Production Supervisor

Mercer Mass Timber; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercer Mass Timber in Conway, Arkansas, is seeking a Production Supervisor to oversee the Grade Line, Finger Joint Line, and Press Lines. You will drive throughput, ensure quality and safety, and lead a diverse crew in a high-volume timber processing environment.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in wood manufacturing, hands-on with automated grading, CNC workflows, and ERP/MES data analysis; OSHA 30 is preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in wood manufacturing with team leadership on multi-shift operations.
• Experience with lean manufacturing to maximize throughput and minimize waste.
• Familiarity with ERP/MES data analysis to track yield and labor efficiency.
• Hands-on with automated grading, CNC workflows, and hydraulic/vacuum presses.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Grade Line, Finger Joint Line and Press Lines to meet targets and quality.
• Identify bottlenecks and apply Lean methods to improve OEE and reduce waste.
• Monitor moisture content and adhesive spread rates; calibrate hydraulic press operations.
• Coordinate with maintenance to minimize downtime and ensure audit readiness.

Skills

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

OEE optimization

Safety compliance

3D BIM interpretation

Education

OSHA 30 preferred

Tools

ERP/MES systems

Excel

Job description

Who we are.

At Mercer Mass Timber we are exceptional people making mass timber for a more sustainable world. We are North America’s largest Mass Timber Manufacturer, with facilities in Penticton, British Columbia, Spokane Valley, Washington, and Conway, Arkansas with a combined annual production capacity of over 255,000 cubic metres of mass timber. MMT is part of Mercer International, a leading forest products company who is one of the world’s largest market pulp producers and operates the world’s largest sawmill. Mercer has operations in Canada, Germany, and the United States.

Position Description

Reporting to the Operations Manger, the Production Supervisor oversees the daily operations of the Grade Line, Finger Joint Line, and Press Lines (CLT & GLT). This role is responsible for ensuring production targets are met while maintaining rigorous quality standards and safety protocols. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who can optimize throughput, manage a diverse crew, and troubleshoot the complexities of large-scale timber engineering.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full manufacturing lifecycle: raw lumber grading, finger-jointing, layup, and final pressing.
• Identify bottlenecks and leverage Lean Manufacturing principles to maximize OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and minimize waste.
• Oversee critical variables including moisture content (10%–15% range), adhesive spread rates (MUF/PUR), and hydraulic press calibrations.
• Partner with the maintenance team to coordinate preventative schedules and eliminate unplanned downtime on critical machinery.
• Ensure every panel meets or exceeds ANSI/APA PRG 320 and structural (tension) design values.
• Maintain meticulous logs, ensuring the facility is always "audit-ready" for third-party agencies (APA, PFS, UL).
• Manage rigorous quality checks, from finger-joint geometry and proof-loading to bond line integrity and "closed assembly" timing.
• Supervise and mentor 17-18 operators, managing everything from shift scheduling to high-level performance evaluations.
• Enforce zero-compromise safety standards, including LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), machine guarding, and PPE compliance.
• Lead daily "toolbox talks" to solve production hurdles and improve changeover speeds between product lines.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5+ years in wood manufacturing with at least 3 years experience leading teams of 15+ in a multi-shift, high-volume industrial environment.
• knowledge of wood science, moisture dynamics, and fiber stress-grading would be advantageous.
• Skilled in ERP/MES systems and data analysis (Excel) to track yield and labor efficiency.
• Hands‑on experience with automated grading, CNC workflows, and hydraulic/vacuum press operations.
• OSHA 30 preferred.
• Ability to interpret 3D BIM models and complex technical shop drawings.