Plant Operations Supervisor

Job Description

Job Description

Job description:

A  Refractory Plant Operations Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations within a refractory production facility, ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality production of refractory materials used in high-temperature industrial applications. This role leads production teams, coordinates plant activities, monitors equipment performance, and ensures compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Key responsibilities include supervising plant personnel, optimizing production processes, managing schedules and workflow, troubleshooting operational issues, maintaining inventory and raw material requirements, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Operations Supervisor works closely with maintenance, quality, engineering, and management teams to meet production targets while controlling costs and maximizing operational efficiency.

Successful candidates typically possess strong leadership skills, experience with industrial safety practices, and the ability to analyze production data to improve performance and reliability. This role plays a critical part in maintaining product quality, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, cost control, and employee development.

Essential Functions of a Refractory Production Supervisor

A  Refractory Production Supervisor is responsible for leading and coordinating manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production of refractory products:

Production Management

• Supervise daily production activities to meet established safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.
• Coordinate workforce assignments and production schedules to ensure efficient plant operations.
• Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions to address operational issues.
• Ensure adherence to production procedures, work instructions, and standard operating practices.

Employee Leadership and Development

• Direct, coach, and support production employees in a collaborative environment.
• Conduct employee training on safety, quality, equipment operation, and production processes.
• Monitor employee performance and provide timely feedback and coachimg
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Safety and Compliance

• Enforce all company safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct safety meetings, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Identify workplace hazards and implement corrective and preventive measures.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company standards.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with quality personnel to investigate defects, implement corrective actions, and reduce scrap.
• Monitor key quality metrics and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Equipment and Process Oversight

• Possess a working knowledge of industrial equipment.
• Monitor equipment performance and coordinate maintenance activities to maximize uptime.
• Troubleshoot production and process issues to minimize disruptions.
• Recommend process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality.

Inventory and Resource Management

• Monitor raw material usage and coordinate inventory requirements with purchasing and warehouse personnel.
• Ensure adequate staffing, materials, and equipment are available to meet production demands.
• Support cost-control initiatives and efficient use of plant resources.

Performance and Reporting

• Track and analyze production, safety, quality, and labor metrics.
• Prepare reports and communicate operational performance to plant management.
• Participate in production planning and continuous improvement programs.
• Ability to work independently and without much supervision.
• Ability to plan for future operational needs.

Typical Work Environment and Schedule

• Work primarily in a manufacturing plant environment with exposure to dust, noise, heat, and heavy industrial equipment.
• Frequently walk the production floor, inspect operations, and interact with employees.
• Typically work 40–50+ hours per week , including day, evening, rotating, weekend, and occasional holiday shifts as required by production demands.
• May be required to respond to production or maintenance issues outside of normal working hours.
• Experience working in a union environment is a MUST.
• Ability to work 3PM-11PM if need be is a MUST
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and climb steps for extended periods.
• Ability to climb stairs, bend, lift 50 lbs., and inspect equipment throughout the facility.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats, respirators, and steel-toed footwear as required.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• On-the-job training
• Paid time off
• Prescription drug insurance
• Vision insurance
• Possible yearly performance raises

Work Location: In person

Based in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, Kelsen Refractories USA operates a refractory plant with a proud legacy of local manufacturing dating back to the 1960s. Strategically located in the heart of the Pittsburgh industrial corridor—a region historically vital to the U.S. steel industry—the plant is uniquely positioned to serve key customers across America with dolomitic refractory solutions. Since 2025, the company has joined the global industrial network of Refractarios Kelsen and the Calcinor Group, gaining access to international expertise while maintaining a strong local identity rooted in American manufacturing tradition.

Refractories USA specializes in the production of dolomitic refractories, offering a complete portfolio that includes resin-bonded products, fired bricks, and monolithic solutions. As one of only two producers of dolomite-based refractory bricks in the entire America’s region, the company provides a unique and strategic offering to the steel industry. All products benefit from the technical expertise and high-quality standards of Refractarios Kelsen, ensuring consistent performance in demanding high-temperature environments and contributing to greater process efficiency and reliability for our customers.

Company Description

Based in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, Kelsen Refractories USA operates a refractory plant with a proud legacy of local manufacturing dating back to the 1960s. Strategically located in the heart of the Pittsburgh industrial corridor—a region historically vital to the U.S. steel industry—the plant is uniquely positioned to serve key customers across America with dolomitic refractory solutions. Since 2025, the company has joined the global industrial network of Refractarios Kelsen and the Calcinor Group, gaining access to international expertise while maintaining a strong local identity rooted in American manufacturing tradition.\n\nRefractories USA specializes in the production of dolomitic refractories, offering a complete portfolio that includes resin-bonded products, fired bricks, and monolithic solutions. As one of only two producers of dolomite-based refractory bricks in the entire America’s region, the company provides a unique and strategic offering to the steel industry. All products benefit from the technical expertise and high-quality standards of Refractarios Kelsen, ensuring consistent performance in demanding high-temperature environments and contributing to greater process efficiency and reliability for our customers.