Production Technician (Lead Hand)

Overview

Assist supervisor in overseeing extrusion production, safety, quality, and improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• extrusion ops
• process improvement
• lean tpm
• safety compliance
• quality assurance
• training facilitation

Tasks

-Responsible for attendance, vacation schedules, training and other administrative tasks as needed -Administer on the job training to new employees and provide continuous training as needed -Delegate responsibility and recognize, develop, train and utilize capabilities of all shift personnel -Ensure optimum utilization of manpower and equipment to dictate efficient workflow -Motivates and assists employees in all aspects of the extrusion lines -Facilitate safety training and complete all incident investigations and reporting as needed -Promote the Lean and TPM mindset, identifying and eliminating waste with regards to DOWNTIME and the Six Big Losses, with the goal of improving OEE -Responsible for the First Time Pass initiative, promoting our quality policies and ideal goal of zero defects. -Assume role of Production Supervisor in the event of their absence, and perform other duties as needed -Operate an extrusion line, if necessary, in the absence of regular extrusion operator -Participate in tooling and process improvement trials like DOE, nonconformance investigations, RCAs, and CAPA implementation -Monitor and increase, if possible, the amount of regrind used on the lines -Strictly adhere to company health and safety procedures, ensuring compliance with all safety policies, PPE requirements, and Westlake’s Life Critical Rules -Monitors production schedule, arranges necessary information for the line operators related to product changes, and must have the ability to troubleshoot and monitor all extrusion lines -Improve line performance by reducing small stops and speed loss, ensuring extruders are running at standard PVC/ASA parameters -Provides technical leadership as needed to shift personnel, to include line setup/operation, metrics definition/reporting, testing, troubleshooting, and training facilitation -Participate in safety campaigns, and contribute to achieving safety KPIs -Collaborate with the Quality team to reduce scrap and defects/rejects, ensuring process checks are conducted on time, and strict compliance to QC measures -Promote and maintain a clean and safe work environment, conduct safety checks, report near misses, and identify hazards for corrective/preventive (CAPA) actions -Assigns duties to all shift members, and ensures production goals are met -Responsible for participating in and promoting adherence to all the pillars of the 5S-TPM framework, including scheduling and executing AM practices like CIL, conducting 5S audits to sustain initiative, and driving continuous improvement projects. -Participate and act as a lead for the Extruder Operator Training Program -Improve line availability by continuously reducing setup times for changeovers (like die change, screen change, product change, and color change), leveraging SMED, VSM, and other lean tools to improve the changeover process -Ensure downtime information recorded on the production report is accurate, validating downtime reason and duration -Must assist operators with color changes, roll changes, screen changes etc.

Requirements

• lean manufacturing
• six sigma
• microsoft office
• engineering degree
• extrusion
• problem solving

What You Bring

-Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification preferred -Strong communication skills. Self-directed and able to multi-task in a fast-paced manufacturing environment -Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) -Knowledge and experience in material control, engineering, compounding, quality and maintenance -Must be able to do all set ups of product and tooling using proper procedures -Knows and understands specifications and requirements i.e. gauge, cartons, profiles, packaging procedures, tooling etc. -Minimum of 3-5 years of manufacturing experience; preferably in extrusion -Diploma or Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field) required -Must be able to work a 12-hour rotating continental shift -Knows how and where to use the extrusion equipment, proper safety devices, tooling and hand tools to produce efficiently high-quality vinyl siding and accessories -Understanding manufacturing processes. Success in planning, executing and managing projects Excellent problem-solving skills. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate upwardly to top management and downward to a wide range of audiences

People Also Searched For

About Westlake

-Began from a single polyethylene plant in Louisiana and has expanded through strategic acquisitions. -Operates two main segments: Performance & Essential Materials and Housing & Infrastructure Products. -Produces significant quantities of low-density polyethylene and PVC, ranging from raw materials to finished goods. -Productions include PVC siding, pipes, epoxy resins, and polyethylene products for construction, automotive, packaging, and healthcare sectors. -Achieved record EBITDA in the HIP segment in Q4 2024, largely due to increased demand for PVC pipe and fittings. -Family-led ownership maintained by the founding Chao family, operating under a unified global brand.

Sector Specialisms