Shift Leader / Supervisor – Turf Extrusion

Position Summary

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily production activities involving monofilament extruders and texturing/winder equipment.
• Monitor production throughout the shift and maintain awareness of equipment conditions, staffing, production schedules, and upcoming orders.
• Monitor, evaluate, and troubleshoot critical production equipment and line components.
• Perform minor parts replacement and equipment repairs within the limits of experience and training.
• Ensure scheduled preventive maintenance activities are completed as required.
• Train new and existing employees on equipment operation, safety procedures, quality requirements, and production standards.
• Use specification sheets to properly set up extruder and texturing/winder equipment and verify all machine settings.
• Read and verify programming inputs during product and color changeovers.
• Provide technical assistance to operators during line start-ups, color changes, machine adjustments, and equipment failures.
• Work with process engineers, supervisors, and operators to improve production efficiency, product quality, and scrap reduction.
• Monitor texturing and winding operations to ensure first-quality finished products.
• Ensure established quality sampling plans and testing schedules are followed.
• Review quality testing results and identify unacceptable or out-of-specification trends.
• Ensure production and quality checks are completed at the required frequency and properly verified.
• Complete production documentation accurately and at required intervals.
• Document equipment downtime, production issues, machine location, corrective actions, and time required to return equipment to production.
• Track production, material consumption, waste percentages, causes of waste, and corrective actions.
• Lead by promoting safety, quality, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the department. 

Equipment & Process Responsibilities

• Monitor polymer conveying systems to ensure proper material flow and accurate dosage.
• Monitor pack pressure and coordinate pack changes before pressure conditions create production problems.
• Understand when spinneret packs need to be changed due to leaks, high pressure, or other production conditions.
• Assist with spinneret cleaning, inspection, assembly, and preheating requirements.
• Perform or coordinate scheduled filter changes for vacuum conveying systems.
• Perform or coordinate filter changes for winder blower motors and electrical cabinets.
• Troubleshoot winder equipment and replace components when appropriate.
• Inspect machinery and moving components and report maintenance needs.
• Assist in getting production lines back into operation quickly and safely following equipment downtime. 

Leadership & Shift Management

• Provide hands-on supervision, direction, and accountability for assigned employees.
• Maintain awareness of the production schedule and prepare equipment and materials for upcoming orders.
• Conduct shift-start meetings to review activities and issues from the previous shift.
• Conduct shift turnover meetings to communicate production status, equipment issues, quality concerns, and priorities to the incoming shift.
• Ensure employees follow designated break schedules and maintain adequate floor coverage.
• Provide clear expectations and direction to employees during production issues and downtime.
• Regularly communicate production, quality, maintenance, and safety information with employees.
• Review SOPs to ensure procedures are current, accurate, and consistently followed. 

Housekeeping & Organization

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment.
• Ensure machines are regularly wiped down and inspected.
• Maintain clean floors through sweeping, mopping, and floor-scrubbing activities.
• Maintain proper organization and accountability of tools and equipment.
• Ensure materials and finished products are properly labeled and identified.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with loading and unloading trucks as needed.
• Operate a forklift to move finished products to designated locations.
• Maintain appropriate spare-parts inventory to help minimize equipment downtime.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by process engineers or designated supervisors. 

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One to two years of hands-on production experience.
• Extrusion experience is preferred.
• Previous experience working with production machinery and troubleshooting equipment is beneficial. 

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong mechanical and/or electrical aptitude.
• Good troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and understand specifications, instructions, SOPs, and basic diagrams.
• Ability to perform basic math and accurately complete production documentation.
• Ability to identify problems, collect relevant information, establish facts, and assist with determining appropriate solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with engineers, managers, supervisors, and production operators.
• Ability to provide hands-on leadership while maintaining accountability for production expectations.
• Strong attention to detail and situational awareness. 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers to handle equipment and materials.
• Ability to regularly reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 55 pounds.
• Close vision required for equipment operation, inspection, and quality-related work.