Production Team Leader, Yarnton

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and coordinate activities across the cell to meet daily production goals and maintain alignment with company priorities through effective prioritisation, escalation, and decision-making.
• Act as the central point of escalation for resolving major production, quality, or personnel issues affecting cell performance.
• Have the authority to stop production to correct quality problems.
• Facilitate effective communication between shifts, ensuring all relevant information is clearly passed along and understood by the team leader and operators.
• Manage labour resources effectively to cover planned and unplanned absences of team leaders.
• Ensure that all team members comply with HSE regulations and policies.
• Promote a safety-first culture through leadership, communication, and proactive interventions.
• Conduct safety inspections and investigations to identify root causes and implement robust countermeasures.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and support to operators, ensuring high levels of engagement and accountability.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and manage attendance, performance, and disciplinary matters in line with company procedures.
• Identify training needs and support the development of team members to enhance skills and overall cell performance.
• Monitor production schedules to ensure on-time delivery of products, addressing any issues that could impact deadlines.
• Ensure that production standards, quality checks, calibration schedules, and work instructions are consistently followed.
• Monitor and maintain lineside inventory by ensuring robust processes are in place and adhered to, such as control of SIPS, NCP, and production booking.
• Ensure Trial Builds are controlled both physically and systematically.
• Follow a structured approach to problem solving, such as RPS, PPS, 8D, DMAIC.
• Collaborate with Engineers and Operators to identify areas of improvement and implement solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Participate in improvement projects, contributing to lean manufacturing and waste reduction initiatives.

Act as the 5S champion to ensure a standard is in place for all working areas and is maintained and improved by performing frequent audits and driving improvement actions.

Skills and experience required:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in leading a team in a production or manufacturing environment, ideally in tier 1 automotive.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, at all levels
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to run and monitor the production process
• Ability to work under pressure and motivate others to meet deadlines
• Good understanding of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel
• Ability to apply modern manufacturing techniques such as LEAN, Just-In-Time, PDCA, Total Productive Maintenance, 5S, OEE
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to make quick, informed decisions in high-pressure situations.
• A flexible approach to work.
• IOSH certified, desirable

Six Sigma Yellow Belt or equivalent, desirable

Direct reports: Production Operators, Lead Operators, Production Technicians