WHAT DOES A GROUP LEADER DO?

Published: July 29, 2025 - The Group Leader supervises the evening shift team, ensuring quality, productivity, and compliance with company policies. This role manages inventory accuracy, supports production through timely material stocking, and maintains clear communication and documentation standards. The leader also analyzes team performance, identifies training needs, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Group Leader

1. Group Leader Duties

  • Production Oversight: Monitors, guides, and works with the team to meet production targets.
  • Goal Tracking: Ensures that work is completed and tracked according to plant production goals.
  • Training: Instructs and trains new team members.
  • Inventory Management: Monitors parts and materials within the department and expedites the supply to ensure necessary replenishment.
  • Leadership: Provides leadership in applying lean manufacturing and safety best practices.
  • IT Solutions: Applies IT solutions for tracking, monitoring, and documenting.
  • HR Liaison: Interfaces with Human Resources on all policy and disciplinary issues.
  • Conflict Resolution: Addresses colleagues’ concerns and uses people skills to resolve issues.
  • Communication: Communicates with all team members regarding priorities of special assignments or any ongoing issues.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Monitors and maintains all safety equipment, as well as Webasto-owned equipment and tools (including tools, sandpaper, and other accessories).

2. Warehouse Group Leader Details

  • Backup Leadership: Act as a backup to the Warehouse Supervisor.
  • Task Delegation: Delegate general warehouse orders for picking, packing, and shipping.
  • Inventory Handling: Pick/pull materials from inventory.
  • Packaging: Package goods for shipping using various tools and materials, and process shipments using UPS WorldShip.
  • Forklift Operation: Operate a sit-down forklift to perform pick/pull functions, package goods, and load/unload trucks.
  • Load Support: Assist with loading using banding, blocking, bracing, and balancing techniques.
  • Shipment Planning: Use various transportation systems (customer-specific for Composites) for shipment planning.
  • Logistics Coordination: Perform load planning, obtain freight quotes, prepare bills of lading, and trace and track shipments.
  • Carrier Communication: Communicate with freight carriers.
  • Compliance: Follow strict compliance with retail customer shipping requirements using websites or portals.

3. Warehouse Group Leader Responsibilities

  • Shipment Verification: Validate identifying information, quality, counts, weights, or measurements of items being shipped or received against bills of lading, invoices, orders, packing slips, or quality inspections.
  • ERP Entry: Perform data entry of received goods into the ERP system.
  • Inventory Control: Conduct cycle counts, enter data, research variances, and adjust stock levels accordingly.
  • Customer Feedback Review: Review the Daily Voice of Customer (VOC) report and arrange returns of goods for carrier claims.
  • Claims Processing: File claims and accurately record related information.
  • MRP Requests: Review and enter MRP inventory transfer requests.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with SOX through organized and accurate record-keeping.
  • OTD Coordination: Adhere to On-Time Delivery (OTD) requirements with consistent communication to all involved parties.
  • Facility Maintenance: Assist in overall housekeeping, 5S activities, and maintaining facility organization.
  • KPI Monitoring: Update KPI boards and strictly follow all safety rules.

4. R&D Group Leader Job Summary

  • Team Leadership: Leads the Warrensville Testing and Certification Group.
  • Project Oversight: Manages timely testing and certification projects in support of business goals and objectives.
  • Scheduling: Organizes, plans, and schedules assignments based on customer priorities.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with department policies, procedures, and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
  • Project Management: Demonstrates independent project management skills and troubleshooting ability.
  • Time Management: Manages timelines independently and maintains effective communication.
  • Cross-Functional Coordination: Manages group operations to meet diverse needs from multiple business units.
  • Method Development: Analyzes, tests, and develops new or revised test methodologies requiring a professional understanding of testing needs related to the Automotive and/or Protective and Marine Divisions.
  • Specification Review: Reviews required specifications or tests and communicates any discrepancies to the requestor.
  • Conflict Resolution: Identifies and overcomes scheduling conflicts and roadblocks to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Data Reporting: Provides feedback, test results, and supporting data for submitted test projects.
  • Documentation: Communicates results and files or retains reports and testing panels appropriately.

5. Inventory Control Group Leader Accountabilities

  • Team Leadership: Lead the evening shift team of materials handlers.
  • Supervision: Supervise the evening shift team and ensure quality, productivity, and policy compliance.
  • Communication: Participate in meetings and communicate effectively with the team.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor team performance and provide constructive feedback.
  • Training Identification: Highlight training needs for the team.
  • Workplace Standards: Ensure the workspace meets company standards and enables the team to perform assigned tasks.
  • Management Reporting: Provide feedback and reports to senior managers.
  • Documentation Accuracy: Ensure accurate recordkeeping of documents related to shipping, receiving, and materials.
  • Inventory Verification: Verify aging of materials in receiving and shipping locations and ensure inventory accuracy.
  • Production Support: Ensure the production line receives the correct parts for manufacturing.
  • Material Stocking: Ensure all materials are stocked promptly and accurately.
  • Process Improvement: Support continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
  • Performance Analysis: Analyze team performance and eliminate errors that impact efficiency.