Team Lead Trainee

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise his/her part of the Daily Management System (DMS) to include hourly and shift targets.
• Develop counter measures for variances.
• Apply knowledge of the 8 Wastes to the production process.
• Apply and enforce 5S & Visual Control standards at all workstations.
• Own development and adherence to standard work.
• Apply usage of Job Instruction techniques for teaching skills to new and cross‑trained operators.
• Apply Job Relations techniques to relationship with team members.
• Apply Job Methods techniques to improving tasks in the production process.
• Apply the Performance Counseling method to provide specific feedback to team members.
• Facilitate team meetings as necessary.
• Responsible for the overall safety performance of production operators and maintenance technicians while performing work on production equipment, including behaviors, procedures, cleanliness, and promoting STAR observations.
• Responsible for promoting and enforcing quality standards and developing countermeasures when performance falls short of standard.
• Maintain integrity of confidential information, such as employee records and personal information, budgets, products, and processes.
• Work with the maintenance department to resolve problems as necessary.
• Communicate necessary information to other Team Leaders and the VSM.
• Utilize A3 Problem Solving methods.
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned, and others are assumed inherent in the position.

Physical Requirements

• Work time is split between the office and the manufacturing plant, with most time spent in the plant.
• Exposure to heat, cold, noise, dust, production equipment, and weather conditions.
• Frequent walking throughout the mill on various surfaces and up/down stairs and ladders; occasional climbing up/down ladders and possibly on/off forklifts.
• Frequent use of hands for computer use, writing, and measuring.
• Occasional pushing, pulling, reaching, lifting, carrying, and bending.

Travel Requirements

Available to travel as needed – normally less than 10% of work time.

Other Requirements

• Areas of responsibility will be assigned as needed, generally limited to production within the mill.
• Requirements may vary depending on which shift the Team Lead is assigned.
• Work hours may vary as needed to accommodate meetings, weekend production, absences of other staff, etc.
• Work areas/assignments may vary or rotate to best meet the needs of the plant.

Qualifications, Experience, and Knowledge

• Experience in wood products or manufacturing field preferred.
• Previous supervisory/lead experience preferred.
• Familiarity with the process for manufacturing hardwood veneer or plywood.
• Understanding of Lean Systems (The Columbia Way).
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to draw and interpret graphs.
• Ability to calculate basic statistics (e.g., mode, mean) and lean measures (e.g., takt time, cycle time).
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees and groups at all levels.
• Ability to carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
• Ability to interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; provide effective counseling; address complaints and resolve problems.
• Basic computer literacy – word processing, spreadsheets, e‑mail.
• Some of these knowledge requirements may be acquired during the training period or while on the job.