Production Lead

The Production Lead supervises and coordinates daily shift activities for a team of 12–20 employees in a plastic injection molding facility. This role oversees multiple departments, ensures safe and efficient production, resolves technical and quality issues, and maintains clear communication across shifts. The Production Lead also drives continuous improvement initiatives, supports performance management, and ensures accurate production documentation and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily shift operations for 12–20 employees, including operators at different levels, assemblers, setup technicians, quality and material handlers, and maintenance personnel.
• Plan and organize work to meet production targets while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Perform equipment setup, basic maintenance, and troubleshooting to resolve technical and quality issues in a timely manner.
• Inspect materials, products, and machinery regularly to ensure compliance with quality standards and production specifications.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of production records, logs, and other required documentation.
• Maintain effective communication between shifts and with leadership to ensure continuity of operations and clear handoffs.
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and support continuous improvement goals.
• Train, coach, and mentor team members, helping them understand processes and best practices to improve performance and efficiency.
• Assist with performance management activities, including providing feedback, supporting evaluations, and helping to address performance concerns.
• Oversee timekeeping for assigned employees and help address attendance and disciplinary matters in alignment with company policies.
• Assist with data collection, tracking, and reporting on production metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Support a safe, clean, and organized work environment and encourage adherence to safety and quality procedures across the team.

• At least 5 years of experience as a production lead or production supervisor.
• Experience supervising production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience in plastic injection molding or within the plastics industry, with at least 1 year of plastics industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of production supervision principles, including scheduling, resource allocation, and workflow coordination.
• Ability to troubleshoot production and equipment issues and coordinate with maintenance as needed.
• Familiarity with maintenance and equipment setup in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Background in continuous improvement practices and a focus on efficiency and waste reduction.
• Strong communication skills to maintain clear information flow between shifts and leadership.
• Ability to train, mentor, and develop team members in production processes and standards.
• Comfort with data collection and basic reporting on production metrics.
• Solid attention to detail and commitment to maintaining quality standards.

• Experience as a maintenance technician or working closely with maintenance teams in a production setting.
• Exposure to continuous improvement methodologies and tools in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to interpret and follow documented processes, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple priorities across departments.
• Ability to support performance management, timekeeping oversight, and basic employee relations matters.
• Comfort working on second or third shift and supervising a diverse group of production employees.

This opportunity offers a stable, long-term career in a clean, well-maintained manufacturing environment with a strong emphasis on employee well-being and development. You can take advantage of a comprehensive benefits package that includes multiple medical plan options, health savings and flexible spending accounts, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, life and disability coverage, and wellness reimbursement. The company provides tuition reimbursement and multiple bonus opportunities tied to safety, tenure, production, and overall profitability, including annual and quarterly incentives and the ability to earn additional paid days off. Employees appreciate the family feel, the commitment to retaining production and maintenance staff even during challenging times, and additional perks such as automotive rebates and holiday-related bonuses.

Work Environment

This role is based in a larger, clean plastic injection molding facility equipped with plastic injection mold machinery and related production equipment. The position operates on second or third shift, with typical schedules such as second shift Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and third shift options such as Sunday 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. or Monday through Thursday 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Each shift includes a built-in 30-minute break. Weekly hours generally range from 40 to 50, with an effort to avoid excessive overtime. The Production Lead supervises a team of 12–20 employees across multiple roles and works in an environment that values cleanliness, organization, and safety in and around the machinery and production areas.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Whitewater, WI.

The pay range for this position is $45000.00 - $60000.00/yr.

Direct hire$1.50 premium for nights Can earn yearly bonuses around Christmas: company profitability, tenure, role: up to 3k Excellent benefitso4 different options for medical oHealth savings oFlexible spending accountsoDentaloVisiono401k: .50 on the dollar for first 6%oLifeoDisabilityoLong and short termoPay for short term Offer a lot of rebates for automotive Wellness reimbursement Tuition reimbursement Annual bonus: Safety, tenure and production Kept all production and maintenance throughout COVIDAtt bonus each Q oCan gain up to 8 extra days Family feelPay: $34-40/hr

This is a fully onsite position in Whitewater,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 24, 2026.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.