Forklift Operator/Material Handler

Who We Are: Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

Provides customers (internal and external) with proper product delivered on-time and to the proper location. Ensure that inventory levels are accurate and maintained. Responsible for the safe operation of liquefied gas or electric powered industrial truck equipped with lifting devices (i.e. forklift)

What You'll Do:

• Observes and complies with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and statutory requirements associated with this job description.
• Participates in needs analysis and attends and performs the requirements of scheduled training and educational programs identified for this position.
• Participates, as requested, in independent objective auditing activities and supports company continuous improvement activities.
• Stops work on processes as appropriate and contains suspect or defective material or services to avoid further processing.
• Moves levers and presses pedals to drive truck and control movement of lifting apparatus.
• Positions forks, lifting platform, or other lifting device under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, boxes, products, or materials or hooks tow trucks to trailer hitch, and transports load to designated area.
• Unloads and stacks material by raising and lowering lifting device.
• Move material from location to location within the plant at prescribed frequencies and in the most efficient manner.
• Inventories materials on work floor, and supply workers with materials as needed.
• Weighs materials or products and records weight on tags, labels, or production schedules.
• Loads or unloads materials onto or off of pallets, skids, or lifting device.
• Recharges batteries or replaces liquefied gas tank.

When and Where:

This is a 1st Shift / 6:00 AM- 2:00 PM Monday - Friday position located at our Plant in Walker, MI. 

Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests. 

What You Need to Have:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level sufficient to safely and effectively perform job duties, including following work instructions, safety procedures, and company communications.
• Able to stand for 8-10 hours a day and be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• High School diploma or GED
• One month related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous material handling work experience preferred
• Previous Hilo driving experience preferred
• Has high standards of performance for self.
• Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
• Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
• Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress.
• Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
• Moves within own and/or other work areas (flexes) to support plant flow.
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
• Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities.
• Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
• Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity.
• Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge.
• Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely.
• Must be able to understand and follow written and verbal workplace instructions
• Must be able to work up to 12 hours per day including Saturday and Sunday
• Ability to use basic computer skills
• Ability to drive safely
• Strong organizational skills