Production Supervisor - 2nd shift

Job Description

Job Description

Role Overview

The Production Supervisor is responsible for leading daily operations within a high-volume battery module assembly environment. This hands-on leadership role is accountable for achieving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee performance goals while ensuring efficient and reliable manufacturing processes. The Production Supervisor will spend a significant amount of time on the production floor, supporting operators, troubleshooting equipment issues, reducing downtime, enforcing standardized work practices, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a strong people leader with a proven ability to develop teams, solve problems, and deliver results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (To perform within this position successfully, the incumbent must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.)

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Promote and maintain a culture centered on safety excellence and zero workplace injuries.
• Conduct daily safety meetings, safety observations, and Gemba walks.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, chemical handling, and PPE requirements.
• Lead incident investigations and root cause analyses, implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor work areas to identify and eliminate safety risks.

Production Leadership

• Lead and supervise production operators and technicians to achieve daily production requirements.
• Assign work, monitor performance, and ensure adequate staffing levels across production operations.
• Ensure achievement of productivity, schedule adherence, and operational performance targets.
• Conduct daily Tier meetings and maintain visual management systems.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, and Engineering teams to resolve operational constraints.
• Verify production readiness, including material availability, tooling, equipment status, and quality requirements prior to shift startup.

Employee Development & Team Management

• Coach, mentor, and develop employees to improve performance and engagement.
• Conduct employee training, cross-training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions as required.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability standards.
• Foster a positive work environment focused on teamwork, communication, and continuous learning.
• Recognize and reward employee achievements while addressing performance concerns promptly.

Equipment & Downtime Management

• Serve as the first point of contact for production equipment alarms and operational disruptions.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure timely equipment recovery and minimize production downtime.
• Monitor and analyze downtime trends, implementing actions to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Support preventive maintenance activities and autonomous maintenance programs.
• Assist with equipment qualifications, process trials, and production changeovers.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with control plans, standardized work instructions, testing procedures, torque specifications, and traceability requirements.
• Monitor key quality metrics including First Pass Yield (FPY), scrap rates, and defect trends.
• Lead containment activities and corrective actions for nonconforming products.
• Conduct layered process audits and verify adherence to quality standards.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5-Why and Fishbone Analysis to eliminate recurring defects.
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams on PFMEA improvements and error-proofing initiatives.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and waste reduction.
• Lead 5S activities and Kaizen events to improve operational performance.
• Develop and sustain standardized work practices through audits and employee coaching.
• Utilize Lean tools including A3 Problem Solving, SMED, Value Stream Mapping, and Visual Management.
• Support plant objectives related to efficiency, cost reduction, and process optimization.

Materials & Inventory Control

• Monitor work-in-process (WIP) inventory and support inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Partner with Materials and Logistics teams to prevent production shortages.
• Support Kanban systems, material replenishment processes, and point-of-use inventory controls.
• Ensure proper material flow to meet production schedules.

Reporting & Documentation

• Complete and communicate daily shift reports including safety, quality, production output, downtime, scrap, attendance, and OEE results.
• Maintain accurate production, training, quality, and operational records.
• Support compliance requirements through proper documentation and record retention.

AUTHORITY & SCOPE This role operates within defined corporate policies and procedures and exercises judgment appropriate to its level of responsibility. The position may influence decisions related to functional operations, processes, or recommendations and escalate matters as required

Qualifications (The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required and preferred for this position.)

Required Education & Experience :

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum of 3 years of manufacturing, assembly, or production experience in a high-volume environment.
• Minimum of 1 year of supervisory, lead, or team leadership experience.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting automated or semi-automated manufacturing equipment.
• Knowledge of manufacturing KPIs including OEE, downtime analysis, throughput, and First Pass Yield (FPY).
• Experience with root cause analysis, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and production reporting systems.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple priorities

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Strong leadership and employee development skills.
• Excellent troubleshooting and decision-making capabilities.
• Thorough understanding of manufacturing processes and equipment operation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret production metrics and drive performance improvements.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple department.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Business Management, or related field.
• Experience in automotive, battery, electronics, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of IATF 16949, ISO 9001, PFMEA, Control Plans, and Layered Process Audits.
• Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma Green Belt, or similar continuous improvement training.
• Experience working with MES, CMMS, ERP systems, Andon systems, and digital work instructions.

Working Conditions:

• Frequent standing, walking, and movement throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Occasional lifting of up to 35 pounds.
• Exposure to manufacturing equipment, moving machinery, and industrial work environments.
• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

This position may be assigned to either the Battery System Assembly (BSA) or Battery Module Assembly (BMA) section based on business needs and production requirements