Team Leader (Masking)

• Perform masking and demasking operations on customer parts.
• Interpret drawings, specifications, routers, sketches, photographs, and work instructions to determine masking requirements.
• Apply approved masking materials such as tapes, plugs, caps, lacquers, waxes, fixtures, and other masking systems.
• Ensure masking boundaries, dimensions, and protected areas meet customer requirements.
• Prepare surfaces appropriately before masking.
• Protect critical surfaces, threads, bores, sealing areas, and other features as required.
• Remove masking after processing without damaging plated surfaces or customer parts.
• Support complex, high-value, or unusual masking jobs as required.

• Provide day-to-day direction and support to masking technicians.
• Help assign work based on production priorities and employee capability.
• Ensure employees understand job requirements before beginning work.
• Monitor progress and help keep masking work moving on schedule.
• Assist employees with difficult masking setups or interpretation of requirements.
• Reinforce expectations relating to productivity, workmanship, safety, and documentation.
• Identify performance or training concerns and communicate them to the Floor Supervisor or Production Manager.
• Lead by example in attendance, productivity, workmanship, organization, and conduct.

The Team Leader provides operational guidance but does not replace the formal supervisory authority of the Floor Supervisor or Production Manager.

• Inspect masking before parts proceed to plating or other processing.
• Verify masking location, dimensions, coverage, adhesion, and workmanship.
• Confirm critical features and no-plate areas are properly protected.
• Perform visual and dimensional checks where required and trained.
• Compare completed masking against drawings, routers, customer requirements, and approved work instructions.
• Identify and correct masking defects before processing.
• Inspect demasked parts for damage or incomplete masking removal.
• Escalate questionable requirements or suspected nonconforming product to QC/QA.
• Record inspection results where required.
• Support QC with inspection activities when needed.

• Review customer drawings and specifications related to masking requirements.
• Ensure masking technicians understand dimensional callouts, no-plate areas, and special requirements.
• Identify unclear or conflicting masking instructions and escalate them before processing.
• Help develop repeatable masking methods for recurring jobs.
• Support development of photographs, templates, fixtures, and visual aids for complex masking operations.

• Ensure masking operations are properly recorded in the ERP system as work is completed.
• Complete required routing steps, quantities, production status, and other job information accurately.
• Ensure assigned technicians complete required electronic and paper documentation.
• Verify masking records are complete before jobs advance to the next operation.
• Ensure the ERP status reflects the actual physical status of work.
• Maintain traceability of parts, routers, travellers, drawings, and related documentation.
• Identify and correct missing or incomplete production records.
• Escalate recurring ERP or documentation issues to the Floor Supervisor.

• Maintain awareness of masking priorities, customer due dates, and production requirements.
• Coordinate masking activities to prevent plating jobs from waiting unnecessarily.
• Identify jobs that require significant masking time and communicate capacity concerns early.
• Support urgent or high-value customer work as directed.
• Ensure completed masked parts are moved promptly to the next operation.
• Coordinate with plating Team Leaders and the Floor Supervisor regarding job readiness.

• Train new and developing employees in approved masking techniques.
• Demonstrate proper application of tapes, plugs, lacquers, fixtures, and other masking materials.
• Train technicians to interpret drawings and masking instructions.
• Teach proper demasking techniques to avoid damaging finished parts.
• Provide feedback and practical coaching when errors are observed.
• Communicate employee training needs to the Floor Supervisor.
• Support cross-training so masking capability is not dependent on individual employees.

• Identify opportunities to improve masking efficiency, consistency, and repeatability.
• Help develop templates, fixtures, plugs, 3D-printed aids, or other tooling for recurring jobs.
• Work with Engineering to develop improved masking tooling when required.
• Recommend masking materials or methods that reduce labour while maintaining quality.
• Help standardize masking methods for repeat customer work.
• Reduce unnecessary material usage, excessive masking time, and repeat work.
• Document successful masking methods so they can be reproduced by other technicians.

• Ensure masking materials are stored properly and remain suitable for use.
• Monitor supplies of tapes, plugs, lacquers, blades, solvents, and other masking materials.
• Notify the appropriate person when supplies require replenishment.
• Maintain an organized masking area.
• Ensure tools, templates, drawings, fixtures, and masking materials are returned to proper locations.
• Help prevent contamination or mixing of incompatible masking materials.

• Follow and reinforce PPE and safety requirements.
• Ensure masking materials, solvents, knives, heat sources, and chemicals are handled safely.
• Maintain appropriate ventilation when required.
• Report spills, unsafe conditions, or equipment problems promptly.
• Ensure cutting tools and other equipment are used appropriately.
• Maintain clean and safe workstations.

• Communicate clearly with technicians, the Floor Supervisor, QC, Plating Team Leaders, and Production Management.
• Take ownership of assigned masking work through completion.
• Identify problems early rather than allowing them to affect plating or delivery.
• Follow through on assigned tasks without repeated reminders.
• Demonstrate good judgment regarding when an issue can be resolved independently and when it must be escalated.
• Maintain a sense of urgency when production or customer delivery is at risk.
• Lead by example in quality, productivity, documentation, and professional conduct.