Production Supervisor

About Us

Preferred Tool & Die is a precision stamping and machining company based in Shelton, CT. Family-owned since 2008, we've grown from a small tool and die shop into a full-service manufacturer serving customers across electrical, medical, automotive, hardware, and defense industries. Our campus houses a high-speed stamping facility and a high-tech machining facility, and our capabilities span from concept and design-for-manufacturing through high-volume production — all under one roof.

Since 2013, our automotive division, Preferred Automotive Components (PAC), has supplied Tier 1 brake system manufacturers across North America with precision-stamped brake shims, wear sensors, and caliper hardware — including our proprietary FastTab, SnapRight, and StakeRight features.

We're not a commodity shop. We solve problems other suppliers pass on, and the people who do that work here take pride in it.

The Role

We are hiring a Production Supervisor to lead the day-to-day operations of our stamping and manufacturing floor. This is a critical role — you are the daily operational leader between ownership and the production team. You will own floor output, quality execution, press performance, scheduling adherence, and team accountability across both the PAC and PTD production areas.

This is a hands-on position. You know what's running, what's behind, and why — and you solve problems before they become escalations.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Production Management

• Lead a daily shift huddle at the start of each shift — communicate priorities, address prior shift issues, align the team to the day's schedule
• Assign operators to presses and workstations based on schedule, skill level, and availability
• Monitor production pace throughout the shift; identify and resolve bottlenecks proactively
• Coordinate order prioritization with planning to hit shipment targets
• Ensure all production documentation (job travelers, inspection records, labor reporting) is completed accurately and on time

Team Leadership

• Directly supervise all floor personnel across PAC and PTD — Press Operators, Secondary Operators, and Tool Setup Technicians
• Coach operators on standard work, quality awareness, and safe operating practices
• Hold the team accountable to attendance, break, and conduct policies; initiate documentation when required
• Support onboarding and training of new operators; verify competency before independent production assignment
• Develop the Team Lead as a backup and floor leadership successor

Quality and Safety

• Enforce quality standards and control plan requirements at the press level — catch problems on the floor, not in shipping
• Ensure first article / first-off inspection is completed and recorded before production runs begin
• Segregate and tag nonconforming product per SOP; never allow suspect product to advance without disposition
• Enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures for all tooling changes and equipment maintenance
• Report and document any near-misses, injuries, or unsafe conditions immediately

Tooling and Equipment

• Identify tooling wear, damage, or performance issues and communicate effectively with Tool Setup Technicians and Engineering
• Coordinate die changes with the Tool & Die team
• Escalate recurring tooling issues with specifics

Reporting

• Report shift performance, output, downtime, quality issues, and operator concerns to the GM daily
• Maintain accurate records in the ERP system (M2M) as required

What We're Looking For

Required

• High school diploma or GED
• 3–5 years of production experience in a stamping, metal fabrication, or precision manufacturing environment
• 1–2 years in a supervisory or lead role with direct reports
• Working knowledge of progressive die tooling and stamping processes
• Proven ability to lead a production team — set expectations, hold people accountable, build trust
• Strong mechanical aptitude — you understand how the machine and tooling work, not just how to push a button
• Ability to stand, walk, and work in an active manufacturing environment; lift up to 40 lbs; PPE required
• LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) certification required — can be trained on the job
• Bilingual English/Spanish — preferred; our floor team is primarily Spanish-speaking

Preferred

• Familiarity with automotive-grade quality standards (control plans, first-article inspection, nonconforming product procedures)
• Experience with M2M or a similar ERP/MRP system
• OSHA 10 or 30 certification
• Forklift certification
• Experience in a multi-line or multi-product facility

Personal Qualities

• You show up with urgency — when something is behind, you move
• You communicate clearly up and down — operators know what's expected, management knows what's happening
• You don't wait for problems to be handed to you; you find them before they escalate
• Stable, consistent, professional — the floor takes its cues from you

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary: $65,000–$80,000 depending on experience
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Consistent daytime schedule — no rotating shifts
• Stable, growing company with long-term opportunity

Schedule: Mon–Thu 7:00 AM–4:30 PM | Fri 7:00 AM–4:00 PM

Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health savings account
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Describe your experience with press operations or progressive die stamping.
• Are you able to work on-site in Shelton, CT Monday through Friday?
• How many years have you spent in a supervisory or lead role on a manufacturing floor?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $80,000