Production Supervisor

About the role

The production supervisor is responsible for planning, scheduling, and directing the work efforts of the production operations department to meet and exceed productivity, safety, quality, delivery, and cost goals while ensuring the department operates according to established company policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Direct, coordinate, and monitor daily activities and performance of production associates to ensure high productivity, quality, customer service, and compliance with company policies, procedures, and safety standards.
• Oversee daily activities and performance in the material handling area for both direct and indirect labor.
• Manage employee performance through motivation, delegation, development, mentoring, and conflict resolution.
• Take corrective action as necessary in a timely manner following company policy.
• Conduct regular department or pre-shift meetings to foster employee engagement, communicate policy changes, address concerns, and encourage idea-sharing for improvement.
• Participate in staff selection, performance evaluations, compensation reviews, corrective actions, and terminations as needed.
• Evaluate and interpret business demand, prioritize work assignments, and establish line assignments and staffing based on priority.
• Determine and monitor workstation assignments, associate breaks, and required overtime.
• Meet production goals, quality objectives, and cost targets.
• Monitor and maintain inventory levels in material handling and production areas using a warehouse management system (WMS).
• Review and record all production documentation.
• Participate in the implementation of lean principles using 5S, Kaizen, and Kanban methods.
• Provide and maintain a safe work environment by directing safety training, generating and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOP), and coordinating with the safety department.
• Conduct associate observations, update preferred work methods, investigate accidents to determine root causes, and perform routine safety inspections.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• 3-5 years of manufacturing experience.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Proficiency in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from management and inter-department staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work proactively and constructively with peers and associates from other departments.
• Ability to lead individual and team discussions and meetings successfully.
• Basic arithmetic skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Provide effective training to department staff on SOPs, safety, and conduct.
• Apply company policies consistently, timely, and objectively.
• Prioritize and manage multiple deadlines, shifting priorities as necessary.
• Identify and resolve problems promptly, gathering and analyzing information skillfully.
• Develop alternative solutions, including immediate corrective actions and preventive measures.
• Demonstrate decisiveness and critical thinking to present proactive rather than reactive solutions.
• Approach others tactfully and professionally.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to learn and apply guest supply technology software and programs, such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other equipment.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms, climb, or balance.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Primarily work in a manufacturing and warehouse environment with exposure to wet/humid conditions, cold or elevated temperatures, moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and outside weather conditions.
• Moderate noise level and fast-paced environment.
• May be required to use a scanner, power hand jack, manual hand jack, stacker, and forklift.
• Must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles, hairnets, and steel-toe boots during operations.
• Travel may be required to visit other office locations or attend company events, staff meetings, or training sessions.
• May require the use of a personal vehicle for business travel, involving long periods of sitting.
• Must possess a valid state Driver’s License and provide proof of liability coverage meeting company standards.
• May require evening, weekend, or other shift work depending on business needs.