Manufacturing Jobs in South Carolina

Job Description: Textile Manufacturing Line Lead

Department: Production / Manufacturing
Reports To: Supervisor/ Production Manager
Pay: Hourly $17-$20

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Line Lead is responsible for coordinating daily production activities, supporting production associates, maintaining quality and safety standards, and ensuring production goals are achieved. This position provides hands-on leadership on the production floor while promoting 5S workplace organization, Lean Manufacturing principles, waste reduction, and continuous improvement.

The Line Lead ensures that employees follow standard operating procedures, production schedules, work instructions, and company policies while maintaining an organized, clean, and efficient work environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Production Leadership and Operations

• Coordinate daily production activities to meet production schedules, output targets, and customer requirements.
• Assign and balance work according to production needs, employee qualifications, and equipment availability.
• Monitor production rates, downtime, scrap, rework, and overall line performance.
• Verify that materials, tools, supplies, and equipment are available before and during production.
• Communicate production priorities, staffing needs, equipment issues, and performance concerns to the supervisor.
• Train and assist associates in proper work methods, standard operating procedures, and production expectations.
• Monitor employee attendance, work practices, and adherence to established procedures.
• Support shift handoffs and communicate unresolved issues to incoming personnel.

2. 5S Workplace Organization

• Lead and maintain implementation of the 5S methodology: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
• Ensure workstations, production equipment, material storage areas, and walkways remain clean, organized, and accessible.
• Remove unnecessary materials, tools, and supplies from designated work areas.
• Ensure tools, raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods have designated storage locations and labels.
• Conduct routine 5S inspections and support scheduled workplace audits.
• Maintain visual management systems, including floor markings, shadow boards, labels, and production status boards.
• Identify and correct housekeeping concerns and escalate issues requiring additional resources.
• Reinforce employee accountability for maintaining 5S standards throughout each shift.

3. Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement

• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to improve workflow, productivity, quality, and equipment utilization.
• Identify and reduce the eight common wastes: defects, overproduction, waiting, unused talent, transportation, inventory, motion, and excess processing.
• Support continuous improvement projects and problem-solving initiatives.
• Help establish and maintain standardized work procedures and visual work instructions.
• Identify bottlenecks, unnecessary movement, material handling issues, and opportunities to improve line balance.
• Support changeover reduction, setup improvements, and reduction of machine downtime.
• Encourage employee suggestions and recognize opportunities for process improvement.
• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented improvements and communicate results to management.
• Perform daily Gemba walks
• Fill out SQDIP board and hours by hours board

4. Quality Assurance

• Ensure products meet established specifications, workmanship standards, and customer requirements.
• Verify that associates follow inspection procedures and quality control checkpoints.
• Monitor textile-specific quality concerns, including defects, inconsistent dimensions, color variation, stitching or weaving defects, material damage, and improper finishing, as applicable to the production process.
• Identify, segregate, and report nonconforming materials and finished products.
• Assist with investigations into defects, scrap, rework, and customer complaints.
• Support corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurring quality issues.
• Maintain accurate production and quality documentation.

5. Safety and Environmental Compliance

• Enforce company safety policies, safe work practices, and required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Identify and report hazards involving machinery, moving equipment, electrical systems, chemicals, noise, ergonomics, and material handling.
• Verify that machine guards and required safety devices remain in place and are not bypassed.
• Ensure employees follow applicable lockout/tagout requirements and other machine-specific safety procedures.
• Report injuries, near misses, unsafe conditions, and incidents promptly.
• Support safety inspections, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Maintain clear emergency exits, aisles, and access to safety equipment.
• Promote proper handling and disposal of textile waste, packaging, chemicals, and other production materials in accordance with company procedures.

6. Employee Training and Communication

• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to production associates.
• Reinforce standard work, quality expectations, safety procedures, and 5S requirements.
• Communicate daily goals, performance expectations, and process changes.
• Support cross-training and employee skill development.
• Address routine operational concerns and escalate performance or employee relations issues to the supervisor.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, respectful communication, and a culture of continuous improvement.

7. Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate production counts, downtime records, scrap reports, quality checks, and shift reports.
• Track production performance against established goals.
• Document 5S audit results, corrective actions, and improvement activities.
• Report equipment malfunctions, material shortages, staffing concerns, and recurring process issues.
• Ensure required production records and checklists are completed accurately and on time.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be evaluated using established plant goals and the following measures:

• Production attainment: Actual output compared with planned production.
• Quality performance: Scrap, rework, and defect rates.
• Equipment performance: Downtime, changeover time, and equipment utilization.
• 5S compliance: Audit scores and completion of corrective actions.
• Safety performance: Hazard reporting, corrective action closure, and compliance with safe work procedures.
• Lean improvements: Number and effectiveness of implemented improvement ideas.
• Standard work compliance: Completion of required procedures, inspections, and production documentation.
• Material efficiency: Reduction of avoidable material waste and losses.

Qualifications and Requirements

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous manufacturing or production experience required; textile manufacturing experience preferred.
• Prior team lead, line lead, or demonstrated leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of production processes, quality standards, and manufacturing safety practices.
• Understanding of 5S, Lean Manufacturing, waste reduction, and continuous improvement principles.
• Ability to read and follow work instructions, production schedules, and quality specifications.
• Basic computer skills and ability to complete production reports and checklists using Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and QuickBooks.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to identify process inefficiencies and recommend practical improvements.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and meet the physical requirements of the position, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Leadership Expectations

The Line Lead is expected to lead by example, maintain a visible presence on the production floor, promote employee engagement, reinforce accountability, and ensure that safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency remain priorities.

The Line Lead supports the Production Supervisor by coordinating daily activities and resolving routine operational issues but does not independently assume supervisory authority beyond the responsibilities assigned by management.

Benefits

-401K matched up to 6%

-Dental, Medical and Vision

-STD and LTD

-FMLA

-7 paid holidays and 4 floating holidays

-SICK pay and VAC pay

Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 6% Match
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off

Experience:

• Lean manufacturing: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person