Production Supervisor

General Summary of Position

The Production Supervisor is the leader (hours 6:30-4:30 Monday through Friday), problem-solver and steward of the warehouse. They are responsible for overseeing a variety of activities within their department. The Production Supervisor ensures that production goals are met while maintaining a safe, organized and harmonious shop floor.
They will work with the job scheduler and chief engineer to determine job requirements. They will direct, motivate, and engage shop personnel to maximize daily production to the fullest capability of the production line as well as ensuring that our team operates with a high level of professional respect. 

The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator who can lead a team through production challenges while fostering an environment where every employee feels their workspace and contributions are valued.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct daily workflows, assign work orders based on project priorities, and ensure the team remains on schedule.
• Revises the production schedule in response to equipment, labor, or material changes.
• Assesses capacity during emergencies and communicates achievable timelines to customers.
• Act as the primary point of contact for employee grievances/conflicts. Identify rising tensions and mediate disputes professionally to maintain a positive shop culture.
• Serve as the point of contact for employees calling out of work and requesting time off.
• Review and approve weekly timecards for accuracy ensuring that hours are logged correctly to help the business track labor costs.

• Lead shop team meetings to communicate production goals, safety updates, and project status.
• Directs, supports, and holds shop personnel accountable to production and quality standards.
• Conduct ongoing training focused on shop etiquette. Champion the standard of respecting employee’s designated work area, tools, and workflow to prevent friction and improve efficiency.
• Creates/updates Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) so that every operator follows the same steps.
• Act as the primary point of contact for customers who visit the facility.
• Greet and assist customers who walk in for order pickups, order status, or project inquiries.
• Take basic order specifications and enter the specifications into the production software.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and a clean shop environment to ensure walk-in customers have a positive impression of our company and technical expertise.
• Provide hands-on guidance to machine operators and fabricators to ensure that quality standards are met and safety protocols are followed.
• Implement and enforce a “clear floor” policy, ensuring that the logistical flow of materials and work zones are free of clutter and hazards.
• Oversee the upkeep of all equipment (machine press, forklift, pallet jacks, Waterjet, CNC Machine) and coordinate onsite appointments with service technicians for maintenance and repairs.
• Manage basic facility repairs and coordinate with the Director of Operations for electrical and plumbing needs.
• Ensure that all fire exits, and safety/first aid stations are clear and fully operational.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must read and write English.
• Exhibits a keen eye for detail in measurements, documentation, and processes.
• Ability to reduce setup errors and rework by delivering precise, easy-to-follow instructions to machine operators.
• Leverages a curious and analytical approach to solve complex shop floor issues while upholding a high standard of personal and team accountability.
• Communicates professionally and promptly with customers via email to resolve questions and issues.

• Ability to interpret blueprints and written job descriptions to judge part size, weight, handling requirements, and packaging needs.
• Ability to visualize the production flow and anticipate how the movement of materials and personnel will interact within the shop’s physical footprint.
• Knowledge of safety protocols as regulated by OSHA.
• Skilled with measuring tools: tape measure, calibers, etc.
• Ability to manage different personalities and communication styles in a close-knit shop environment
• Effectively onboarding and training workers on equipment.

KEY END RESULTS:

• Maintain a > 95 % on-time completion rate for work orders by effectively managing daily workflows and priorities.
• Achieve 100% alignment between the revised production schedule and actual output, even when faced with labor or material shifts.
• Reduce customer complaints regarding "missed deadlines" by providing emergency timelines that fall within a ±10% variance of actual completion.
• Decrease shop floor rework and scrap rates by 15% through the implementation and enforcement of standardized SOPs and hands-on guidance.
• Eliminate payroll discrepancies and overages by ensuring 100% accuracy in weekly timecard reviews and labor logging.
• Achieve a "Zero-Obstruction" shop floor, measured by a reduction in forklift/material handling delays due to clutter or logistical bottlenecks.
• Maintain a >98% uptime for critical machinery (CNC, Waterjet, Press) through a proactive preventative maintenance schedule.
• Achieve zero "lost time" accidents and 100% compliance during monthly safety audits of fire exits and first-aid stations.
• Keep facility repair costs within the annual budget by performing basic repairs in-house before escalating to external contractors.
• Maintain a voluntary turnover rate below a specific target (e.g., <10%) by resolving grievances before they escalate to HR.
• Ensure 100% of shop personnel are certified in "Shop Etiquette" and SOP protocols within their first 30 days.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must have reliable transportation (Employee is expected to be on site at customer locations, as requested. Additionally, there will be instances when employee is requested to attend Trade Shows/National Industry events, on behalf of DGS).
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required to sit, stand, bend, walk, squat for full work day.
• Generally works indoors, may work outside dealing with extreme heat >85 degrees, extreme cold <32 degrees.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• The employee may occasionally handle objects weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Walk up and down stairs frequently.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.