Production Cell Lead - Powder Coating Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Production Cell Lead - Powder Coating Operations is responsible for leading the daily operation of a small production cell while actively performing coating application and manufacturing activities. This is a working leadership role that combines technical expertise in spray and powder coating processes with responsibility for safety, quality, productivity, training, and continuous improvement. The Production Cell Lead provides daily direction and support for a team of 2-4 Production Associates while ensuring production schedules, quality standards, safety requirements, and customer expectations are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

· Provide daily leadership, coaching, and support to Production Associates.

· Coordinate labor, materials, equipment, and workflow to achieve production requirements.

· Monitor production performance and communicate priorities.

· Support training, cross-training, and skill development.

· Promote accountability, teamwork, and adherence to company policies.

· Set up, operate, adjust, and troubleshoot automated and hand spray powder booths.

· Support production scheduling and workflow management.

· Complete work orders, travelers, production records, and material usage documentation.

· Maintain accurate labor, scrap, and production reporting.

· Utilize ERP and production tracking systems.

Quality Leadership

· Perform visual inspections, film build measurement, gloss testing, and orange peel evaluations.

· Identify and resolve coating defects and process variation.

· Reduce scrap and rework through process control.

Continuous Improvement

· Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives.

· Development of procedures

· Improve SOE, throughput, and process stability.

· Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Required Qualifications

· High School Diploma or equivalent.

· Minimum 3 years manufacturing experience.

· Previous Team Lead, Cell Lead, or supervisory experience

· Powder coating experience required – hand spray preferred

· Strong communication and troubleshooting skills.

· Ability to read work orders, SOPs, and TDS documents.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and basic computer systems.

Preferred Qualifications

· Technical training or associate degree in a related field.

· Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.

Key Performance Indicators

· Safety Performance (Injuries, Near Misses, and Layered Process Audit findings)

· Scheduled Operational Effectiveness

· Throughput %

· Days in WIP

· On Time Delivery

· Scrap %

ACT has been supporting the global coatings industry with consistent and reliable test panel substrates and laboratory testing services since 1981. From highly specialized panels made to order to more generic panels that are inventoried and ready to ship. All of our test panel products are produced to local or international industry standards and specifications. ACT Test Labs is an institution dedicated to the evaluation of performance painted coatings and pretreatments in multiple industries including automotive and aerospace. ACT Test Labs performs various tests of these materials, including accelerated corrosion, weathering, coating process simulation and defect analysis, and mechanical-adhesion performance of coated materials.

Company Description

ACT has been supporting the global coatings industry with consistent and reliable test panel substrates and laboratory testing services since 1981. From highly specialized panels made to order to more generic panels that are inventoried and ready to ship. All of our test panel products are produced to local or international industry standards and specifications. ACT Test Labs is an institution dedicated to the evaluation of performance painted coatings and pretreatments in multiple industries including automotive and aerospace. ACT Test Labs performs various tests of these materials, including accelerated corrosion, weathering, coating process simulation and defect analysis, and mechanical-adhesion performance of coated materials.