Production Operator

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!

What You'll Do:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Performs all duties to ensure department and plant meet daily and weekly production requirements and completes required paperwork. 

• References production orders in Plex to weld product per Job Element Sheet 

• Frequently loads, unloads, lifts/moves, pulls/pushes, and/or positions products and materials weighing up to 40 pounds, occasionally weighing more throughout assigned work center. Weld operations involve frequent standing, walking, bending, twisting, turning, and lifting. 

• May select proper rack or bin to pack parts and/or store parts for next process. 

• Properly packs parts in correct pin/storage container per packaging instructions to meet customer requirements. Ensures proper labeling requirements are followed.  

• Completes work center and operator inspection sheets to verify process are stable. 

• Visually inspects parts from previous operation per Challenge Manufacturing quality standards to ensure proper form, fit, and function. Ensures customer and Challenge Manufacturing quality standards are met per gauge instructions, first piece inspection approval, problem containment processes, quality alerts and other quality standards called out in the Challenge Manufacturing Quality Policy and/or Plex System specific for each work center.  

• Monitors material usage and floor stock to ensure accurate inventory. Notifies material handler when floor stock or inventory is low to prevent production interruptions.  

• Ensures and maintains safety and cleanliness of work area by performing housekeeping duties.  

• Performs and cross trains on various work centers as required.  

When and Where:

This will be a 1st Shift / AM-PM M-F position located at our Plant in Bridgeton, Mo. 

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 able to understand and follow written and verbal workplace instructions. 

• Must have prior knowledge and familiarity of basic computer navigational skills. 

• One-year manufacturing experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. 

• Reliable regarding attendance and performance 


• Adhere to safety rules of the plant – including PPE requirements 


• Must be 18 years of age