Production Supervisor

Production Supervisor

The Production Supervisor leads a defined manufacturing value stream responsible for producing engineered components, subassemblies, and finished products in a high-mix industrial manufacturing environment.

This role is accountable for daily operational execution and continuous improvement across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Inventory (SQDCI). The supervisor develops people, drives problem solving, and implements process improvements to increase productivity, improve quality, and enhance operational reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Value Stream Leadership & Execution

• Lead and supervise daily operations for an assigned manufacturing area or value stream, including machining, assembly, or fabrication processes, ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality production of engineered products.
• Plan, coordinate, and assign labor, materials, and equipment based on production schedules, customer demand, equipment capacity, and workforce availability to meet customer commitments.
• Monitor production performance to ensure targets for output, efficiency, quality, and schedule attainment are achieved.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Lead and participate in Kaizen events, lean initiatives, and process improvement activities.
• Identify and eliminate waste in production processes including labor inefficiencies, material flow constraints, equipment downtime, and quality defects.
• Implement standard work, visual management, and performance boards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee involvement in problem solving.

Structured Problem Solving

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for production and quality issues.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5 Why, A3, Fishbone, and 8D.
• Partner with engineering and quality teams to implement permanent corrective actions.

Safety & Compliance

• Foster a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all company safety policies and regulatory requirements.
• Drive safety improvements through proactive risk identification, employee engagement, and corrective actions.
• Lead accident investigations and root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.

Operational Performance Management

• Drive improvements across key operational metrics: Safety - Quality (First Pass Yield, Defect Rate) - Delivery (Schedule Attainment) - Cost (Labor Productivity) - Inventory (WIP and material flow).
• Monitor daily production performance using visual management systems.
• Lead daily production review meetings and performance escalation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a liaison between Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to support operational effectiveness.
• Support implementation of engineering changes, process improvements, and new product introductions.
• Work with Supply Chain to ensure proper inventory levels and resolve material shortages affecting production.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to production personnel.
• Develop employee capabilities through training, mentoring, and cross-training.
• Promote employee engagement and accountability to achieve operational objectives.
• Address employee concerns and resolve issues through effective communication and conflict management.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• 23 years in a production/manufacturing leadership role.
• Experience supervising employees in engineered product manufacturing, machining, or electromechanical assembly environments preferred.

Technical Skills

• ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Epicor, Oracle, etc.)
• Blueprint and technical drawing interpretation
• Lean manufacturing tools
• Root cause analysis and problem solving
• Production scheduling and capacity planning
• Manufacturing KPI management

Leadership Competencies

• Operational leadership and accountability
• Data-driven decision making
• Structured problem solving
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong communication and team development skills

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an industrial manufacturing environment supporting the production of engineered products and assemblies.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by the ability to drive operational performance and build a high-performing team. Key indicators include:

• Safety performance and incident reduction
• Production schedule attainment
• Quality performance and first-pass yield
• Productivity and labor efficiency
• Implementation of continuous improvement initiatives
• Employee engagement and team development

Additional Information

This job description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of duties or responsibilities. Responsibilities may change based on operational needs.