Production Supervisor

Special-Lite; Benton Harbor (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

401(k) with Company Match

Performance and Holiday Bonuses

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Special-Lite seeks a Production Supervisor to lead daily operations on the Benton Harbor, MI production floor. You will direct Team Leaders and associates, manage staffing and workflow, and drive safety, quality, and on-time output in alignment with company goals.

The role emphasizes coaching, process improvement, and cross‑functional collaboration with R&D, engineering, facilities, and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in a manufacturing environment with leadership experience.
• Experience leading hourly associates and front-line supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Supervise hourly team leaders and production associates to meet safety, quality, and on-time output goals.
• Coordinate staffing/workflow to meet daily production schedules.
• Monitor output against schedules and implement corrective actions.
• Enforce safety, sanitation, and quality policies on the floor.
• Lead training and onboarding of new hires; coach Team Leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Lean manufacturing

Scheduling & coordination

Safety & quality

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in related field (plus)

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description

The Production Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of production areas ensuring safety, quality, on-time output, and effective use of labor. This position leads and directs the work of Team Leaders and production associates, coordinates staffing and workflow to meet production schedules, and helps build a positive, engaged production team consistent with Company values and customer expectations. This position sets priorities, ensures safe work practices and removes bottlenecks to meet schedule, quality, and cost goals. Location: Benton Harbor, MI Shift: Days, 1st shift

• Supervises hourly team leaders and production associates who operate production tools and machinery, assemble products, perform quality control, and/or package goods for shipment.
• Coordinates the flow of work through the department; builds and adjusts work schedules, task assignments, and production sequences to meet daily output and on-time delivery goals.
• Monitors production output against established schedules, cost, and quality standards; identifies process problems and develops and implements corrective action.
• Ensures the department is staffed appropriately and maintains sufficient levels of work-in-process inventory to meet production demand.
• Communicates production priorities, schedule changes, and department performance to associates and Production leadership, including at shift-change and daily production meetings.
• Notifies the Maintenance and Engineering departments when equipment requires repair or preventive maintenance and follows up to confirm resolution.
• Enforces safety, sanitation, and quality policies on the production floor; inspects materials and equipment to identify defects or malfunctions.
• Delivers or coordinates training and cross-training for associates on equipment operation, safety procedures, and quality standards, including onboarding of new hires.
• Participates in departmental meetings (“Whiteboards”) to support and evaluate the performance of assigned associates and provides coaching and feedback; participates in hiring recommendations and administers progressive discipline in accordance with Company policy.
• Addresses employee concerns and helps resolve workplace conflicts; ensures accurate attendance, production, and training records are maintained for the department.
• Recommends and helps implement process, safety, and efficiency improvements within the assigned department.
• Drives process improvement and manufacturing efficiency across assigned production areas by leveraging lean manufacturing principles.
• Manages a team responsible for operating production machinery, assembling items, performing quality control, and packaging goods for shipment.
• Collaborates with R&D, Product Development/Engineering, Facilities/Maintenance, Quality, Customer Service, and other functions to meet organizational goals for safety, efficiency, quality, and profitability.
• Coaches and develops Team Leaders to strengthen departmental leadership.
• Leads the integration of new products and product changes into the production system.
• Ensures safe work practices, resolves safety issues, and maintains a neat, orderly, and organized work area consistent with Company standards.
• Approve purchase requisitions, contributes to departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and procedural change within the production function.Competencies
• Leadership — Leads, coaches, and directs the work of hourly associates and Team Leaders; models and reinforces a positive, safety-first culture. Decision-Making — Exercises sound, timely judgment on the production floor; knows when to act and when to elevate issues beyond the scope of the role.
• Problem & Situation Analysis — Identifies the root cause of production, quality, or equipment issues and recommends practical, timely solutions.
• Teamwork & Collaboration — Works effectively across departments (R&D, Engineering, Maintenance, Customer Service) and with customers to meet shared organizational goals.
• Strategic Thinking — Contributes to departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and procedural change that support broader plant and Company objectives.
• Planning & Project Management — Plans and manages department-wide schedules, staffing, and improvement projects to meet production and delivery goals.

Education and Experience Required

• High school diploma or GED required; accreditation from a technical school or applicable skilled trades program preferred. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field a plus.
• 5 or more years of experience in a manufacturing environment required, including experience leading or supervising production employees.
• Thorough working knowledge of the department’s policies, procedures, and practices, including applicable safety and quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and direct the work of others; experience with personnel decisions such as hiring, performance management, or discipline preferred.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production lines, and equipment. Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard production or ERP systems; demonstrated ability to manage a department budget.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily on the production floor. Safety glasses and safety-toe shoes are required at all times, and hearing protection is required in designated areas.

Physical Demands

• Use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate equipment, tools, or controls, and to reach with hands and arms.
• Talk, hear, stand, and walk.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, twist, or crawl, and to lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee is occasionally subject to loud noise.

Travel

Travel is not typically required for this position, though occasional travel to other Company locations may be required based on business need.

Benefits at Special-Lite

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Performance and Holiday Bonuses
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Tuition Reimbursement/Educational Assistance and Professional Development Support
• Parental Leave

About Special-Lite

We manufacture custom door, frame, and interior solutions for new construction and retrofit projects across educational, commercial, institutional, industrial, and municipal applications—combining hands‑on craftsmanship with advanced technology to deliver exceptional quality, performance, and reliability. Built to last in high usage and challenging environments, our high‑quality and made‑to‑order solutions are unique in the industry. The products we build welcome, protect, and enhance spaces across the U.S. and beyond. You would probably recognize more than a few of our famous customers. As one of the largest volume producers of commercial FRP doors, you may have even already walked through one of our solutions. For more than 55 years, we have been driven to grow through relationships as strong as our products. We are committed to the success of our employees, our customers, and our communities. We stand behind our products with passion and excellent customer service. People. Passion. Performance. Visit special-lite.com to learn more. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic.