Production Supervisor

Job Summary:

The Production Supervisor is responsible for leading and coordinating daily production activities within their assigned area of a corrugated manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Plant Superintendent, the Supervisor ensures safe, efficient, and high-quality operations by overseeing team performance, maintaining compliance with safety and quality standards, and supporting continuous improvement efforts. This role plays a critical part in executing the daily production schedule and providing direct support to frontline employees.

Key Responsibilities:

- Supervise and support production team members during daily operations to meet shift production goals.

- Monitor equipment and workflow to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality output.

- Enforce all plant safety protocols, housekeeping standards, and company policies.

- Collaborate with maintenance and other departments to resolve equipment or production issues.

- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of production, labor, and downtime data.

- Conduct daily shift meetings to communicate expectations, priorities, and updates.

- Provide on-the-job training, coaching, and feedback to production staff.

- Maintain adequate staffing levels and adjust labor assignments as needed.

- Identify and escalate issues that impact safety, quality, or productivity to the Superintendent or General Manager.

- Conduct routine floor walks to ensure safety, engage with employees, and monitor line performance.

- Assign team members to tasks based on skills, needs, and production requirements.

- Respond quickly to production delays, quality issues, or equipment malfunctions.

- Monitor product quality and ensure all inspections and checks are completed accurately.

- Support and reinforce a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

- Participate in planning meetings with the Superintendent and other supervisors to align on production goals and staffing.

- Review shift performance metrics and address any issues related to productivity, safety, or quality.

- Follow up on corrective actions, training needs, or employee concerns identified during the week.

- Support cross-training efforts and help maintain an up-to-date skills matrix for team members.

- Contribute to weekly housekeeping and safety audits as assigned.

- Participate in monthly safety talks and team briefings.

- Support the Superintendent in tracking employee performance and development goals.

- Assist with implementation of improvement projects or process changes.

- Recommend ideas for increasing efficiency, reducing waste, or improving team morale.

- Help plan and support plant recognition events or employee engagement initiatives.

- Step in to manage specific departments during supervisor absences or high-volume periods.

- Lead incident investigations for safety or quality events and implement corrective measures.

- Collaborate with HR on performance management issues or employee relations concerns.

- Support equipment trials, product launches, and plant improvement projects.

- Respond to urgent customer or scheduling changes that impact production output.

- Represent plant leadership in meetings or events when the General Manager is unavailable.

Qualifications

Skills & Qualifications:

- Strong leadership and team coordination skills with the ability to manage frontline supervisors.

- Solid understanding of corrugated manufacturing processes.

- Ability to interpret and act on production reports, quality metrics, and efficiency data.

- Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement principles.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook

- Understanding of OSHA safety standards and general industrial safety practices.

Education & Experience:

- High school diploma or equivalent required

- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, with 2 years min in a supervisory/ leadership role.

- Experience in corrugated packaging, industry preferred

Physical Requirements:

- Ability to stand and walk throughout the plant for extended periods (up to 8-10 hours per day).

- Must be able to climb stairs, access elevated platforms, and navigate typical plant environments.

- Ability to lift, push, or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs occasionally.

- Visual and auditory ability to detect safety risks, equipment issues, and quality defects.

- Must be able to wear required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and steel-toe boots.

- Work is performed in both office and production floor environments with varying temperatures, noise levels, and potential exposure to dust or other airborne particles.