Shipping Lead

Description: JOB DESCRIPTION AP Precision Metals, Inc. is a commercial sheet and plate metal fabricator serving OEM customers throughout Southern California and beyond. Founded in 1999, our entire operation is located at our 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in South San Diego, approximately 10 minutes north of the Tijuana/San Diego border and a short walk from the Iris Trolley station. Our facility includes laser cutting, CNC forming, welding, powder coating, machining, hardware insertion, assembly, quality, and shipping operations serving commercial, transportation, architectural, and defense-related customers. AP Precision Metals is seeking an experienced and organized Shipping Lead to coordinate daily shipping, receiving, packaging, delivery, and material-handling activities. This is a hands-on lead position. The Shipping Lead works directly with the shipping team while helping establish daily priorities, organize workflow, verify shipment accuracy, and coordinate with production and quality to ensure completed jobs leave the facility correctly and on time. Job Title: Shipping Lead Department: Shipping & Logistics Reports To: Production Supervisor / Production Manager Job Type: Full-time, hourly, nonexempt Location: Otay Mesa / South San Diego, CA Shipping & Receiving • Coordinate daily shipping and receiving activities based on production schedules and customer requirements. • Review jobs scheduled for shipment and verify parts, quantities, packaging, and documentation are complete. • Package, label, palletize, wrap, and prepare finished products for shipment. • Verify outgoing shipments against packing slips, work orders, purchase orders, and shipping documentation. • Receive incoming materials and vendor deliveries and ensure materials are properly identified and routed. • Stage completed jobs for customer pickup, company delivery, or common-carrier shipment. • Maintain accurate shipping, receiving, and inventory records in accordance with company and ISO 9001 requirements. • Ensure finished products are packaged and handled to prevent damage during storage and transportation. Team Leadership • Help organize and prioritize the daily work of shipping, packaging, delivery, and material-handling employees. • Assign daily tasks based on shipment deadlines and production priorities as directed by management. • Provide employees with clear instructions and follow up to ensure work is completed accurately and on time. • Train and assist employees in packaging, material handling, forklift operation, shipping procedures, and safety practices. • Support cross-training within the shipping department. • Identify workflow, staffing, quality, or productivity concerns and communicate them to management. • Work directly alongside the shipping team throughout the workday. Production Coordination • Communicate with Production, Quality, Powder Coat, Assembly, and other departments regarding jobs approaching completion and shipment. • Identify missing parts, incomplete operations, documentation issues, or other conditions that could delay shipment. • Communicate shipment priorities to the appropriate production personnel. • Coordinate movement of finished and work-in-process materials throughout the facility. • Maintain organized staging areas so jobs can be readily identified and moved efficiently. • Assist with improvements to material flow, packaging methods, and shipping processes. Delivery & Logistics • Help coordinate daily local delivery and pickup schedules. • Prepare correct products, paperwork, delivery information, and priorities for company drivers. • Assist with planning efficient delivery routes based on customer requirements and production completion. • Coordinate pickups and deliveries with outside freight carriers as directed. • Verify products are properly secured and protected before leaving the facility. • Assist with loading and unloading company trucks, customer vehicles, and freight carriers. • Report delivery vehicle maintenance, cleanliness, or safety concerns to management. Inventory & Material Handling • Maintain organized finished-goods, shipping, packaging, and staging areas. • Coordinate movement of pallets, racks, raw materials, work-in-process, and finished products. • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material-handling equipment as required. • Assist with inventory counts and investigation of quantity discrepancies. • Monitor shipping supplies including pallets, boxes, wrapping materials, labels, and related packaging materials and notify management when additional supplies are needed. Quality & Safety • Perform visual checks of products and packaging before shipment. • Verify quantities, part identification, and shipping documentation for accuracy. • Stop and report shipments when products appear damaged, incomplete, incorrectly identified, or inconsistent with customer requirements. • Follow and help reinforce company safety procedures and required PPE. • Maintain shipping and staging areas in accordance with housekeeping and 5S standards. • Support ISO 9001 procedures and documentation requirements applicable to shipping and material handling. • Report equipment, forklift, vehicle, safety, or facility concerns to management. Work Environment & Schedule • Full-time, in-person position at our South San Diego manufacturing facility. • Hands-on lead role with the majority of the workday spent in the shipping and production areas. • Daily interaction with Production, Quality, Assembly, Powder Coat, Administration, drivers, vendors, and freight carriers. • 1st Shift: Monday–Friday, 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM. • Overtime may be required based on production and shipping requirements. • Some schedule flexibility may be required when customer shipments, pickups, or deliveries extend beyond normal shipping hours. Benefits • Health, dental, and vision insurance. • IRA retirement plan. • Paid time off and company holidays. • Stable, year-round employment. • On-the-job training and opportunities for advancement within manufacturing and operations. Requirements: JOB REQUIREMENTS Experience & Skills • Previous shipping, receiving, warehouse, logistics, or manufacturing experience required. • Previous lead or team-coordination experience preferred. • Manufacturing or sheet metal fabrication experience preferred. • Ability to coordinate multiple shipments and changing production priorities in a fast-paced environment. • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. • Ability to accurately count, identify, package, and document manufactured products. • Experience operating forklifts, pallet jacks, and material-handling equipment. • Ability to read work orders, packing slips, purchase orders, labels, and production documentation. • Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn company ERP/MRP and shipping systems. • Ability to communicate effectively with production employees, management, customers, vendors, drivers, and freight carriers. • Valid driver's license preferred for employees who may occasionally support company deliveries. • ISO 9001 or other quality-system experience is a plus but not required. Personal Qualifications • Reliable, punctual, and organized. • Able to establish daily priorities and keep work moving toward shipment deadlines. • Comfortable providing direction and assistance to other employees. • Able to identify problems early and communicate them to the appropriate supervisor or manager. • Willing to remain directly involved in packaging, loading, material handling, and other shipping activities. • Strong attention to shipment accuracy, product protection, and customer requirements. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Ability to maintain productivity in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Physical Requirements • Ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. • Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move materials weighing up to 25 pounds, and occasionally handle items up to 50 pounds with assistance or appropriate lifting equipment. • Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout manufacturing and shipping areas for extended periods. • Ability to safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, and other material-handling equipment when trained and authorized. • Ability to perform repetitive packaging, labeling, material-handling, loading, and shipment-verification activities. • Ability to safely wear required PPE including safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, and appropriate protective footwear. • Ability to safely work around forklifts, delivery vehicles, industrial machinery, sheet metal, pallets, racks, and moving production materials. • Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with industrial noise, varying temperatures, dust, and active material movement.