Cell Leader (Machining)

Cell Leader (Machining Cell)

Are you looking for the next step in your career? Could you be the right person to fill one of our positions?

We are now recruiting for a Machining Cell Leader to join us on a permanent basis.

The main purpose of this role will be:

• To ensure that the Machining Cell achieves the day-to-day customer requirements in terms of Quality, Delivery and Cost and to continuously improve the performance of the team. To control all machining manufacturing and finishing from raw material through to component finishing. To develop and motivate all production staff to ensure that business targets are achieved. To interact daily with Purchasing and Planning teams to ensure production runs to schedule as well as with other functional teams for development, new product introduction and problem resolution.

The main requirements and employee accountabilities are:

• Lead and manage all day to day operational functions involved in the production of machined components required for VACGEN’s UHV Surface Science, Industrial and Special Projects product lines.
• Support and lead the team from within and specifically to motivate when required to maintain workflow.
• To ensure that the standard work, work instructions, one-piece flow and other cellular principles are upheld.
• Responsible for training, motivating and delegating to the team.
• To ensure customer requirements are satisfied by pro-actively taking the necessary steps as and when required, including identifying and dealing with the abnormalities which may disrupt the flow and regularly check for cycle time adherence.
• To pro-actively deal with the team’s performance on an individual and team basis.
• To monitor and manage the team in terms of attendance, work rate and general attitude to work, as required, on an individual and team basis.
• To assist in setting the team’s targets in terms of Quality, Delivery and Cost.
• To be a Cell Technician as and when required.
• To contribute to the daily team meetings using the QDIP performance board to communicate to the team all relevant performance indicators, targets and required countermeasures.
• To be responsible for the upkeep of all Visual Management, including standard work documentation, the QDIP board, the production target board and the cell team board.
• Implement and integrate Visual management across the Machining manufacturing operation and ensure that through regular improvements and changes the visuals are kept up-to-date and appropriate to the business needs.
• To ensure all documentation is kept up to date and update the production target board.
• To contribute to and help drive the team’s improvement agenda with respect to CI, problem solving, Kaizen, 5S and engineering changes. Communicate to the team accordingly.
• To be in charge of the manufacturing systems used in the area and ensure that all documentation, labelling, visual management, training, spc, etc. is kept up to date with current practices.
• To be first point of contact for the team members for any issues.
• To coordinate cross training of the team members in the various work sequence skills and updating the Training Matrix, accordingly, identifying gaps and recommending effective solutions.
• To ensure all necessary AX transactions (back-flushing, scrap, rework, job-completion) are performed accurately and on time.
• To assist the Production Manager in ensuring that the team is working to the correct routing time and has the relevant staffing and standard work splits, in accordance with each day’s customer demand.
• To ensure a smooth daily start-up/change over, including machine set up, staff allocations, appropriate standard WIP and material replenishment.
• To work with the Production Manager to administer company policies and procedures.
• To encourage a 5S’s environment and ensure all Cleaning and TPM schedule activities within the cell are completed on a daily, weekly and monthly basis as appropriate and to maintain cell capacity.

The essential skills/experience required for this role are:

• Excellent knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication and production assembly and test processes preferably within a high technology industry. Knowledge of vacuum industry would be beneficial but not essential.
• Experience of machining and managing a machine shop/department.
• Leadership and coaching experience.

The desirable skills/experience required for this role are:

• Experience in low batch high tolerance workshop environments.
• Good knowledge of current manufacturing practices including lean manufacture and continuous improvement methods.
• Previous experience of leading a team.
• Continuous Improvement and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Qualifications:

• HNC/HND Mechanical Engineering.
• Apprenticeship experience.
• ILM level 3 or above in leadership.

We require the following personal qualities/attributes:

• Hands-on approach to leading the team with strong communication skills at all levels – operators to management
• To have the capacity to listen, reflect and motivate the team to improved performance
• Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines under pressure
• High level of organisational and planning skills
• To possess a degree of problem-solving ability
• To be self-motivated and pro-active
• To be numerate and computer literate
• Committed to the ongoing success of the business

This could be the opportunity for you!

If you feel you have the necessary skills and experience to be successful in this role, apply today, forwarding an up-to-date copy of your CV for consideration in the first instance.