Line Lead I - HSL (Night Shift)

Job Summary:  The HSL Line Lead primarily serves as the first level of oversight for production workers. The Line Lead oversees the activities of the line, reviews planned work and ensures that employees are aware, makes supervisors aware of any quality and safety issues that arise, and ensures that employees are trained adequately.   The HSL Lead’s role is to ensure continuous smooth and efficient production for their assigned HSL Plant Lines.  The HSL Lead is responsible for assisting and relieving all workers on their assigned lines for breaks, lunches, vacations, and as needed.  As such, the HSL Lead’s responsibilities and knowledge must encompass all job duties and functions of each position’s job descriptions, and all requirements thereby.  The HSL Lead is responsible for ensuring efficient line performance, including but not limited to: understanding control logic, set-up of all equipment and auxiliaries, line start readiness, cleaning and inspections for machine readiness, understanding product specifications, preventative maintenance, and training of employees.  Measures of line performance include running efficiency (time for change-overs, run speed and unplanned downtime), waste, labor utilization, and conformance to product quality controls.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Oversee the activities of the line ensuring that production runs smoothly and efficiently. 
• Review planned work for the day and ensure that employees are aware of requirements.
• Verify that the line is moving as planned and stop the line for any quality or safety issues that may arise. Work with Quality, Maintenance, and the Production Supervisor to ensure that problems are corrected.
• Responsible for ensuring that line workers are adequately trained. Alert Production Supervisor and Technical Trainer to any training issues that may need to be addressed. 
• Responsible for line lead cleanup and preparation of the line for the next shift.
• Ensure that adequate coverage is available for employee breaks.
• Determines machine speeds and number of forming stations needed for continuous product flow, avoiding jams, stop-starts and allowing for manual pack.
• Calculates and reports waste, to include quantity, cause and methods for correction.
• Calculates and reports run efficiencies, identifying cause and correction for efficiency less than budget.
• Performs line change-overs; end-of-production run tasks, packing bulk pouches, returning bulk pouches and/or packaging to inventory line clearance machine set-up, conveyor set-up, material staging, etc., and perform root cause analysis with the production team in the event of non-conforming product.
• Sets-up and carries out bulk pouch pack-out.
• Checks pouch weights at filler, pack and case process points, ensuring they meet Customer Specifications.
• Establishes online inspections with the packaging crew when quality issues are detected.
• Identifies, replaces and maintains minor machine parts and wiring as needed for all packaging machines.
• Properly lubricates according to type and method at each required lubrication point for all packaging 

machines.

• Maintains and replaces damaged hoses; ensure hoses are secured and correctly stored.
• Inventories change parts and tools; recover or report missing items for replacements.
• Regularly inspects condition of conveyor belts, rollers, sprockets and bearings, making minor repairs and replacements as needed, reporting damage and issues to maintenance to correct as needed.
• Frequently and effectively troubleshoots issues on all packaging machines, including, but not limited to: 

case erector, robot, check weigher, coder, case sealer, shrink wrapper, box taper, labeler, etc.

• Maintains correct labels for product runs as needed.

• Notifies maintenance and supervisor as needed regarding major mechanical or production issues.
• Maintains a clean and orderly work area.
• Continually observes for cross contamination or foreign objects in the packaging.

• Other duties, as needed. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must possess and successfully demonstrate all the qualifications and functions as listed in the Packaging Machine Operator Job Description.
• Ability to identify all machine and work center stop buttons, machine guards, hoods, doors and safety warnings, among other items, to ensure safety and efficient operation of the packaging machines.
• Ability to train all packers, stackers and machine operators in the efficient and successful execution of their duties and functions.
• Basic knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles strongly preferred, including but not limited to 5S.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where priorities change quickly.
• Willing to work as part of a team.
• Engages fully in resolving issues with equipment and improving line efficiencies.
• Computer skills strongly preferred.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times in the Production Area.

• Must be able to communicate with all levels of management and maintenance.
• Safe use of a hot glue gun, sharp instruments, and Non-Powered Pallet Jack.

Working Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The HSL Lead is required to work on the production floor. While performing the duties of this job, the associate frequently will be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and extreme heat and/or cold.   The associate continuously works near moving mechanical parts.  The associate will be exposed to loud noises from production equipment and thus will be required to wear PPE.   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may be high at times due to production and mechanical equipment noise. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be performed by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms; see, talk and /or hear. The associate is required to stand for up to a 12 hour period (with breaks).  

The associate will regularly need to lift up to 50 pounds, and occasionally push or pull up to 70 pounds.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of associates under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.