Manufacturing Production Supervisor

Description

The Manufacturing Production Supervisor oversees the day-to-day operations of the production floor, ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality manufacturing of high-performance exhaust systems, headers, tubing, and related components. This role is responsible for meeting production targets, managing personnel, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring that workflow, scheduling, and materials align with company goals.

The Production Supervisor works closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Scheduling to maintain output, reduce downtime, and optimize processes.

Requirements

Production Leadership

• Lead, coach, and manage welders, fabricators, tube-bending operators, laser operators, prep technicians, material handlers, and support staff.
• Oversee daily production activities, ensuring workflow is smooth and meets planned output.
• Conduct daily production meetings with management and department leads to review targets, issues, and priorities.

Scheduling & Throughput

• Execute and maintain weekly/daily production schedules in coordination with the Scheduler.
• Balance labor, machines (tube benders, tube lasers, welding stations, robotics), and materials to maximize throughput.
• Identify bottlenecks (welding cells, bending capacity, prep, finishing) and implement solutions.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet quality standards, welding specs, fitment requirements, and documentation.
• Work closely with the Quality Manager on inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Enforce adherence to SOPs, safety protocols, and 5S/lean manufacturing practices.

Process Improvement

• Analyze performance metrics such as cycle time, scrap rate, rework, and OEE (machine utilization).
• Drive kaizen initiatives, improve workflow layout, and help implement automation (robots, laser welding, TIG/MIG process optimization).
• Support implementation of new products and engineering changes.

Personnel Management

• Participate in hiring, training, performance reviews, and development of production team members.
• Manage timecards, PTO, staffing levels, and job assignments.
• Promote a strong workplace culture around safety, teamwork, and accountability.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Oversee proper use of tools, benders, cutters, welders, jigs/fixtures, and robotic systems.
• Coordinate with maintenance to ensure preventive maintenance is completed on schedule.
• Report equipment downtime and help prioritize repairs.

Inventory & Materials

• Work with the Material Handler and Supply Chain to ensure raw materials (stainless tube, flanges, collectors, hardware) are stocked.
• Minimize material shortages or production interruptions.
• Track material usage and scrap reporting.

Reporting

• Track and report daily/weekly production numbers, efficiency metrics, and issues.
• Provide updates to upper management regarding performance, staffing, equipment, and upcoming needs.

Required Experience

• 5 years of manufacturing production leadership, preferably in metal fabrication, welding, or automotive components.
• Understanding of MIG, TIG, robotic welding, tube bending, cutting, CNC processes, and fabrication workflows.
• Proven experience managing 10–35 workers on a production floor.

Skills

• Strong leadership and communication.
• Deep understanding of production scheduling and capacity planning.
• Proficient in lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to interpret blueprints, weld symbols, and production drawings.
• Comfortable with performance metrics and reporting.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to be on the production floor daily.
• Comfortable in a manufacturing environment (noise, metalwork, machinery).
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs. occasionally.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Weekly output vs. production plan
• On-time delivery percentage
• Scrap and rework percentage
• Labor efficiency
• Machine utilization
• Safety incidents
• Team retention and performance