Manufacturing Supervisor-2nd shift

Thompson/Center Arms: America's Master Gunmaker; Farmington (NH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Thompson/Center Arms: America's Master Gunmaker seeks a Second Shift Production Supervisor to own all second-shift production activities, combining manufacturing and assembly supervision into one hands-on leadership role. You will personally perform qualified production work while leading a 15–25 person team, ensuring safe, quality-driven execution across machining, assembly, and packing.

The role demands strong floor leadership, the ability to coordinate with first shift, and a focus on

Qualifications

• Demonstrated willingness and ability to personally perform qualified hands-on manufacturing, machining, assembly, or related production work while supervising employees.
• Previous manufacturing supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• CNC, machining and/or assembly manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Lean manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong floor leadership and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to manage multiple production departments simultaneously.
• Understanding of production scheduling and material flow.
• ERP/MRP experience preferred; NetSuite experience beneficial.
• Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own second-shift safety performance and enforce PPE and machine safety requirements.
• Lead all second-shift production employees and assign manpower based on production priorities.
• Execute the daily receiver and machining production plan; monitor CNC and secondary operations output.
• Balance manpower across assembly; ensure material replenishment to the line.
• Identify bottlenecks; maintain 3-piece WIP rule where applicable.
• Ensure completed product is properly packed and staged; protect shipping cutoff requirements.
• Conduct end-of-shift verification of production quantities, shipment staging, and MRB controls.
• Oversee daily handoff covering safety, people, quality, delivery, equipment, material, and action items.

Skills

Hands-on work

Supervisory

CNC machining

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

ERP/MRP experience

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Second Shift Production Supervisor owns all Thompson/Center production activity during second shift, combining Manufacturing Supervisor and Assembly Supervisor responsibilities into one operational leadership position. The supervisor is responsible for maintaining safe and controlled production flow across machining, receivers, secondary operations, assembly, final inspection, packing and shipment staging. Because this position operates five days per week, the supervisor serves as a critical daily link between first‑shift planning/leadership and second‑shift execution. This is a hands‑on WORKING SUPERVISOR position, not an office‑only management role. The supervisor is expected to personally perform qualified direct‑production work (such as CNC machining, assembly, equipment operation, or production support) while leading the team and remaining fully accountable for the entire shift.

Core Responsibility

TAKE THE PRODUCTION PLAN FROM FIRST SHIFT AND EXECUTE IT SAFELY, WITH QUALITY, EVERY NIGHT.

The Second Shift Supervisor owns: Safety -> Quality -> People -> Production -> Flow -> Shipment Readiness -> Handoff

THOMPSON/CENTER FIREARMS

AMERICA'S MASTER GUNMAKER

POSITION SUMMARY

The Second Shift Production Supervisor owns all Thompson/Center production activity during second shift, combining Manufacturing Supervisor and Assembly Supervisor responsibilities into one operational leadership position. The supervisor is responsible for maintaining safe and controlled production flow across machining, receivers, secondary operations, assembly, final inspection, packing and shipment staging. Because this position operates five days per week, the supervisor serves as a critical daily link between first‑shift planning/leadership and second‑shift execution. This is a hands‑on WORKING SUPERVISOR position, not an office‑only management role. The supervisor is expected to personally perform qualified direct‑production work (such as CNC machining, assembly, equipment operation, or production support) while leading the team and remaining fully accountable for the entire shift.

Core Responsibility

TAKE THE PRODUCTION PLAN FROM FIRST SHIFT AND EXECUTE IT SAFELY, WITH QUALITY, EVERY NIGHT.

The Second Shift Supervisor owns: Safety -> Quality -> People -> Production -> Flow -> Shipment Readiness -> Handoff

WORKING SUPERVISOR — REQUIRED HANDS-ON PRODUCTION

This is an active, floor‑based production leadership role. The supervisor must be willing and able to work alongside operators, personally operate equipment or perform assembly/production tasks for which they are trained and qualified, and meet assigned individual production expectations. Supervisory accountability continues during all direct‑production activity.

WORKING SUPERVISOR UTILIZATION STANDARD

Direct‑production and supervisory time are planned based on the number of employees supervised: 2–5 employees: 80% direct production / 20% supervision; 6–9 employees: 70% direct production / 30% supervision; 10 or more employees: 50% direct production / 50% supervision. These are shift‑planning targets, not rigid quotas. Safety, quality, training, staffing, and abnormal conditions take priority when additional supervision is required.

For the anticipated 15–25‑person second‑shift team, the normal planning expectation is approximately 50% qualified direct‑production work and 50% supervisory activities. Applicants must understand that hands‑on production participation is an essential expectation of this position.

SAFETY

• Own second‑shift safety performance and enforce PPE and machine safety requirements.
• Correct unsafe conditions immediately and conduct shift‑start safety communication.
• Stop work when an unsafe condition exists.
• Ensure employees perform only work for which they are properly trained.

PEOPLE

• Lead all second‑shift production employees and assign manpower based on production priorities.
• Manage attendance and staffing.
• Coach and develop operators and team leads.
• Address performance and accountability issues.
• Maintain professional floor discipline and adequate coverage of critical operations.

MANUFACTURING

• Execute the daily receiver and machining production plan.
• Monitor CNC and secondary‑operation output, including chambering and blasting.
• Respond immediately to equipment downtime and coordinate Maintenance/Engineering support.
• Control WIP and FIFO, protect serialized product and prevent uncontrolled overproduction.
• Maintain the established 3‑piece WIP rule where applicable.

ASSEMBLY

• Execute the firearm assembly schedule and balance manpower across assembly operations.
• Ensure material is replenished to the line and utilize Water Spider/material handling resources effectively.
• Monitor hourly output and identify bottlenecks before they cause lost production.
• Ensure final 10 Commandments checks are completed.
• Ensure completed product is properly packed and staged.
• Protect established shipping cutoff requirements.

QUALITY

• Never knowingly pass a defect forward.
• Enforce the 3‑defect rule and stop/escalate recurring defects.
• Properly identify and segregate nonconforming product and maintain MRB controls.
• Use red/locked MRB containers where required and ensure serialized product remains controlled.
• Document quality problems requiring first‑shift follow‑up.
• Ensure standard work and work instructions are followed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position directly supervises approximately 15–25 hourly production employees and carries full supervisory authority and accountability in accordance with Thompson/Center policy and applicable employment law. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Planning, assigning, directing and prioritizing the work of Manufacturing, Assembly and Material Handling personnel across the shift.
• Interviewing, recommending hire, onboarding and training new production employees.
• Conducting performance check‑ins, documenting performance issues and providing input to formal performance reviews.
• Administering progressive discipline, addressing conduct and attendance issues, and partnering with HR on employee‑relations matters.
• Approving timecards, managing overtime authorization and controlling labor cost against the production plan.
• Rewarding and recognizing strong performance and identifying employees ready for cross‑training or advancement.
• Resolving complaints and conflicts among production employees and escalating unresolved issues to the VP of Operations or HR.
• Ensuring all direct reports are current on required safety, quality and job‑specific training prior to performing independent work.

PRODUCTION CONTROL

Throughout the shift, the supervisor must know:

• Production target.
• Actual production.
• Hourly attainment.
• Current constraint.
• Machine downtime.
• Material shortages.
• Quality losses.
• Staffing gaps.
• Product remaining to complete the shift plan.
• Resources should be moved to the constraint, not simply kept within traditional departmental boundaries.

REQUIRED GEMBA ROUTINE

Beginning of Shift

• Safety concerns and staffing.
• Production schedule and priority firearms.
• Receiver and barrel requirements.
• Material shortages.
• Previous‑shift problems.
• Equipment concerns.
• Quality/MRB issues.
• Shipment priorities.

During Shift

Walk Manufacturing > Secondary Operations > Assembly > Final Check > Packing > Staging and ask:

• What is the target?
• Where are we now?
• Are we ahead or behind?
• What is the constraint?
• What do you need?
• What quality issues exist?
• What could prevent us from making today's plan?

End of Shift

• Verify production quantities and shipment staging.
• Verify serialized‑product control and MRB/nonconforming product.
• Verify equipment status, WIP location and material shortages.
• Verify housekeeping/5S, production boards and shift reporting.

DAILY HANDOFF

• SAFETY: Incidents, near misses or concerns.
• PEOPLE: Attendance, staffing or performance concerns.
• QUALITY: Defects, MRB, recurring issues and containment.
• DELIVERY: Plan versus actual and shipment readiness.
• EQUIPMENT: Downtime and open maintenance issues.
• MATERIAL: Shortages affecting production.
• ACTION ITEMS: Problems requiring first‑shift support.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Safety.
• First‑pass yield.
• Scrap/rework.
• Production attainment.
• Hourly output.
• Schedule attainment.
• On‑time shipment readiness.
• Downtime.
• Labor utilization.
• WIP control.
• Attendance.
• 5S.
• Shift‑handoff accuracy.

AUTHORITY

• The Second Shift Supervisor is the senior Operations leader responsible for the facility during assigned second‑shift hours and has authority to:
• Stop production for safety concerns.
• Stop production for significant quality concerns.
• Reallocate production manpower.
• Change production sequence when necessary to protect the overall plan.
• Hold product for Quality review.
• Escalate Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain or IT support when required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated willingness and ability to personally perform qualified hands‑on manufacturing, machining, assembly, or related production work while supervising employees.
• Previous manufacturing supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• CNC, machining and/or assembly manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Lean manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong floor leadership and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to manage multiple production departments simultaneously.
• Understanding of production scheduling and material flow.
• ERP/MRP experience preferred; NetSuite experience beneficial.
• Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Standing, walking and moving throughout the facility for extended periods, including frequent travel between departments.
• Regular use of PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection and other equipment as required by area.
• Occasional lifting/carrying of components, tooling or product up to 35 lbs.
• Exposure to a typical manufacturing environment: machine noise, machining fluids, powder/finishing operations and moving equipment.
• Direct, hands‑on handling of firearms and firearm components in accordance with facility safety and security protocols.

THOMPSON/CENTER SECOND‑SHIFT STANDARD

THE SECOND SHIFT SUPERVISOR OWNS PRODUCTION.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Thompson/Center Firearms is an equal opportunity employer. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications associated with the position and may be updated at management's discretion to reflect changing business needs.