Reliability Supervisor - HICP

About Us

The company is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, Wells is an independent operating company of the Ferrero Group. Wells produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. Wells manufactures its signature brand Blue Bunny®, lower-calorie Halo Top®, the iconic Bomb Pop®, and Blue Ribbon Classics®. Wells employs nearly 4,000 ice cream aficionados across the country. The company is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, where Wells has made Le Mars the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” as the largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location. Wells operates two manufacturing plants in Le Mars, Iowa, a manufacturing plant in Dunkirk, New York, and a manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada.

Reliability Supervisor

The Reliability Supervisor provides oversight of all reliability functions at the facility in alignment with corporate reliability standards. Directly supervise reliability technicians and lubrication technicians. Leads reliability initiatives and plans while promoting excellence in proactive, preventive, and predictive maintenance programs to ensure optimal equipment and system performance. Oversee failure reporting and corrective action processes, ensuring clear communication between plant-floor technical resources and planning and supervisory teams.

• Leads reliability initiatives in collaboration with maintenance and other appropriate stakeholders.
• Oversees review, optimization, and continuous improvement of preventive maintenance programs through the Management of Change (MOC) process.
• Implements, advances, and sustains predictive maintenance technologies, including condition-based monitoring, inspections, vibration analysis, infrared thermography, and oil and lubrication analysis.
• Reviews, analyzes, and improves annual reliability and equipment optimization (REO) strategies in partnership with plant maintenance teams.
• Provides technical support to operations personnel to enhance process reliability and equipment performance as needed.
• Provides leadership and mentoring to ensure effective execution of the root cause analysis (RCA) process and accurate identification of failure modes.
• Leads RCA teams and processes to develop corrective actions that mitigate failure modes, reduce equipment downtime, and improve asset reliability.
• Serves as a technical subject matter expert on manufacturing equipment and reliability practices for direct reports, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Drives equipment and process reliability through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborates with vendors, suppliers, and engineering to support equipment improvements through design changes, parts enhancements, plant projects, and machine modifications.
• Makes recommendations for equipment and process improvements based on industry technologies and methodologies.
• Manages employee work schedules, work assignments, and payroll activities to ensure effective labor utilization.
• Schedules work orders and preventive maintenance activities to support departmental efficiency.
• Contributes to budget development in collaboration with the facility technical services manager and supports budget objectives to ensure favorable financial performance.
• Affirms reliability metrics and CMMS data to identify trends, investigate equipment and downtime patterns, and implement sustainable reliability solutions.
• Utilizes computer systems and applications, including Microsoft Office, CMMS, Lawson, WHIMs, and Oracle, to manage data, analyze performance, and maintain accurate electronic documentation.
• Ensures records such as RCAs, metrics, audits, inspections, and investigations are properly maintained and current.
• Builds capability within maintenance and reliability teams through training, coaching, and mentoring in reliability methods and technologies.
• Promotes a reliability-centered culture through on-the-job training, task organization, and continuous improvement.
• Utilizes performance management processes to coach and develop employees while holding them accountable.
• Supports and administers departmental progression systems to ensure training and development requirements are met.
• Performs failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) on targeted assets and applies reliability tools, including FMEA and reliability-centered maintenance, to develop and execute strategies that improve asset health and deliver positive business results.

Qualifications

• In addition to the responsibilities listed above, other duties may be assigned by your supervisor, as dictated by business necessity.
• Achieved Associate of Applied Science (A. A. S.) degree, equivalent technical school, or work experience.
• 8-10 years previous industrial maintenance experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience with 3-5 years of progressive leadership experience.
• Reliability standards and predictive technologies.
• Thorough knowledge of the occupation hazards and corresponding safety precautions necessary for the safe performance of assigned duties at WDI.
• Knowledge and adherence to WDIs good manufacturing practices (GMPs) as well as knowledge of basic maintenance techniques including hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Analytical and functional problem solving and analysis of complex data sets.
• Ability to understand complex written and oral instructions.
• Able to manage, diffuse and resolve conflict as well as lead and manage change.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and able to solve complex problems.
• Reports to Sr. Manager of Reliability.
• Direct Reports - Yes.
• Indirect Reports - No.

What We Offer

At Wells, we’re proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance. Learn more about our benefits here. Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis.