Production Supervisor

Calqulate; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day-one benefits

401(k) 6% match

Vacation 3 weeks

14 paid holidays

Career progression

Job summary

Calqulate Metrics Ltd is seeking a Production Supervisor for the second shift in our Grand Rapids, MI paint operations. You will lead one Team Leader and approximately 25 production employees, focusing on safety, quality, delivery, and productivity in a unionized automotive manufacturing plant.

You will drive shift start-up meetings, assign labor, monitor line performance, address downtime, and collaborate with QA, Engineering and Maintenance to resolve defects and ensure consistent coating

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in high-volume manufacturing.
• Knowledge of safety and environmental regulations in plant operations.
• Experience with automotive painting or coating processes is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on leadership for second-shift paint operations.
• Lead one Team Leader and ~25 production employees.
• Assign labor and resources to meet daily production requirements.
• Monitor paint-line performance, quality, scrap and downtime; take corrective action.
• Promote safety culture and ensure compliance with procedures and PPE.
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance to resolve defects and process variation.
• Troubleshoot automated paint line, robotics, conveyors, sensors, and controls.
• Ensure materials are staged, tracked, and controlled for uninterrupted ops.
• Conduct shift start-up meetings and provide handover to next shift.
• Train employees and reinforce standardized work within a unionized environment.
• Complete production reports and drive lean improvements.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

5S

Safety culture

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree beneficial

Tools

Robotics

PLC controls

Conveyors

Job description

Our client is a top-tier automotive supplier specializing in high-quality plastic-molded components and painted assemblies for many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and automotive brands. The company combines advanced molding, finishing, and highly automated paint-line capabilities to deliver consistent quality in a high-volume production environment.

The Production Supervisor will lead second-shift operations within the paint operations department, overseeing one Team Leader and approximately 25 employees across loading, unloading, line support, inventory control, material handling, and quality auditing. This is a hands-on floor leadership role focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee engagement within a unionized automotive manufacturing facility.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible, hands-on leadership for second-shift paint operations and ensure the safe, efficient execution of the production schedule.
• Lead, coach, and hold accountable one Team Leader and approximately 25 production employees across loading, unloading, line support, inventory, material handling, and quality functions.
• Assign labor and resources to meet daily production requirements, respond to staffing or equipment constraints, and maintain continuity throughout the shift.
• Monitor paint-line performance, output, quality, scrap, rework, downtime, and material usage; take timely corrective action when targets are not achieved.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with plant procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, chemical-handling standards, and applicable environmental and safety regulations.
• Maintain consistent product appearance and coating quality by partnering with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Production teams to resolve defects and process variation.
• Support troubleshooting of the automated paint line, robotics, conveyors, sensors, controls, and related equipment, escalating technical issues appropriately to minimize downtime.
• Ensure paint, components, packaging, and production materials are staged, tracked, and controlled accurately to support uninterrupted operations.
• Conduct shift start-up meetings, communicate priorities and performance expectations, and provide an effective handover to the next shift and plant leadership.
• Train and develop employees, reinforce standardized work, address performance concerns, and administer workplace policies consistently within a unionized environment.
• Complete production reports, attendance records, quality documentation, and other required shift records accurately and on time.
  Drive continuous improvement through Lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause problem solving, and practical improvements to safety, quality, flow, and productivity.

Requirements

• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, with responsibility for production employees and shift performance.
• Strong floor leadership skills with the ability to organize people, set clear expectations, resolve issues, and maintain accountability in a fast-paced operation.
• Automotive manufacturing experience is strongly preferred; experience with plastic injection molding, blow molding, painted plastic components, or similar production processes is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of industrial painting, coatings, surface preparation, curing, finishing, or paint-quality requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in a unionized manufacturing facility, including familiarity with collective bargaining agreements, work rules, attendance, and progressive discipline, is preferred.
• Exposure to highly automated manufacturing lines, robotics, PLC-controlled equipment, conveyors, sensors, and production automation is desirable.
• Working knowledge of production metrics, quality controls, scrap reduction, downtime management, labor planning, and continuous-improvement methods.
• Strong communication, coaching, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work the full second-shift schedule and be present before shift start and after shift end as operational needs require.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; an associate degree, technical qualification, or relevant leadership training is beneficial.

Position Details

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Schedule: Second shift, Monday through Friday; production hours are approximately 2:20 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The Supervisor must be available before and after the shift as needed.

Salary: Approximately $60,000 - 65,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Overtime: Straight-time overtime compensation applies after 45 hours worked.

Benefits: Benefits begin on day one; 401(k) with a 6% employer match; three weeks of annual vacation from date of hire; and 14 paid holidays, strong career progression.