Factory Operative

Job Purpose

The Factory Operative supports the safe, accurate and efficient receipt, manufacture, storage and dispatch of DYWIDAG products at the Southam facility. The role is multi-skilled and requires the postholder to work flexibly across goods in, goods out, order picking, bar cutting, materials handling, ground-anchor manufacture, stock-control support and waste-management activities.

Operatives will be trained and assessed as competent to undertake all assigned tasks, including the safe use of industrial band saws, overhead cranes, forklift trucks where required, and any other specialist equipment required for the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive incoming goods, check deliveries against supporting documentation and report shortages, damage or discrepancies promptly.
• Unload, identify, inspect and place materials in the correct storage locations in accordance with site procedures.
• Pick, check, label, pack and stage customer and production orders accurately and within required timescales.
• Prepare outgoing goods and supporting documentation, ensuring loads are secure, correctly identified and ready for dispatch.
• Load and unload delivery vehicles safely, working with drivers and trained banksmen while following the site traffic-management arrangements.
• Operate industrial band saws to cut threadbar and other materials accurately to works orders, drawings, cutting lists and specified tolerances.
• Operate overhead cranes, lifting accessories and other approved materials-handling equipment within rated capacities and in accordance with training and safe systems of work.
• Operate forklift trucks where required for materials movement and vehicle loading or unloading, but only when appropriately trained, assessed as competent and formally authorised.
• Manufacture and assemble ground anchors, including applicable preparation, cutting, assembly, grouting, protection, finishing and identification activities, in accordance with approved drawings and work instructions.
• Carry out visual and dimensional quality checks, record results where required, and segregate or report non-conforming materials and products.
• Assist with stock-control activities, including location checks, stock counts, material movements, labelling and investigation of discrepancies.
• Handle, segregate and dispose of waste through the correct waste streams, supporting recycling and environmental-reporting requirements.
• Complete production, goods-movement, inspection and equipment-check records accurately and promptly.
• Maintain clean, tidy and orderly work areas, storage locations, access routes and equipment.
• Support colleagues in other factory and warehouse activities as workload and operational priorities require.
• Contribute ideas to improve safety, quality, productivity, housekeeping and material flow.

Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

• Follow all DYWIDAG health, safety, quality and environmental policies, risk assessments, work instructions, standard operating procedures and reasonable management instructions.
• Use the required personal protective equipment and apply appropriate manual-handling techniques.
• Complete pre-use checks before operating machinery, cranes, forklift trucks, lifting accessories or other work equipment; immediately isolate and report defective equipment where required.
• Operate specialist equipment only after receiving the relevant instruction, practical training, supervision and formal competency authorisation.
• Remain within safe working limits and approved operating parameters, including load capacities and cutting requirements.
• Stop work and report any unsafe condition, near miss, incident, environmental concern, damaged product or quality issue without delay.
• Take reasonable care of personal safety and the safety of colleagues, drivers, contractors and visitors.
• Participate in daily briefings, training, competency reviews, safety discussions and continuous-improvement activities.

Training and Competence

DYWIDAG will provide role-specific training for the activities assigned to the postholder. This may include goods handling, order picking, banksman duties, manual handling, industrial band-saw operation, overhead-crane operation, forklift-truck operation where required, lifting accessories, ground-anchor manufacture, stock systems, quality checks, waste segregation and any additional specialist equipment introduced at the facility.

Until competency has been demonstrated and formally recorded, the operative must work under suitable supervision and must not use specialist equipment independently. The postholder is expected to maintain competence, attend refresher training and inform their manager where further instruction or support is needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• A strong commitment to safe working and a willingness to follow procedures and instructions.
• Ability to undertake practical factory, warehouse and materials-handling tasks.
• Good attention to detail and the ability to check quantities, dimensions, labels and paperwork accurately.
• Basic literacy and numeracy sufficient to interpret works orders, cutting lists and product information and to complete records.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and to communicate clearly with colleagues, supervisors and drivers.
• Reliable, punctual and flexible, with a positive approach to multi-skilling and working across different operational areas.
• Willingness and ability to complete all required training and competency assessments.
• Ability to undertake the physical requirements of the role safely, with reasonable adjustments considered where appropriate.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a manufacturing, steel-processing, warehouse or engineering environment.
• Experience of goods-in, goods-out, order picking, stock control or dispatch activities.
• Previous use of industrial band saws, overhead cranes, forklift trucks, lifting accessories or other materials-handling equipment.
• Experience working to drawings, cutting lists, work instructions or quality standards.
• Relevant current training or competency certification, including a recognised forklift-truck operator qualification where forklift operation is required; however, full role-specific training and authorisation will be provided as applicable.

Key Behaviours

• Safety first: challenges unsafe conditions and never bypasses controls.
• Quality focused: completes work accurately and takes ownership of standards.
• Team oriented: supports colleagues and communicates openly.
• Dependable: follows through on commitments and completes records correctly.
• Adaptable: learns new tasks and responds positively to changing priorities.
• Improvement minded: looks for practical ways to reduce waste and improve performance.

Working Environment

The role is based in an active factory and warehouse environment and may involve standing, walking, manual handling, working around moving vehicles and suspended loads, exposure to noise, and the use of machinery and production materials. Required PPE must be worn, and all control measures must be followed.

This job description summarises the principal duties of the role. It is not exhaustive, and reasonable related duties may be assigned to meet operational requirements, subject to appropriate training, competency and safe systems of work.