Production Supervisor / Antrim

VanRath; Antrim; On-site; GBP 1,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Antrim is seeking a hands-on Production Supervisor to lead a shift team and maintain quality, efficiency, and safety standards in a high-volume manufacturing environment. The role includes overseeing operators on glass-cutting lines, managing KPIs, and promoting lean practices. Ideal candidates will have supervisory experience, an understanding of manufacturing processes, and qualifications in Engineering or Manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising a manufacturing/assembly team.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing tools and production KPIs.
• Knowledge of H&S and quality standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001).

Responsibilities

• Lead a shift team of 15-25 operators across production.
• Control critical process parameters and intervene quickly.
• Monitor KPIs and drive scrap reduction through investigations.

Skills

People management

Conflict resolution

Lean manufacturing

Education

NVQ Level 3/ONC in Engineering/Manufacturing

Tools

Production tracking systems

MS Office

Job description

VANRATH are delighted to be assisting a Major Client with the Recruitment of a Production Supervisor based in their Antrim Offices.

Job Role: Production Supervisor

Location: Antrim, Steeple Road Site
Shift Pattern:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7am -4:30pm / 7-1:15pm Friday
Contract: Full‑time, permanent, 40 hours per week
Salary: £15.50 per hour

About
This Company is one of the UK & Ireland's leading manufacturers of PVC‑U windows, doors and building products, is expanding its high‑performance production facility in Antrim. We're looking for a hands‑on Production Supervisor to lead a busy shift team and help us maintain the quality, efficiency and safety standards.

The Role

• Lead a shift team of 15-25 operators across glass‑cutting, toughening, laminating and insulated‑glass‑unit (IGU) assembly lines, ensuring safe, efficient flow from raw sheet to finished sealed units.
• Plan daily glass‑cut lists and furnace loads using our optimisation software, balancing yield, cycle time and energy consumption while meeting OTIF targets.
• Control critical process parameters (edge deletion depth, furnace temperature profiles, spacer application, gas‑fill levels) and intervene quickly to prevent quality escapes.
• Monitor KPIs such as breakage rate, reject % by defect code, OEE and labour utilisation; launch 5 Why / fish‑bone investigations and Kaizen events to drive scrap reduction.
• Champion H&S in a high‑risk environment: enforce hot‑glass, manual‑handling and crane‑lifting procedures; deliver toolbox talks on safe edge‑working and PPE compliance; uphold ISO 45001 standards.
• Quality assurance: sign off first‑article samples, oversee destructive testing (e.g., soak‑test on tempered units), and liaise with QA on EN 1279 & BS EN 12150 conformity.
• Coordinate with Maintenance & Engineering for furnace calibrations, autoclave checks and downtime recovery; support new glass‑technology introductions (e.g., warm‑edge spacer lines, low‑E coatings).
• Provide clear shift handovers and production reports, highlighting throughput, defects, downtime causes and corrective actions; coach and develop team members with skills matrices and PDPs.

About You

• Proven experience supervising a manufacturing/assembly team (plastics, window & door, FMCG or similar high‑volume environment).
• Solid understanding of lean manufacturing tools and production KPIs.
• Strong people‑management, communication and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Working knowledge of H&S and quality standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001).
• IT‑confident: able to use production tracking systems and MS Office.
• Flexibility to work a rotating shift pattern (early/late) and occasional weekend overtime.
• NVQ Level 3/ONC in Engineering/Manufacturing, or equivalent experience. IOSH Managing Safely is desirable.

For more information on this role please click apply and we will reach out to you confidentially.

INDPD