Production Supervisor (Shifts)

Wavin UK, an Orbia business; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Wavin, an Orbia business, seeks a hands-on Production Supervisor to lead daily extrusion operations at our Chippenham site. You will drive safety, quality and throughput while coaching supervisors and operators in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The role emphasizes planning, problem-solving and continuous improvement with strong Lean and OEE focus. Shift-based, on-site role requiring a degree and plastics extrusion experience.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Plastics Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Proven production leadership experience in manufacturing.
• Strong plastics extrusion or continuous polymer processing background.
• Practical knowledge of extrusion equipment and downstream systems.
• Lean, SPC and continuous improvement knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage daily extrusion production operations to meet safety, quality and delivery targets.
• Plan schedules, line utilisation, changeovers and material flow to maximise throughput and minimise downtime.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Maintenance on preventive maintenance and breakdowns.
• Drive a safety-first culture and ensure EHS compliance.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure products meet specifications and quality standards.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, SPC processes, first-off checks and corrective actions.
• Lead, coach and develop supervisors, team leaders and operators.
• Support capability development across setup, troubleshooting, quality and continuous improvement.
• Drive Lean initiatives including 5S, SMED, Kaizen and OEE improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Data-driven

Continuous improvement

Lean Manufacturing

OEE

Coaching

Manufacturing management

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Industrial/Plastics Engineering

Manufacturing Management

Equivalent experience

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

PLC/HMI systems

Job description

Now Hiring: Production Supervisor (Shift working)

Wavin, an Orbia business

Full-time (On-Site)

At Wavin - an Orbia business, purpose is what drives us. We're building healthy, sustainable environments for communities around the world, combining innovation, collaboration, and expertise to solve some of the toughest challenges facing the built environment today.

We are currently recruiting for a Production Supervisor to join our site in Chippenham, taking an important role within our largest manufacturing facility in the UK.

About the role

We're looking for a hands-on production leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and knows how to get the very best from people, processes, and performance. You'll be someone who can balance operational delivery with strong leadership - driving safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement while building a high-performing culture on the shop floor. This role is ideal for a candidate with strong plastics extrusion or continuous manufacturing experience who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and leading teams through change.

• Lead and manage daily extrusion production operations to achieve safety, quality, and delivery targets
• Plan schedules, line utilisation, changeovers, and material flow to maximise throughput and minimise downtime
• Coordinate closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams on preventative maintenance and breakdown response
• Drive and maintain a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with EHS standards and procedures
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions where required
• Ensure products consistently meet specification and quality standards
• Implement and maintain SOPs, SPC processes, first-off checks, and corrective actions
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leaders, and operators
• Support capability development across setup, troubleshooting, quality, and continuous improvement activities
• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives including 5S, SMED, Kaizen, and OEE improvement

About you

• Degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing Management, or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in a production leadership role within manufacturing
• Strong experience in plastics extrusion or continuous polymer processing
• Practical knowledge of extrusion equipment, dies, haul-offs, cutters, and downstream systems
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, OEE, SPC, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and team development skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications
• Basic understanding of PLC/HMI systems desirable

At Wavin, we're driven by a clear purpose: building healthy, sustainable environments for future generations. As part of the global Orbia group, you'll join a business where innovation, safety, and continuous improvement are central to everything we do.

You'll have the opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing operation, influence site performance, and develop high-performing teams within a collaborative and supportive environment. We empower our people to take ownership, drive change, and make a meaningful impact - both on site and across the wider business.