Operations Supervisor

Description

$1,000 Sign-on Bonus

Scope

As an Operations Supervisor at Superior Tire & Rubber Corp., you will be responsible for supervising daily operations within assigned manufacturing areas to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production. This role provides direct leadership to production employees and team leaders and is responsible for executing production priorities, coordinating labor and workflow, monitoring performance, and addressing issues that may impact safety, quality, delivery, or cost.

The Operations Supervisor works closely with the Manufacturing Manager and cross-functional departments including Scheduling, Engineering, Quality Control, Maintenance, Human Resources, and Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS). This position reports directly to the Operations Manager.

Essential Job Functions

Production Planning & Coordination

• Execute daily and weekly production schedules established in coordination with the Manufacturing Manager and Scheduling.
• Assign employees, equipment, and work priorities to meet production requirements.
• Monitor workflow throughout the shift and address production bottlenecks, delays, and staffing concerns.
• Communicate production goals, priorities, schedule changes, and expectations to employees and team leaders.
• Monitor progress against production targets and promptly escalate significant issues that may affect safety, quality, delivery, or cost.
• Ensure effective shift-to-shift communication regarding production status, equipment issues, quality concerns, and outstanding priorities.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all company safety policies, procedures, OSHA requirements, and established safe work practices.
• Ensure employees properly use required PPE and follow applicable Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), Standard Work Instructions (SWIs), Lockout/Tagout requirements, and other safety procedures.
• Conduct routine inspections of assigned work areas for safety, housekeeping, and 5S compliance.
• Immediately address unsafe conditions and behaviors and escalate significant hazards as appropriate.
• Ensure injuries, near misses, property damage, and safety concerns are reported and investigated according to company procedures.
• Participate in incident investigations, corrective actions, safety meetings, and required employee training.
• Partner with EHS to identify hazards and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with employees, team leaders, other supervisors, and management to achieve production goals.
• Communicate effectively with supervision plant-wide regarding production status, staffing, equipment, quality, and other operational concerns.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Scheduling, Engineering, Quality Control, EHS, and other departments to resolve production issues.
• Maintain an environment where communication is timely, professional, and effective.
• Participate in production meetings and communicate relevant information to assigned employees.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure employees follow established quality standards, specifications, inspection requirements, and SWIs.
• Monitor production for quality concerns and take immediate action when products or processes fall outside established standards.
• Ensure nonconforming material is properly identified, controlled, and communicated.
• Partner with Quality Control and Engineering to investigate quality concerns and implement corrective actions.
• Verify that SWIs and other required production documentation are available and being followed.
• Identify and communicate opportunities to improve productivity, quality, safety, workflow, and efficiency.
• Support continuous improvement activities and Lean Manufacturing practices.
• Follow and reinforce the 5S principles: Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Monitor equipment condition and performance within assigned areas.
• Ensure operators complete required equipment inspections and preventive maintenance activities.
• Promptly communicate equipment failures, abnormal conditions, and repair needs to Maintenance.
• Coordinate production priorities with Maintenance when equipment is unavailable.
• Ensure employees do not operate equipment that is unsafe or outside established operating requirements.
• Track and communicate equipment downtime and its impact on production.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and direction to assigned employees and team leaders.
• Establish clear expectations for safety, quality, productivity, attendance, conduct, and performance.
• Monitor employee performance and provide timely coaching and feedback.
• Ensure employees receive required job training and verify that training documentation is accurate and current.
• Support the development and cross-training of employees to improve workforce flexibility and capability.
• Manage daily staffing, employee assignments, break coverage, overtime needs, vacation requests, and timekeeping within established guidelines.
• Address attendance, conduct, and performance concerns promptly and consistently in partnership with the Manufacturing Manager and Human Resources.
• Enforce company policies and procedures fairly and consistently.
• Promote a workplace culture based on accountability, teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement.

Working Responsibilities

• Lead assigned production areas throughout the shift and maintain an active presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Translate production priorities established by the Manufacturing Manager into clear daily expectations for employees and team leaders.
• Conduct shift-start meetings to communicate safety concerns, production priorities, quality issues, staffing needs, and other relevant information.
• Review staffing and production requirements at the beginning of each shift and make appropriate labor assignments.
• Monitor production performance throughout the shift and adjust resources as necessary.
• Ensure production documentation, inspections, quality checks, and required records are completed accurately.
• Monitor scrap, downtime, labor utilization, production output, and other applicable performance measures.
• Investigate production delays and recurring operational issues and communicate findings to the Manufacturing Manager.
• Ensure employees follow established work instructions, quality requirements, and safety procedures.
• Coordinate with Maintenance regarding equipment problems and ensure repair needs are appropriately escalated.
• Support Quality Control in responding to defects, nonconforming material, and process concerns.
• Support Engineering with process changes, trials, new equipment, and improvements within assigned areas.
• Work with EHS to reinforce safety programs, complete corrective actions, and improve workplace safety.
• Partner with Human Resources and the Manufacturing Manager regarding employee relations, performance management, attendance, training, and disciplinary matters.
• Review and approve employee timecards, attendance records, and routine scheduling requests within established authority.
• Communicate significant overtime or workforce needs to the Manufacturing Manager for approval.
• Maintain appropriate housekeeping and 5S standards throughout assigned areas.
• Ensure effective communication between shifts by documenting and communicating production status, equipment conditions, staffing concerns, and outstanding issues.
• Perform other supervisory and operational duties necessary to support safe and effective manufacturing operations.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full-Time Non-Exempt
• Schedule based on assigned shift and operational requirements.
• Weekends and overtime as needed.
• Required to work onsite 100% of the time.
• May be required to provide coverage outside regularly scheduled hours based on production needs.

Travel

• On-site only.

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Percentage of Manufacturing and Distribution: 100%

Physical Demands

• The physical demands for this role are representative of those required to successfully perform its essential functions. The Operations Supervisor must be able to regularly walk and stand for extended periods throughout manufacturing areas, occasionally lift and move materials or equipment weighing approximately 50 pounds or more with appropriate assistance, and work in environments that may include heat, noise, moving equipment, and other industrial conditions.

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Engineering, Business, Management, or a related field preferred.
• Supervisory or leadership training preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, or similar continuous improvement training preferred.

Preferred Experience

• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment preferred.
• Previous team lead, supervisory, or leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with manufacturing processes, production scheduling, workflow, and quality requirements.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Standard Work, and continuous improvement practices preferred.
• Experience monitoring production metrics such as output, scrap, downtime, efficiency, and labor utilization preferred.

Competencies/Skills

• Strong leadership and employee-management skills.
• Ability to communicate expectations clearly and professionally.
• Ability to hold employees accountable while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to prioritize and respond effectively to changing production conditions.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with other departments.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to read and understand production documents, work instructions, specifications, and safety procedures.
• Basic math skills and ability to understand applicable measuring tools and inspection requirements.
• Basic computer skills and ability to use company production, timekeeping, and communication systems.
• Ability to identify when an issue can be resolved at the supervisor level and when escalation to management is necessary.
• Commitment to safety, quality, productivity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

At Superior Tire & Rubber Corp., we are an equal opportunity employer. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected class. Our company makes all employment and advancement decisions based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.