Fabrication Foreman Extra-Ordinaire

Are you passionate about efficient production, quality output, and adherence to safety standards?

Do you have experience to effectively manage, people, products, and processes?

Do you understand the importance of creating a vibrant culture through building relationships with your team members?

Are you a problem solver, team player, and amazing communicator?

We are an established, solid, growing company in the manufacturing industry with a 50 year history of success. Our brand stands for quality, character, and relationships. We back our brand with exceptional quality products, world-class customer service, individual and organizational growth, and industry-leading standards. We have a strong foundation and a vibrant future ahead.

We are seeking a manufacturing foreman who will play a hands-on active role in the future of our company. He/she will be responsible for upholding and implementing effective implementation of all company policies, standards and regulatory standards. This position will work closely with leadership to maintain efficiencies in their department, and solve problems creatively. The manufacturing foreman will delegate and execute tasks/projects to team members as needed, support the ISO program, lead others to ensure product quality, productivity and compliance with regulatory standards. The ability to troubleshoot problems with equipment, devices, and products is essential.

Our manufacturing foreman will be able to effectively multi-task the demands of quality, manufacturing, and safety by working with our company’s leadership team to achieve a vision.

Specifically, we are looking for the following characteristics and qualifications:

• You must naturally be a “people person.” You must love dealing with and interacting with all kinds of people. You must come across as sincere, warm, genuine, and caring.
• You must be able to work Monday through Thursday working a ten-hour shift. We have three day weekends! Yes, you get Friday, Saturday and Sunday off every week! (There are times we are very busy! You will get paid time and half for overtime. This is Friday and Saturday work on occasion.)
• You thrive at taking on responsibility. You organize your work and develop strategy to reach objectives.
• You have quality manufacturing and business acumen. You understand that quality, accuracy, efficiency and safety processes drive our bottom line.
• You are proactive and self-reliant. You can follow directions and can think on your own filling in the blanks when necessary. If action is necessary, you discern the next right step while gathering the resources to move forward.
• You are emotionally mature. You don’t get frustrated, defensive, easily overwhelmed, or take things personally when faced with adversity, deadlines, and conflicts. You also know how to help others overcome negative emotions and move forward toward resolution.
• You are conscientious. You take pride in your work and want things done right! You don’t cut corners sacrificing quality. You are a human with serious quality character.
• You are assertive but not aggressive. You are a self-starter and great at following up and following through to the very end. You love feedback and are open to suggestions to get better.
• You want to lead a vibrant life. You are a generally happy person. You smile easily, see the glass as at least half full and experience joy on the daily.
• You want to be part of something bigger than yourself. Our products create infrastructure for our communities! We want someone who cares deeply about our mission and recognizes that relationships are the epitome of what we do.

If you are thinking this is me, great! Read on!

Southern Fabricators has unique core values!

1. Promise It, Deliver It

Do what you say, and say what you mean. –No cutting corners—customers and employees should know they can trust you.

2. Choose Right, Not Easy

Treat people with respect, from the shop floor to the front office. –Make decisions based on principles, not just profit.

3. One Team, One Fight

Take care of customers and community and back up your crew. We win or lose together as a family. –When there’s a problem, face it head-on and make it right.

4. Tough Times, No Excuses

Hard work and perseverance always pay off. –No whining, no excuses—just find solutions and keep moving forward.

5. Want the Ball, Make it Happen

Be men and women of action, and make sure the job is done well. –Be a leader.

Southern Fabricators has a vision and a mission!

Iron Sharpens Iron: Built to last. Built with purpose. Built together.

At Southern Fabricators, we believe strength is forged through hard work, integrity, and teamwork. Just as iron sharpens iron, we challenge each other to be better every day—building quality products, strong relationships, and a reputation that stands the test of time. We don’t cut corners, we don’t back down from challenges, and we don’t settle. Our commitment is to excellence, to each other, and to the values that make us who we are.

With a focus on precision and craftsmanship, we transform raw metal into durable, functional products. From laser cutting and precision bending to expert welding, painting, and efficient shipping, we manage every step of the process. Our commitment to excellence ensures that we meet the unique needs of industries requiring robust metal solutions.

By the year 2035, we will be multi-functional entity that focuses on cutting edge technology that is a testament of excellence. This excellence is visible in our facility landscape, our production facility, our steadfast faith-filled leadership and our unique state of the art manufacturing training facility. Most importantly our team members are treated with respect and empowered.

As the manufacturing foreman your work environment will require your ability to:

Project & Workflow Management

• Oversee daily operations on the shop floor.
• Assign tasks to welders and fabricators based on skills and project needs.
• Ensure jobs meet customer specifications, quality standards, and deadlines.
• Coordinate with engineers, project managers, and clients on design and progress.
• Monitor production efficiency, material usage, and minimize rework/waste.

Quality & Safety Oversight

• Enforce welding codes (AWS, ASME, etc.) and fabrication standards.
• Perform inspections of welds, fixtures, and final assemblies.
• Maintain strict adherence to OSHA and company safety requirements.
• Train and coach employees on safe machine operation and PPE use.

Team Development

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a team of welders/fabricators.
• Support employee skill development through coaching and training.
• Resolve conflicts and encourage teamwork across shifts.
• Promote accountability, reliability, and craftsmanship.

Technical Skills Required

• Welding Expertise: Proficiency in MIG, TIG, Stick, and flux-core welding on multiple metals (carbon steel, stainless, aluminum).
• Fabrication Knowledge: Reading and interpreting blueprints, shop drawings, and welding symbols.
• Tools & Equipment: Skilled in operating grinders, plasma cutters, presses, CNC fabrication equipment, forklifts, and overhead cranes.
• Inspection & Measurement: Using calipers, micrometers, gauges, and other precision tools.
• Process Improvement: Ability to streamline welding sequences, jigs, and fixtures for efficiency.

Soft Skills Required

• Communication: Clear directions, constructive feedback, ability to communicate across shop floor and leadership team.
• Problem Solving: Quick decision-making when plans, equipment, or people issues arise.
• Adaptability: Ability to pivot based on client changes, machine breakdowns, or urgent projects.
• Conflict Resolution: Addressing interpersonal challenges with fairness and diplomacy.
• Time Management: Prioritizing tasks to keep projects on schedule.

Leadership Skills

• Vision & Direction: Keep the team aligned with company goals and standards.
• Accountability: Hold self and team members responsible for outcomes.
• Motivation & Morale: Inspire pride in craftsmanship and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Coaching Mindset: Develop people through mentoring, feedback, and stretch assignments.
• Delegation: Assigning the right jobs to the right people for maximum performance.

Education, Excellence, and Energy

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5 years of experience in a welding or metal fabrication manufacturing environment.
• 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role within a production setting.
• Strong understanding of welding techniques (MIG, TIG, Stick), welding standards (AWS), and metallurgy.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling tools.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations applicable to a welding shop.

Implementing Traction (EOS®) in the Department

• Level 10 Meetings: Lead weekly structured meetings to review progress, issues, and priorities.
• Rocks: Break down quarterly goals into departmental priorities and track progress.
• Scorecards: Monitor KPIs like weld quality, on-time delivery, rework rates, and labor efficiency.
• Accountability Chart: Ensure each role in the department is clearly defined with measurable responsibilities.
• IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve): Drive a problem-solving culture using EOS tools to eliminate recurring issues.
• Culture Alignment: Reinforce company Core Values during coaching, hiring, and reviews.

Essential Computer Skills

• Microsoft Office / Google Workspace
• Excel / Sheets: Tracking production metrics, time, and costs; maintaining scorecards for EOS/Traction.
• Word / Docs: Writing reports, procedures, safety documentation.
• PowerPoint / Slides: Communicating updates or training materials to crews.

Email & Communication Tools

• Professional use of Outlook, Gmail, or Teams/Slack for communication with management and clients.
• Attaching drawings, writing clear updates, and managing scheduling requests.

Blueprint & CAD Interaction

• Ability to read and interpret digital blueprints and shop drawings.
• Familiarity with CAD viewers (AutoCAD, SolidWorks eDrawings, or PDF blueprint tools).
• Not full design-level CAD, but enough to zoom, rotate, and verify fabrication details.

ERP / MRP Systems

• Experience with shop management or manufacturing software (Epicor, JobBOSS, E2, Global Shop, etc.).
• Entering job orders, tracking material usage, updating work status, closing out projects.

Quality & Inspection Software

• Entering inspection data into digital QC logs.
• Using handheld tablets or PCs to record weld quality, tolerances, and customer documentation.

EOS / Traction Tools

• Comfortable with digital scorecards, accountability charts, and issue tracking.
• Use of software like Ninety.io, Traction Tools, or ClickUp/Asana to run L10 meetings, track Rocks, and manage team commitments.

Time & Scheduling Programs

• Knowledge of timekeeping systems (Kronos, ADP, QuickBooks Time, etc.) to review crew hours.
• Creating and adjusting production schedules digitally.

Safety & Compliance Systems

• Completing incident reports online.
• Documenting safety training and certifications in LMS (Learning Management Systems) or HR portals.

Bonus / Advanced Skills

• Basic Data Analysis: Ability to pull trends from scorecards (e.g., weld defects over time, production efficiency).
• Inventory Tracking: Using barcoding or software to monitor materials and consumables.
• Tablet/Mobile Use: Operating digital checklists and inspection apps on tablets for shop floor efficiency.
• Document Management: Filing and retrieving digital SOPs, policies, and customer certifications.

The manufacturing foreman will participate in a deep dive intensive on-boarding process to ensure success, set up expectations, and provide accountability.

We are passionate what we do and we steadfast in our beliefs. We work hard, play hard, and live by a set of values and standards that makes our company a FAB place to learn, grow, contribute, and find fulfillment.

Bottom line...

A Foreman in our custom welding fabrication organization must balance hands-on technical expertise, people leadership, and business acumen. Beyond welding know-how, they must lead, coach, and implement systems like EOS Traction to create a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement—while ensuring that every weld and fabricated product meets the highest standards.

If this sounds good, then take the next step and apply.

If not, there are no hard feelings at all. We realize this position is only for the right person.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Polkton, NC 28135: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $28