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 customers 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. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Model positive leadership behaviors that align with our Core Values and build relationships and collaboration across the shift, other shifts and cross functionally.
• Spend 40-50% of time on floor throughout shift getting to know and help the team, recognize the positives, 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
• Actively audit safe conditions and safe behaviors every shift while on the floor – uphold safety rules and policies and proactively addresses safety hazards and unsafe behaviors.
• Actively model setting high Safety standards ( LOTO, proper PPE, 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
• Drive Safety, Quality, Yield and Productivity Continuous Improvement and lead projects
• Be a liaison and coordinate as necessary between Maintenance to keep uptime above goal, and work as needed with other support groups to achieve overall objectives
• 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 the Quality system as well as all processes are followed
• Coach, mentor & develop Crew Leads to successfully operate their assigned production lines
• Work to ensure any needed training is completed on time and strong cross training to standard/work procedures is actively ongoing.
• Be accessible to employees to create an open door and team-oriented culture
• Participate in meetings as needed and be responsive to e-mail & phone communications.
• Be active in your own personal leadership development and attend scheduled leadership & management trainings.
• Fill out daily reports consistently and ensure reports and paperwork for shift is consistently completed and accurate.
• Ensure back up Leads and operators are in place to cover absences.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and team members to ensure that all equipment is properly maintained.
• Implement and promote lean programs to ensure that proper standards of housekeeping are sustained.
• Passionately drive continuous improvement culture.
• Administer established policies for performance management, staffing, training, employee relations, and compensation management.
• Maintain housekeeping and 6S standards.  
• Identify quality issues and attain established productivity standards.  
• Understand and adhere to safety policies and procedures. 
• Perform related responsibilities as required or directed.  

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• 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.
• Position requires between 3-5 years of production experience, preferably with Leadership role in a manufacturing environment
• Good leadership skills with the ability to be a change agent
• Good communicator across various levels of the organization
• Lean Manufacturing Implementation
• Ability to think strategically to prevent re-occurring problems
• Critical thinking and attention to detail
• Moderate analytic ability is needed to gather and interpret data where results/answers can be found after analysis of several facts
• The ability to prioritize production jobs when equipment problems arise
• Ability to use computer and various systems required to perform role
• As a key leader at Teknor Apex, 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)

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.    
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards    
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time, squat, bend, twist and turn as needed to perform the job.    
• Must be able to climb ladders and stairs multiple times throughout the shift.   
• Must possess good manual and mechanical dexterity to perform job duties.     
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds.   
• Must be able to wear required safety equipment.   

This description is a summary of principal responsibilities and is not intended to include all duties that may be assigned.

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 or older to work at Teknor Apex.