Production Supervisor: Drive Lean, Quality & On-Time Delivery

Fairbanks Morse Defense; Thomaston (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401k with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Ward Leonard LLC, a Fairbanks Morse Defense Company, in Thomaston, CT, seeks a Production Supervisor to oversee shop-floor operations and ensure service, quality, and production goals for naval power projects.

You will drive continuous improvement, manage schedules, and collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing to refine Routers, BOMs, and ECNs while maintaining a safe, organized work environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or trade certification with a minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, resource management, and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems for scheduling and capacity planning (e.g., Visual).
• Ability to interpret engineering and manufacturing documents such as BOMs, Routers, and Engineering Change Notices.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operations to ensure quality, productivity, and on-time delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in morale, discipline, environmental compliance, cleanliness, and cross-training.
• Identify and resolve capacity constraints using ERP, scheduling tools, and capacity analysis.
• Monitor and adjust production schedules to ensure timely completion of work orders.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing to review and refine manufacturing documents (Routers, BOMs, ECNs).
• Maintain ERP data entry and reporting accuracy and reliability.

Skills

Production scheduling

Resource management

Manufacturing processes

ERP scheduling

BOM/Routers/ECN interpretation

Communication

Education

High school diploma or trade certification

Tools

Visual ERP

Job description

Position Overview:
The Production Supervisor will oversee operations to ensure customer requirements (Service, Quality, and Quantity) are met while aligning with Ward Leonard’s business objectives. This role involves managing daily shop floor activities, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring efficient use of resources to achieve production goals. The ideal candidate will have strong technical knowledge, organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a clean, safe, and productive work environment.

In this function, you will:

• Supervise daily operations to ensure quality standards, productivity, and on-time delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in areas such as morale, discipline, environmental compliance, cleanliness, and cross-training.
• Identify and resolve capacity constraints (labor and equipment) through effective use of ERP systems, scheduling tools, and capacity analysis.
• Monitor and adjust production schedules to ensure timely completion of work orders.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to review and refine manufacturing documents, including Routers, BOMs, and Engineering Change Notices.
• Ensure the accuracy and reliability of manufacturing data entry and reporting.
• Maintain and improve ERP system functionality by providing feedback on scheduling, dispatch accuracy, and resource management.
• Support preventative maintenance efforts, address mechanical issues, and ensure timely resolution using the DLA process.
• Ensure consumable materials are ordered and on-hand for production team members.
• Oversee material handling in collaboration with planning and ensuring sufficient resources for production requirements.
• Conduct employee interviews, provide annual performance appraisals, and ensure team members receive proper training on ERP systems and company policies.
• Monitor Dayforce for direct employees daily.
• Participate in departmental budget preparation, including salary administration.
• Promote and enforce safety, cleanliness, and housekeeping standards to ensure a safe and organized work environment.
• Represent the Department on Continuous Improvement Task Teams and support improvement initiatives.

Basic (Required) Qualifications:

• High school diploma or trade school certification with a minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing, preferably in operations.
• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, resource management, and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems for scheduling and capacity planning (e.g., Visual).
• Ability to interpret engineering and manufacturing documents such as BOMs, Routers, and Engineering Change Notices.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on teamwork and collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of hazardous material handling and environmental compliance.
• Familiarity with preventative maintenance programs and equipment troubleshooting.
• Previous experience mentoring and training employees in a manufacturing setting.

Position Criteria:

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to promoting a safe and compliant workplace.
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving capacity constraints.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve production objectives.
• Proficiency with standard office software and manufacturing tools.

Work Environment:

• This role requires spending approximately 80% of the time on the shop floor and 20% in an office environment.
• Safety is a top priority, and all employees must adhere to safety protocols and use proper safety equipment when required.

Physical Requirements:

• This position involves standing/manufacturing for approximately 80% of the time.
• Requires lifting of materials and tools.

Training / Cross-Training / Progression:

• Participate in ongoing training initiatives, including 5S, Continuous Improvement, On-Time Delivery, and Total Preventative Maintenance.
• Engage in cross-training efforts to develop employee skills and ensure workforce flexibility.
• Actively support and implement improvement ideas to enhance productivity and quality in the Department.