Production Lead (Manufacturing-Welding in NW Houston 77041)

Company Profile:

The founders of Travis® Body & Trailer, Inc. began operations in 1989 after purchasing the facilities of CMC Trailers, Inc. in Houston, Texas. During the first year, Travis manufactured only the classic aluminum end dump trailer. These trailers were little changed from the older CMC designs from the 1970’s and 1980’s. Travis has grown rapidly in size and national market share since those early days. This growth was stimulated by both overall industry demand as well as by the determination of the Travis team to become number 1 in quality through both expert fabrication and innovation.

Job Purpose:

The purpose of the leadman is to support the production supervisor in daily execution of the production schedule and drive to achieve set goals and deadlines for their respective department(s) while executing their daily production goals. This role will multitask their daily production goals while supporting results in the areas of safety, quality, employee relations, and productivity.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Leading staff, including providing proper training and resources
• Drive initiatives across your department; including procedures, continuous improvement initiatives, and equipment needs
• Assist with ensuring all employees adhere to safety guidelines and company policies
• Support the execution of the daily production schedule while meeting production goals
• Perform in-process inspection checks to verify quality
• Meet with department Supervisor to discuss daily production
• Improve shift performance through new hire training and tenured employee cross-training
• Hold daily communication and safety meetings with shift employees, in absence of the Supervisor
• Prioritize daily work assignments based on the production schedule, in absence of the Supervisor
• Other duties as assigned

Administrative & Leadership Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate timekeeping records, including reviewing and approving employee hours and labor allocations
• Perform job closures in system(s), ensuring accurate tracking of labor, materials, and completion status
• Prepare and analyze efficiency and production reports (e.g., throughput, downtime, labor utilization) to identify trends and drive improvements
• Provide employee coaching and counseling, including performance feedback, corrective action, and documentation in alignment with company policies
• Support employee development through ongoing feedback, performance management, and training initiatives

Essential Skills, Experience and Education:

• HS Diploma or GED
• An understanding of lean principles and the ability to lead employees in the use of the lean tools
• Lead with safety as a priority, following safety and environmental guidelines and work procedures
• Must be able to prioritize and work
• Understand a Bill of Material structure and product flow. Product knowledge is required
• Willingness to learn and understand operations in assigned area of responsibility
• Must have flexibility, creativity, teambuilding, leadership, and interpersonal skills to identify, analyze, and solve problems along with train and mentor employees
• Excellent communication skills must be used to regularly communicate and/or discuss issues affecting production, equipment, personnel, safety and their resolutions as appropriate; communication ranges from individual development conversations up to public speaking for larger audiences
• Ability to apply working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, and effectively use through computer systems and software

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Regularly required to lift, carry, pull and push 50lbs. unassisted
• Regularly standing, stooping, kneeling, bending and turning
• Exposed to outdoor weather temperatures

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Work Hours and Schedules:

• Must be able to work between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM
• Occasional Saturday’s, as required to meet Production needs

Key Competencies:

Consistently Achieves Results - Effectively manages budgets; meets planned financial targets; achieves both top and bottom line growth objectives; readily produces strategies for reducing or avoiding costs without compromising quality; meets the Customer’s satisfaction level; meets or exceeds the standards set for the position specific responsibilities.

Analytical Abilities - Makes recommendations based on solid assumptions when solving complex problems; analyzes data to obtain meaningful information; identifies conflicting or inaccurate information.

Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at first answers.

Interpersonal Skills - Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the company; builds appropriate rapport; listens; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; truly values people; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.

Customer Focus - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external Customers; gets Customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; considers Customers in all business practices; establishes and maintains effective relationships with Customers.