TEX Plastics Revamps Shift Management to Boost Customer Value
1 December 2025
TEX Plastics has strategically restructured its shift management at its Derby facility, moving away from the traditional shift manager role to a more specialised model featuring a Shift Supervisor and a Shift Technician for each production shift.
This change, implemented in conjunction with their new management Hub and the rigorous 4M System Change Management process, is designed to enhance efficiency, quality and responsiveness—delivering significant benefits directly to their customers.
A New Focus: People and Process Specialisation
The previous model relied on a single shift manager to oversee all aspects of a production shift, including personnel, machinery, and production schedules. The new structure introduces dedicated roles that allow for greater specialisation and focus:
- Shift Supervisors are now primarily responsible for the people element. Their focus is on personnel management, training, safety, and ensuring that all team members are working effectively and efficiently. This specialisation ensures the team is well-motivated and has the skills necessary to produce high-quality products.
- Shift Technicians are dedicated to the machine element. They are experts in the setup, maintenance and optimisation of the injection moulding machines. Their role is to ensure that all equipment is running at peak performance, minimising downtime and quickly resolving any technical issues that arise.
This clear division of responsibility means that each critical aspect of a shift receives dedicated, expert attention, which was not always possible under the previous, more generalised management structure.
How this Change Benefits TEX Plastics Customers
This new structure, when combined with the 4M System, provides tangible benefits for TEX Plastics’ customers:
- Improved Product Quality and Consistency: The dedicated focus of the Shift Technicians on machine performance and maintenance directly impacts product quality. By ensuring machines are precisely calibrated and running optimally, they reduce the risk of defects and variations, leading to more consistent, high-quality products.
- Reduced Lead Times: By having a technician focused solely on machine efficiency and uptime, equipment-related issues are resolved faster. This reduces unexpected production delays and helps TEX Plastics meet customer delivery schedules more reliably.
- Enhanced Problem-Solving and Responsiveness: The Shift Supervisor is better able to identify and address any personnel or process issues that might affect a customer’s order. This specialised attention ensures that the human element of production is strength not a potential weakness.
- Stronger Alignment with the 4M System: The new structure perfectly complements the 4M System of Change Management. When a change is proposed—whether it's a new method, material or machine—the specialised roles ensure a smoother and more rigorous implementation. The Shift Technicians can expertly handle the machine-related aspects of a change, while the Shift Supervisors ensure the team is properly trained and ready for the new process. This synergy leads to a more robust and effective change process, ultimately protecting and improving the quality of the products delivered to customers.
In essence, by creating a team of specialists, TEX Plastics has built a more resilient and responsive production system that proactively addresses potential issues. This new model ensures that every aspect of a customer's order, from the people building it to the machines creating it, is managed with dedicated expertise.