Production Supervisor

About the Role

This position is responsible for scheduling, directing, and supervising pickle production operations in compliance with FDA regulations, FSIS directives, company specifications, and customer order requirements. The role maximizes labor, equipment, and raw materials to positively impact company profits and achieve departmental tonnage goals based on seasonal customer ordering volume. The Supervisor develops and administers staffing training, workload planning, and shift scheduling to meet product requirements, processing needs, and quality demands.

Customer Demands and Workload Management

• Evaluate customer product demand, in-process inventory levels, raw materials on hand, scheduled labor, and processing equipment prior to each shift to plan production lines according to departmental standards
• Collect and retain weekly tonnage and volume data
• Evaluate historical volume data, pending orders, and raw materials in-process quantities; order raw materials weekly and adjust purchase requests as necessary
• Schedule the week as balanced as possible to maximize production capabilities and meet company volume profit potential
• Pre-stage and rotate raw materials based on oldest-used-first principles
• Schedule and maintain working inventory levels according to processing demands
• During shifts, continuously evaluate and adjust labor and line setups as customer demand, product availability, and machinery availability change
• Conduct product yield and time efficiency studies to drive continuous improvement in labor and product output
• Coordinate support from other departments/divisions and provide labor and machinery assistance to various departments as needed
• Monitor inventories and produce items that support production demands of other departments
• Monitor and communicate with the sanitation team regarding required support during shifts; identify areas requiring deep cleaning schedules to maintain a wholesome work environment

Quality Assurance and HACCP Compliance

• Assign designated operators to support quality functions for the company's Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Qualify HACCP and SOP operators through the Quality Assurance Department's continuing training and licensing program
• Direct and supervise qualified HACCP and SOP operators to record time and control measurements as required by company HACCP and SOP plans
• Monitor and verify HACCP and SOP information gathered during shifts; take actions and document activities to avoid deviations
• Respond to departmental HACCP and SOP deviations and help develop and implement corrective actions in a timely manner
• Monitor environmental sanitary conditions and employee Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Monitor, evaluate, and approve raw materials to ensure they meet company quality standards
• Record operational sanitation events daily on shift Standard Sanitational Operating Procedures (SSOP) forms
• Record deviations and actions taken on SOP Corrective Action Reports
• Collect lot control and store all lot and vat control numbers to fulfill departmental data retention responsibilities for the company's recall program

Administrative Functions

• Manage procurement, maintenance, and issuance of assigned employees' personal protective gear and job-specific hand tools per Quality Assurance and safety guidelines
• Review and file all departmental quality control records on a shiftily basis
• Oversee and direct the ordering and documentation of supplies needed for pickle production from Dry Storage
• Contribute to departmental period-end and year-end inventory responsibilities

Equipment and Machinery Oversight

• Develop and implement machine operator training programs to identify and record various machinery settings for consistent product output
• Oversee, direct, and maintain machine elements
• Target maintenance support as needed during shifts to assist in line setups, changeovers, and breakdown repairs
• Assist in developing preventive maintenance schedules for departmental equipment
• Equip machine operators with proper tools for changeovers and minor equipment repairs
• Assign designated shift forklift operators and qualify them through the company's forklift training and qualification program
• Monitor and direct scales and metal detectors; ensure scales are calibrated properly and left plugged in overnight to maintain good working order
• Document machinery breakdowns and excessive wear and tear; inform all shifts of any breakdowns that may carry over; contact maintenance personnel when repairs are necessary
• Evaluate environmental issues, machinery conditions, and workers' general attitudes to ensure worker safety

Staff Training and Development

• Train, evaluate, and develop assigned staff utilizing job rotation to maintain a versatile labor force