Manufacturing Supervisor

Kids for the Future; Byron Township (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kids for the Future is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Supervisor to lead daily operations on the shop floor. The role focuses on safety, quality, and on-time delivery while developing and coaching hourly staff in a lean, 5S-driven environment.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of operations leadership, experience with lean tools, and strong communication skills to mentor a diverse team. This on-site role offers growth opportunities and a collaborative leadership culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Welding/fabrication and/or machining experience preferred.
• Minimum three years leading in operations environments.
• Minimum two years leading lean culture and tools.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to develop and coach direct reports.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a production team, fostering accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Champion a safety-first culture; ensure compliance with safety policies and OSHA regulations.
• Enforce quality standards and lead efforts to reduce defects and rework.
• Ensure daily production targets and delivery schedules are met or exceeded.
• Conduct daily shift startup meetings and Gemba walks; maintain clear cross-shift communication.
• Identify training gaps and cross-train team members to increase flexibility and capability.

Skills

People leadership

Lean manufacturing

Safety compliance

Quality improvement

Production planning

Kaizen

Gemba walks

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

Job description

• Employee Type FT Hourly Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others Yes

Description

First Shift: Hours vary by week, typically M-F 5:00 AM - 3:00 PM with occasional mandatory Saturdays.

Position Summary

We are seeking a hands‑on, people‑focused Manufacturing Supervisor to lead daily operations on the manufacturing floor. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who drives performance while supporting the development and well‑being of their team. This role is responsible for overseeing safety, quality, delivery, staffing, production throughput — all while ensuring a clean, organized, and efficient work environment aligned with 5S and lean principles.

Essential Functions

• People Leadership & Staffing
  • Lead and manage a production team, fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with HR and operations leadership to hire, onboard, train, and retain hourly employees.
  • Create and manage shift schedules to meet production and capacity goals.
  • Provide timely coaching, performance feedback, and discipline when necessary.
• Safety & 5S
  • Champion a safety-first culture; ensure compliance with company safety policies and OSHA regulations.
  • Proactively identify and correct safety hazards.
  • Implement and sustain 5S practices to maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work area.
• Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Enforce quality standards and lead efforts to reduce defects and rework.
  • Collaborate with quality and engineering teams to address root causes of nonconformance.
  • Lead and participate in kaizen and process improvement initiatives.
• Production & Delivery
  • Ensure daily production targets and delivery schedules are met or exceeded.
  • Monitor workflow, machine utilization, and crew assignments to meet capacity demands.
  • Escalate and resolve production barriers in real time.
• Accountability & Communication
  • Conduct daily shift startup meetings and Gemba walks.
  • Maintain clear communication with other shifts, departments, and leadership.
  • Track and report KPIs related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
  • Hold team members accountable to standards and expectations.
• Team Development
  • Identify training gaps and cross-train team members to increase flexibility and capability.
  • Act as a mentor and coach to develop future leaders.
  • Encourage employee involvement in problem‑solving and process improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred,
• Welding and fabrication and/or machining experience preferred
• Minimum of three years leading in operations environments or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum of two years leading and furthering a lean culture that utilized lean methodologies and tools.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Effective leader of people who can articulate a vision that inspires and motivates followership.
• Able to build trusting relationships with Operations team members and leaders across the organization.
• Proven experience developing and coaching direct reports with a focus on results, lean thinking, and people development.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and strategic skills.
• Strong business acumen.
• Efficient in using common computer programs like Outlook, Word, and Excel. Experience using ERP systems.