Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprentice

SNOP UK LIMITED

Sunderland (SR5 3FH)

Closes in 29 days (Monday 2 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 22 January 2026

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Summary

An apprenticeship is more than a job, you’ll earn a salary from day one, gain hands on experience with industry professionals, and achieve recognised qualifications. With our manufacturing apprenticeship, you’re building skills, confidence, and a future with clear progression and long term opportunities.

Wage

£16,224 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Month 1 – 3 £8 per hour

Month 4 – 6 £9.18 per hour

Month 7 – 9 £11.53 per hour

Month 10 – 12 £11.53 per hour

Completion £12.71 per hour

Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Hours
2 shift rotation Early shift 7am– 3.10pm (7am- 3pm Friday) Late shift – 3.10pm – 11.20pm (3pm - 11am Friday)

39 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 May 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

10

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

  • Joining team meetings
  • Operating automated robot welding cells
  • Quality inspection
  • Completing basic maintenance activities
  • Working to achieve quality and performance targets
  • Completion of paperwork
  • Working with HMI screens

Where you'll work

2 International Drive
Sunderland
SR5 3FH

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE

Training course

Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
  • Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
  • Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
  • Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
  • Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
  • Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
  • Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
  • Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
  • Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
  • Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
  • Correctly position, align and secure the components
  • Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
  • Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
  • Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
  • Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
  • Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
  • Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
  • Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
  • Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
  • Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
  • Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
  • Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
  • Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
  • Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
  • Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
  • Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
  • Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
  • Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
  • Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

More training information

  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Health and Safety
  • Kaizen
  • Problem Solving
  • Flow Process Analysis
  • Visual Management
  • Skill Control
  • Standard Operations
  • Take Time and optimisation
  • 5S and Workplace organisation

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3-9)
  • Maths (grade 3-9)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Repetitive workload
Standing for long periods
Overtime requirement at short notice / weekends

About this employer

Established in 1981 the company has experienced exponential growth. Today we have 38 sites in 13 countries across the world. Following a large investment SNOP UK’s purpose built facility was established in 2019. SNOP UK are a automotive manufacturing company supplying car parts directly to NMUK. We manufacture Body in White parts which make up the skeleton/frame of the car.

Company benefits

Permanent contract benefits

- Private medical insurance

- Optical cover

- Dental cover

- Life assurance

- Buy and Sell Holidays

- Cycle to work scheme

After this apprenticeship

  • Opportunity to secure a permanent contract following successful completion of the apprenticeship and ability to meet standards

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010217.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Monday 2 March 2026 at 11:59pm)