and continuous productivity across the team. Ensure all team members are actively engaged in value-added or assigned tasks Assign alternative work (TPM, cleaning, organization) during downtime Allocate staffing based on qualifications, demand, and line needs Manage rotation and cross-training to build flexibility Coach, mentor, and support team development Validate training completion and readiness of team members Report touch points within the first 20 minutes of the shift Coordinate staffing across lines with other Team Leads as needed Production & Line Management Drive stable, efficient production flow and ensure readiness of the line. Lead the line to achieve hourly and daily output targets Maintain flow and immediately address disruptions Own changeover preparation and execution: Verify tools, materials, and machine readiness Execute changeovers independently on all assigned equipment Ensure safe, correct, and efficient execution Visual Management & Escalation Maintain transparency of performance and enforce escalation discipline. Maintain and follow the Heijunka board to ensure balanced production Update hourly boards with actual output and clear gap explanations Document reasons for misses and define immediate countermeasures Enforce escalation of downtime, scrap, quality, and safety issues Create and track maintenance tickets through resolution Control and document rework activities Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement Drive structured problem solving and eliminate recurring issues. Lead or support root cause analysis using structured methods (e.g., 5 Why) Implement and follow up on corrective actions Identify trends and initiate improvement actions Support achievement of scrap and efficiency targets