Production Associate Jobs in Whitmire, SC (NOW HIRING)

When Alfred Fain founded a small Rhode Island tire store in 1924, at the time no one could have predicted how Teknor Apex would become an international custom compounder sought out by companies around the world. After a nearly hundred-year journey that’s carried us through acquisitions and expansion, we now have nine U.S. locations, as well as operations in Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and China.

Throughout this global expansion Teknor has remained a privately held company, and today Fain’s grandson sits at the helm, maintaining the family’s tradition of fostering deep employee and customer relationships. These relationships are what allow us—together—to deliver customized compound solutions and help our customer’s create better products.

“Manufacturing is a team sport and we work together to achieve our goals.”  ~Jon Fain

Join the team behind our custom compounds. 

BASIC FUNCTION:

Provide strong, positive leadership to help continually improve Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost & Morale while upholding our Core Values and creating a positive work environment.  Proactively address safety hazards and unsafe behaviors.   Consistently uphold safety rules and HR policies.   Ensure processes are being consistently followed and help the implementation of new processes to continually improve quality.  Be a liaison and coordinate as necessary between Maintenance to keep uptime above goal, and work as needed with other support groups, within the plant, to achieve overall objectives of the department, SC Plant & Teknor Apex.   Work to ensure any needed training is completed on time and strong cross training to standard/work procedures is actively ongoing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• As a key leader at Teknor Apex South Carolina Plant, model the right leadership behaviors that align with our Core Values and build relationships and collaboration across the shift, other shifts and cross functionally.
• Model, promote and uphold our Core Values (Accountability, Integrity, Respect, Safety, Sustainability, Innovation & Partnership)
• Spend 40-50% of time on floor throughout shift getting to know and help the team, recognize the positives, audit to ensure process are being followed and coach when necessary.
• Be present and active in the end of the shift turnover, ensuring that there is a good turnover of information between leaders and team members
• Monitor and take immediate action for suspicion of alcohol, smoking and drug/substance abuse on Teknor Company Property, setting & modeling expectations as the shift leader.  Ensure team members are fit for duty.
• Actively audit safe conditions and safe behaviors every shift while on the floor – uphold safety rules and policies.
• Actively model and coach our Core Values, including setting high Safety standards (Always LOTO, steel toe shoes, eye protection, hearing protection, no ear buds or phones on production floor, long sleeve shirts, dust masks, etc…) as well as participating daily in start of shift stretching injury prevention program.
• Coach and drive 5S principles and improvements across the department and plant
• Learn the manufacturing process, equipment and production roles to help support the team.
• Ensure all production processes and standard operating procedures (SOP’s) meet conformance with our ISO 9001 quality system as well as all processes are followed (paperwork, process conditions in control, scanning & labeling system).
• Coach, mentor & develop Crew Leads from a Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost & morale standpoint.
• Be accessible to employees to create an open door, team-oriented culture and ensure a non-retaliatory environment.
• Participate in meetings as needed and be responsive to e-mail & phone communications.
• Be accessible to team and various Teknor associates by company cell phone.
• Be active in your own personal leadership development and attend scheduled leadership & management trainings.
• Support integrated systems and management tools across the department and plant, ensuring processes are being accurately and consistently followed.
• Ensure back up Leads and operators are in place to cover absences.
• Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SKILLS:

• Good leadership soft skills with the ability to be a change agent
• Good communicator across various levels of the organization
• Ability to think strategically to prevent re-occurring problems
• Critical thinking and attention to detail
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principals and methods is required
• Moderate analytic ability is needed to gather and interpret data where results/answers can be found after analysis of several facts
• Ability to move the team from being reactive to proactive while still addressing unexpected day to day challenges
• The ability to prioritize production jobs when equipment problems arise
• Ability to use computer and various system required to perform role

EXPERIENCE:

• Position requires between 4-6 years of production experience, preferably with Lead role or higher leadership experience

EDUCATION:

• GED or above
• Knowledge of mechanical/technical or business field, which can be acquired through up to eighteen months of education or training beyond the high school level.

Teknor Apex is looking for high quality individuals to join our manufacturing team.  Here is what Teknor Apex has to offer:

• Very attractive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with extremely LOW deductibles and Low-cost - 80% paid by the company
• Benefits eligibility within 30 days of hire
• Company paid wellness programs – smoking cessation, mental health, weight loss
• On-site medical clinic for employee and spouse at no charge which includes prescriptions, wellness visits, and immunizations
• Up to 7% Employer Contribution to 401K and free financial planning assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Annual merit increases
• Onsite food trucks weekly
• Employee recognition points to purchase a wide variety of amazing products earned for Perfect Attendance, service year milestones and other achievements
• Company sponsored discounts to gyms, restaurants, theme parks, travel, auto, etc
• Numerous employee appreciation activities annually- meals, giveaways, contests
• Free income tax filing assistance for eligible associates
• Community involvement and volunteer opportunities
• Family Day celebration
• Recognition for years of service

Teknor Apex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any protected status under state or federal laws. Must be 18 years of age to work at Teknor Apex.