Lead Production Technician

Lead Production Technician

Job Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all safety procedures and promote a strong safety culture while maintaining good housekeeping standards.
• Serve as the lead technician on the production floor, responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily activities of the production team while remaining actively engaged in hands-on production work.
• Perform assigned job duties in accordance with all written work instructions, procedures, and quality requirements.
• Safely operate and maintain tools and equipment used for Thermal Spray applications.
• Provide technical guidance, on-the-job support, and mentoring to production technicians to ensure proper execution of tasks and adherence to standards.
• Assist with daily work assignments, workflow coordination, and task prioritization to meet production targets.
• Maintain quality control procedures and required documentation; ensure team compliance with visual quality and performance criteria.
• Respond to tool alarms or non-standard conditions per work instructions and escalate issues that cannot be resolved immediately.
• Perform and oversee preventive maintenance inspections and services on machines and support equipment.
• Thoroughly clean machines and machine parts, removing and reinstalling parts as necessary.
• Oil and lubricate moving parts to ensure effective machine performance.
• Record and report damaged, worn, or broken parts; assist with identifying root causes of equipment issues.
• Order, install, and verify replacement parts for machines as needed.
• Identify causes of unexpected machine breakdowns and support timely, efficient repairs.
• Ensure effective communication across shifts and foster teamwork, accountability, and engagement within the production team.
• Ensure waste materials are discarded in designated containers and containers are properly sealed.
• Collect, review, and report data related to daily tool and production performance.
• Perform all assigned preventive maintenance (PMs) on Thermal Spray and support equipment.
• Work independently at times without direct supervision while remaining accountable for team performance, quality, and safety targets.
• Support training of new hires and cross-training of team members.
• Serve as a point of contact between production technicians and leadership regarding daily operations, issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

No regular travel is required outside of Vital's work site.

Experience &

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Driver's License or State-issued .
• Demonstrated experience as a production technician or similar role; prior informal or formal lead experience preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with effective troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Organized with strong attention to detail.
• Safety-first mindset with the ability to influence safe behaviors in others.
• Basic math skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to use hand tools and perform mechanical tasks.
• Understanding of visual quality criteria and performance target requirements for certified areas.
• Ability to clearly communicate expectations, issues, and performance targets to team members.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use mobile systems, communication devices, and simple tool interfaces.
• Fundamental computer application knowledge.
• Ability to obtain and maintain forklift certification as required.

Location:

Bowling Green, Ohio

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit, stand, or walk short distances for the duration of the shift.
• Occasional stair climbing.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to visually inspect machines and equipment.
• Frequent use of hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry, or feel objects.
• Frequent reaching above shoulder height and below the waist.
• Occasional stooping, kneeling, or bending.
• Must comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to steel-toed shoes, cut-resistant gloves, jackets, aprons and/or arm guards, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
• All technicians working on the production floor may be required to…