Material Flow Supervisor

Position Overview

You will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of material flow within a manufacturing environment, ensuring efficient delivery of parts to production using lean principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of material flow engineers, technologists, and process technicians, including setting priorities, providing coaching, and supporting professional development.
• Design and implement material flow strategies, including delivery routes, point-of-use presentation, replenishment methods, and line-side layouts aligned with lean manufacturing principles.
• Oversee daily material flow operations, ensuring efficient part delivery, troubleshooting issues, and optimizing workflows within warehouse management systems.
• Lead engineering change coordination and implementation, including tracking changes, managing effective dates, and ensuring accurate execution across operations.
• Drive packaging and material handling improvements in collaboration with vendors, packaging engineering, and manufacturing engineering to improve efficiency, ergonomics, and cost.
• Lead material flow planning and execution for major projects, including production line consolidations, defining delivery routes, delivery frequencies, material staging points, and cart or container designs.
• Champion lean initiatives and transformation efforts, including value stream mapping, waste identification and elimination, standard work development, and continuous flow implementation.
• Lead and participate in kaizen events, identifying root causes, implementing countermeasures, and sustaining improvements through visual management and performance tracking.
• Configure and continuously improve how materials move through the facility, including optimizing inventory presentation, reducing handling steps, and improving overall flow efficiency.
• Support new product introductions by leading material flow readiness and coordinating cross-functional activities.
• Oversee sustaining activities such as container and kanban audits, along with updates to material handling methods based on usage and demand trends.
• Utilize tools such as ERP systems, process mapping software, and Microsoft 365 applications to analyze, document, and improve material flow processes.

Desired Competencies

• Leadership: Inspire, guide, and empower others to achieve their best by setting clear direction, fostering trust, and creating an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and accountable for delivering results.
• Collaboration: Work effectively with others across functions and levels, contributing to shared goals while respecting different perspectives.
• Problem Solving: Identify issues, assess root causes, and implement practical solutions that balance speed, quality, and risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant material flow, manufacturing, or supply chain experience required.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing salaried employees in a manufacturing or operations environment required.
• Strong experience designing and improving material flow processes, including implementation of lean manufacturing principles.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (including AS400 or similar), Microsoft 365 applications, and process mapping tools such as Visio.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive process improvements.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience supporting large-scale operational or production line transformation projects preferred.