Production Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Production Associate

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: On-Site, Clarksville, TN

Job Summary

The Production Associate is responsible for coordinating daily production activities, inventory control, material flow, scrap tracking, and operational reporting within the manufacturing environment. This position serves as a key communication link between production, warehouse, quality, and management teams to ensure production goals, safety standards, inventory accuracy, and operational efficiency are maintained.

The ideal candidate must be highly organized, detail-oriented, capable of multitasking in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and proficient in data tracking, reporting, and production coordination systems. Success in this role requires strong leadership, communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to support continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Production Associate

1. Coordinate daily workload priorities with supervisors and production personnel to support production schedules and operational targets.

2. Monitor production flow, pending materials, DUF inventory, scrap activity, and line support requirements.

3. Communicate production issues including quality concerns, material shortages, downtime impacts, and scheduling conflicts to management and support teams.

4. Support operational efficiency by assisting with production tracking, inventory movement, and process coordination.

5. Build and maintain professional working relationships across Production, Warehouse, QC, Maintenance, and Management teams.

6. Assist with training and onboarding of employees regarding plant procedures, reporting requirements, safety expectations, and operational processes.

7. Operate forklifts and material handling equipment safely to support production and warehouse operations.

8. Support department operations by learning key processes and equipment functions to assist during absences or manpower shortages.

9. Maintain organization and control of pending inventory areas, scrap staging areas, and material flow processes.

Scrap, Inventory & Material Control

1. Maintain accurate daily tracking of scrap batteries, DUF (Dry Unformed Batteries), pending inventory, and material movement.

2. Generate and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly operational reports using Excel, Google Sheets, SAP, MES, and internal tracking systems.

3. Perform inventory reconciliation and investigate inventory discrepancies between physical counts and system records.

4. Conduct daily cycle counts and assist with monthly physical inventory activities.

5. Monitor and track incoming and outgoing materials to ensure inventory accuracy and proper documentation.

6. Maintain organized warehouse and inventory areas in accordance with safety and 5S standards.

7. Support scrap reduction initiatives by identifying trends, tracking recurring issues, and communicating findings to management.

8. Coordinate scrap shipments, documentation, and inventory records while maintaining compliance with company procedures.

9. Maintain tracking logs and records for pending inventory, reinspection materials, and warehouse transactions.

10. Utilize spreadsheets, charts, and reporting tools to compare operational performance and inventory trends month-over-month.

Reporting & Administrative Responsibilities

1. Create and maintain production, scrap, inventory, and KPI reports for management review.

2. Maintain accurate operational records, documentation, and inventory logs.

3. Support compliance with company policies, safety procedures, and internal control standards.

4. Assist management with data collection, report preparation, audits, and operational analysis.

5. Communicate effectively with supervisors, operators, warehouse personnel, and administrative staff regarding operational status and production support needs.

6. Monitor and follow up on operational action items, pending tasks, and production-related concerns.

7. Assist with implementation and maintenance of continuous improvement initiatives and process tracking systems.

Safety & Continuous Improvement

1. Follow and enforce all company safety policies and OSHA requirements.

2. Maintain clean and organized work areas in accordance with 5S standards.

3. Investigate and report operational issues, safety concerns, spills, and process abnormalities.

4. Participate in continuous improvement activities focused on reducing scrap, improving inventory accuracy, and increasing operational efficiency.

5. Support process improvement initiatives by utilizing production data, trend analysis, and reporting tools.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; some college preferred.

• Minimum 2 years of manufacturing experience required.

• Minimum 2 years of experience using Excel and reporting systems to create operational reports and track production metrics.

• Experience with SAP, MES, inventory systems, or manufacturing databases preferred.

• Experience with inventory control, cycle counting, production coordination, or warehouse operations preferred.

• Bilingual Korean-English preferred but not required.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Strong Excel and spreadsheet management skills.

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

• Ability to analyze operational data and identify trends.

• Strong communication and leadership skills.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Experience working in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

• Understanding of inventory control, production flow, and scrap management processes.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing production demands.

Hankook & Company is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, Hankook & Company is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. All job functions are subject to modification.