Operations Supervisor (1st Shift)

Vollrath Company; Kiel (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the metal industry seeks an Operations Supervisor to oversee production and planning operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a background in lean manufacturing, and the ability to manage union team members effectively. Responsibilities include maintaining safety standards, managing production schedules, and ensuring quality service. Join a collaborative environment that values data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience managing people directly.
• Experience working in a union environment preferred.
• Previous experience in the metal and metal forming industry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe and clean work environment.
• Complete the production schedule by assigning personnel.
• Ensure accurate manufacturing information by compiling production records.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Lean Manufacturing

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Operations Supervisor is a self-motivated individual with a sense of urgency to supervise factory production and planning operations. This individual will work collaboratively with the rest of the organization to achieve the overall business objectives. The Operations Supervisor will make data-driven decisions and utilize critical thinking including risk/reward trade-offs. In addition, this role will provide regular progress reports and summaries to all levels of the organization from the shop floor to operations leadership.

Job Responsibilities

1. Maintain a safe and clean work environment by educating and directing personnel on the use of all control points, equipment, and resources, maintaining compliance with established policies and procedures.
2. Conduct regular safety discussions and audits with individuals and groups of employees.
3. Complete the production schedule by assigning personnel, accomplishing work results, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules, resolving problems, and reporting results of the processing flow on shift production summaries.
4. Achieve manufacturing results by communicating job expectations, planning, monitoring, and appraising job results, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees, and enforcing systems, policies, and procedures.
5. Ensure accurate manufacturing information by compiling, initiating, sorting, analyzing, and correcting production performance records and data, and responding to questions and requests.
6. Maintain workflow by monitoring process steps, observing control points and equipment, studying methods, implementing cost reductions, developing reporting procedures, and fostering cooperation between departments.
7. Maintain quality service by following and enforcing organizational standards.
8. Maintain working relationships with the union by adhering to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
9. Ensure equipment operation by scheduling repairs, evaluating new equipment and techniques.
10. Resolve personnel issues by analyzing data, investigating, identifying solutions, and recommending actions.
11. Maintain professional and technical knowledge through workshops, publications, networking, benchmarking, and participation in professional societies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Union team members report to this position.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management or related field preferred.
• One to three (1–3) years of experience managing people directly.
• Experience working in a union environment (preferred).
• Previous experience in the metal and metal forming industry (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven leadership and managerial skills.
• Effective communication across all management levels.
• Ability to delegate effectively and collaborate across departments.
• Strong background in lean manufacturing principles.
• Ability to engage and motivate people at all levels, balancing process/system focus with results.
• Understanding of lean principles such as standard work, value stream mapping, 5S, and kaizen events.
• Proficient in ERP/MRP systems (JD Edwards preferred).

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

Motivations

Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer
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