Manufacturing Supervisor

Manufacturing Supervisor

Ohio Art is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Supervisor to lead a high-performance can manufacturing operation within a unionized environment. This role will oversee approximately 40–50 hourly employees and will play a key role in balancing operational excellence with a strong, people-first culture.

The ideal candidate is a floor-focused leader who can effectively manage production, support employees, and work collaboratively within the framework of a collective bargaining agreement. This position will also have the opportunity to expand into oversight of the lithography department as operations grow.

Leadership & Employee Relations

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 40–50 hourly employees in a union environment
• Foster a people-first, respectful workplace culture while maintaining accountability
• Administer and apply the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) consistently and fairly
• Partner with HR and union representatives to address employee concerns, grievances, and workplace issues
• Conduct performance discussions, coaching, and corrective action in alignment with company policy and the CBA
• Promote employee engagement, retention, and development

Union Partnership

• Maintain a professional and collaborative working relationship with union leadership and stewards
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of contract language
• Participate in grievance investigations and support resolution processes
• Support a positive labor-management relations focused on communication and mutual respect

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, company policies, and contractual safety provisions
• Lead safety audits, and incident investigations
• Hold team members accountable to safe work practices and procedures

Production & Operations

• Oversee daily operations to meet production, quality, and efficiency goals
• Manage workforce planning, scheduling, and job assignments in accordance with seniority and contract requirements
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including throughput, scrap, downtime, and labor efficiency
• Coordinate with maintenance, quality, and planning to ensure smooth operations

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure adherence to all product quality standards and customer requirements
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for production or quality issues
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including waste reduction and process optimization
• Engage employees in problem-solving and improvement efforts

Floor Leadership & Problem Solving

• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor (50–70% of time)
• Address operational issues in real time, including staffing, equipment, and process challenges
• Provide clear direction and support to employees to meet daily goals

Future Scope (Growth Opportunity)

• Potential to expand leadership responsibilities into lithography operations, including coordination of production flow, print quality, and cross-functional alignment

Education & Experience

• 3–5+ years of supervisory experience in manufacturing or industrial operations
• Experience working in a unionized environment
• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and grievance processes
• Strong leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to balance employee advocacy with operational accountability

Preferred

• Experience in metal packaging, can manufacturing, or lithography/printing
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience (Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.)
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Operations, or related field

Work Environment & Expectations

• Fast-paced, industrial manufacturing setting
• Significant time spent on the production floor
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including off-shifts, weekends, or extended hours as needed
• Hands-on leadership approach required

What Sets This Role Apart

• Opportunity to help build and shape a growing can manufacturing operation
• Leadership role within a union environment that values collaboration and respect
• Clear path for expanded responsibility, including lithography oversight
• Strong emphasis on people-first leadership and culture development, not just production output