Training Coordinator

Training Coordinator

The Training Coordinator is responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing, and tracking training programs that support safe, efficient, and high-quality operations in a plastics injection molding facility. This role ensures that employees are properly trained, qualified, and certified to perform their jobs in compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements. The Training Coordinator plays a key role in workforce development, onboarding, cross-training, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

A) Training Program Development & Administration

• Develop and maintain structured training programs for:
• Injection molding operators
• Secondary operations (trimming, assembly, printing, packaging)
• Material handling and material preparation
• Maintenance and skilled trades (in coordination with Engineering/Maintenance)
• Create and maintain:
• Job training matrices
• Certification and qualification requirements by position
• Standardized training materials (SOPs, work instructions, visual aids, videos)
• Ensure training programs align with:
• Production requirements
• Quality systems (ISO/IATF, customer-specific requirements)
• Safety and environmental policies

B) New Hire Onboarding & Workforce Development

• Coordinate onboarding training for new hires:
• Safety orientation
• Basic molding process awareness
• Quality expectations and defect recognition
• Company policies and procedures
• Partner with supervisors and trainers to ensure new associates achieve job proficiency prior to independent work
• Support workforce development initiatives:
• Cross-training and multi-skill certification
• Succession planning for critical roles
• Upskilling for automation and advanced manufacturing technologies

C) Safety & Compliance Training

• Coordinate and track all required safety training, including:
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
• Forklift and powered industrial truck certification
• Machine guarding and safe equipment operation
• Hazard communication (HAZCOM)
• PPE requirements
• Ensure training documentation meets OSHA and internal audit requirements
• Partner with EHS to support incident investigations by identifying training gaps and deploying corrective actions

D) Quality & Process Training

• Support quality system compliance through training:
• Inspection methods and defect identification
• Control plans, work instructions, and quality alerts
• Customer-specific quality requirements
• Coordinate training related to:
• Process changes
• Engineering changes
• Corrective and preventive actions (CAs/PAs, PPAP support as applicable)

E) Training Tracking, Metrics & Audits

• Maintain accurate training records and certifications in:
• Training databases, spreadsheets, or LMS platforms
• Monitor and report key training metrics:
• Training completion rates
• Certification compliance
• Cross-training coverage
• Support internal and external audits by providing training documentation and compliance evidence

F) Continuous Improvement & Standardization

• Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives by:
• Standardizing work instructions and training methods
• Reducing variation in operator performance
• Supporting Kaizen events with training components
• Collect feedback from supervisors, trainers, and operators to improve training effectiveness
• Help identify skill gaps impacting safety, quality, or productivity

G) Communication & Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between:
• Production
• Quality
• Maintenance
• Engineering
• Human Resources
• Coordinate plant trainers, mentors, and subject matter experts
• Ensure consistent training practices across shifts and departments

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Associate or bachelor's degree in training & development, Manufacturing, Engineering, HR, or related field preferred
• 2+ years' experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Prior experience with training coordination, employee development, or workforce training
• Ability to read and interpret work instructions, safety procedures, and quality documents
• Strong organizational and documentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in plastics injection molding or similarly regulated/high-volume manufacturing
• Familiarity with:
• Injection molding processes and terminology
• Manufacturing quality systems (ISO/IATF)
• OSHA training requirements
• Experience building training matrices and certification programs
• Experience using Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) strongly preferred in many facilities

Key Competencies & Skills

• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work with hourly and salaried employees across all shifts
• Attention to detail and strong record-keeping discipline
• Ability to influence without direct authority
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment
• Continuous improvement and standardization mindset

Physical / Work Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, moving equipment, and heated processes
• Must follow PPE and safety requirements
• Ability to spend time on the production floor observing and coaching employees
• Occasional off-shift or…