Production Kitting Lead

Production Kitting Lead

Mt Juliet - Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

The Picking Lead (Material Handler) is responsible for leading the daily material flow activities that support manufacturing. This position coordinates order picking, kitting, replenishment, supermarket inventory, and material delivery to production lines while ensuring inventory accuracy and on-time availability of components. The role prioritizes daily workloads, coordinates expedite orders, supports inventory control activities, trains team members, and works closely with Production, Warehouse, Customer Service, and Planning to eliminate shortages and maintain uninterrupted production flow.

Responsible for compliance with applicable Quality System Regulations (QSR), C-TPAT requirements, and all company safety procedures.

Production Support

• Coordinate daily picking priorities based on the production schedule, customer demand, backlog, and line requirements.
• Build complete and accurate kits for production work orders using work orders, pick lists, scan guns, JDE, and applicable standard work.
• Deliver kits, replenishment material, and shortage parts to production lines in the required sequence and at the required time.
• Ensure production lines remain supplied with kitted orders throughout the shift and respond quickly to line-side material requests.
• Monitor supermarket inventory levels, kanban signals, broadcasts, and flow-line functionality and replenish material as required.
• Identify and escalate shortages, incorrect parts, location issues, and inventory discrepancies before they affect production output.

Team Leadership

• Assign and fairly distribute daily workloads based on production priorities, order rates, staffing, and backlog.
• Communicate daily goals, priorities, overtime needs, process changes, policies, and announcements to the picking team.
• Train and coach new and existing material handlers on scan guns, JDE transactions, equipment, safety, quality requirements, picking methods, and standard work.
• Monitor picking accuracy, productivity, attendance, housekeeping, and adherence to established processes.
• Coordinate expedites and schedule changes and adjust resources to protect production flow.
• Assist the Operations Supervisor with staffing recommendations, performance concerns, and workload balancing.

Inventory Control and Material Flow

• Ensure inventory accuracy through correct scanning, transfers, replenishment, and other required inventory transactions.
• Support cycle counts, physical inventory, and investigation of inventory or location discrepancies as needed.
• Monitor FIFO (supermarket), location control, and material handling practices to protect product quality and traceability.
• Assist receiving, put-away, and other warehouse functions when production-support workload allows or business needs require.

Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and communicate department measures such as pick accuracy, kit completion, on-time kit delivery, production shortages, backlog, inventory accuracy, quality, and safety.
• Work with Production, Planning, Quality, Warehouse, and other departments to keep production flow moving and resolve material-related issues.
• Recommend practical improvements to picking routes, supermarket layout, location sequencing, replenishment methods, and standard work.
• Support Lean Manufacturing, kanban, 5S, visual management, and waste-reduction activities.
• Participate in special projects and assignments as requested.

Safety and Compliance

• Follow and reinforce all applicable safety, housekeeping, equipment inspection, and preventive maintenance requirements.
• Observe and enforce C-TPAT security policies and procedures.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, and other material-handling equipment safely and only when properly trained and authorized.
• Report safety, quality, inventory, equipment, and associate-related concerns to the Operations Supervisor promptly.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and

Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Two or more years of warehouse, logistics, kitting, or material-handling experience is preferred.
• Previous experience leading,…