Production Team Lead

Job Description:

Loma Systems® is a premier manufacturer of inspection equipment used to identify contaminants and product defects in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Established in the UK in the 1960’s, Loma Systems is today one of the leading global companies involved in production line safety systems, boasting an impressive installed base of over 125,000 machines in over 100 countries. Our talented team of people work across the world in a friendly, supportive work environment and with a no politics culture, there is nothing to stop you reaching your full potential.

We are part of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a global Fortune 250 diversified industrial manufacturer of value-added consumables and speciality equipment with related service businesses. Operating under the core philosophies of 80/20 business processes, customer-back innovation and a decentralized entrepreneurial culture, the company focuses on solid growth, improving profitability and strong returns across its worldwide platforms and divisions. These divisions serve customers and markets around the globe, with significant presence in developed and emerging markets. ITW’s revenue totaled US$14.5 billion in 2021, with nearly 45,000 employees worldwide.

Production Team Leader

Location: Carol Stream, IL

The Production Team Leader is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, planning and execution of North American production. The role has full line-management responsibility for the production team and ensures equipment is built safely, meets quality requirements and is completed in line with agreed delivery commitments.

Combining visible shop-floor leadership with practical operational coordination, the position owns production scheduling, capacity planning, Kanban execution and daily production performance. The role works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering / Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics and Customer Experience to maintain material and technical readiness, resolve constraints and improve production processes.

Responsibilities:

• Team leadership and development
• Lead, coach and develop the production team, setting clear expectations for safety, quality, delivery, productivity and workplace standards.
• Manage daily work allocation, attendance, leave planning and performance reviews; address performance concerns with support from Human Resources and the Operations & Engineering Director.
• Maintain regular shop-floor presence, build effective working relationships and involve employees in identifying and implementing improvements.
• Maintain a team skills matrix and coordinate training and cross-training with Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering to improve capability, flexibility and coverage.

• Production scheduling and capacity planning
• Own and maintain a documented production schedule showing job priorities, assigned resources, expected effort, key milestones and completion dates.
• Review available capacity against workload, employee skills, planned absence and material and engineering constraints; identify risks and propose practical recovery actions.
• Assess requests to bring forward, defer or add orders, communicating achievable dates and the impact on existing commitments to Regional Sales Managers and Customer Experience.
• Coordinate engineering release and technical readiness with the Engineering Team Leader and material availability with the Senior Buyer before confirming production plans.

• Daily production flow and material readiness
• Lead daily production meetings, to review progress, shortages, quality concerns, shipping priorities and actions with clear owners and due dates.
• Manage daily production flow, work in progress and line clearance, keeping job status and operational records accurate and accessible.
• Manage shop-floor Kanban execution, monitor stockouts and trigger replenishment in line with agreed processes; work with the Senior Buyer to review replenishment levels and support assigned purchasing activities.
• Identify material shortages and overdue items early, communicate required dates and production impact to the Senior Buyer, and agree follow-up actions; monitor commitments for directly assigned purchase orders and escalate delivery risks promptly.
• Coordinate production-team participation in cycle counts, the annual inventory count and inventory reconciliation, supporting the Senior Buyer, Logistics and Accounting.
• Support cycle counts, the annual inventory count and inventory reconciliation in coordination with Supply Chain, Logistics and Accounting.

• Safety quality and workplace standards
• Maintain a safe, clean and organised production environment through daily housekeeping, 5S routines, clear work areas and appropriate part presentation.
• Reinforce safe working practices, report hazards and near misses, and follow through on assigned corrective actions with the relevant safety and functional owners.
• Ensure production follows approved drawings, work instructions, inspection and test requirements, and applicable quality and compliance procedures.
• Contain and escalate production non-conformances promptly; work with Manufacturing Engineering / Quality and Engineering on investigation and corrective action.
• Partner with the Manufacturing Engineer to improve assembly methods, layouts, standard work and production readiness for new or changed products; ensure agreed changes are implemented, understood and sustained.

• Performance management and continuous improvement
• Maintain and communicate production KPIs, including on-time delivery, lead time, assembly efficiency and stockouts, using accurate and consistent data.
• Analyse performance gaps, identify contributing causes and implement or coordinate actions to improve results, escalating constraints outside the role’s authority.
• Identify and deliver practical improvements using ITW principles, including 80/20, Front-to-Back and In-lining, with support from Manufacturing Engineering and the Business Improvement Coordinator.
• Document key operating routines and improvement outcomes, establish backup coverage and demonstrate sustained benefits to safety, quality, delivery, cost or capacity.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the position holder is expected to support related business, operational, and continuous improvement activities as reasonably directed by leadership.

Key Interfaces:

• Operations & Engineering Director: operational priorities, performance, resource needs and escalation.
• Engineering Team Leader and Engineering team: engineering release, technical queries, design changes and production readiness.
• Manufacturing Engineer / Quality: assembly methods, standard work, training, quality controls, non-conformances and improvement implementation.
• Senior Buyer / Supply Chain: material readiness, production requirements, Kanban replenishment, shortage resolution and coordination of assigned purchasing activities.
• Logistics, Customer Experience, Regional Sales Managers and Accounting: order priorities, delivery feasibility, shipping, receiving and invoicing coordination.
• Human Resources and Business Improvement Coordinator: people processes, training, work instructions, process flows and improvement support.
• External: suppliers, vendors and global Loma production teams, as required.

Requirements:

Essential:

·         Demonstrated experience supervising or directly leading a manufacturing or assembly team, including work allocation, coaching and performance management.

·         Practical experience in production scheduling, capacity planning and coordinating material availability in a varied manufacturing environment.

·         Technical aptitude and ability to interpret engineering drawings, bills of materials and assembly documentation.

·         Experience using ERP / MRP systems and Microsoft Excel to maintain accurate operational records, schedules and performance information.

·         Ability to prioritise competing demands, identify delivery risks and communicate clear actions across functions.

·         A hands-on, organised and analytical approach, with evidence of implementing and sustaining improvements.

·         Working knowledge of manufacturing safety practices, quality controls and 5S principles.

Desirable:

• Experience in capital equipment or mechanical / electrical equipment assembly, particularly for food, packaging or pharmaceutical applications.
• Experience with Kanban, inventory control, shipping / receiving or production-related purchasing.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365, ISO 9001 quality systems and ITW operating principles.
• Relevant qualification in manufacturing, engineering or operations, or equivalent practical experience.

Benefits:

Along with opportunities for career growth and development, Loma Systems provides a comprehensive benefits package, in conjunction with ITW, which supports our employees’ educational endeavors, wellness and financial security. Here are some of the features our comprehensive package has to offer:

• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible Spending and Health Saver Accounts
• 401(k) retirement savings program
• Paid vacation, sick days and holidays
• Wellness and fitness program
• Advancement opportunities
• Educational assistance
• Volunteer and matching charitable gifts programs
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts with the ITW key suppliers: cars, computers, appliances and more

Compensation Information:

$80,000-$95,000

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. 

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.