Rack Fabrication Production Supervisor

Specialized Talent Acquisition Recruiting Team (START); Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Specialized Talent Acquisition Recruiting Team (START) seeks a hands-on production supervisor to lead a rack systems team in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. You will plan daily work, align materials, and set up work areas before shifts, ensuring on-time delivery while balancing quality, cost, productivity, and safety.

You will coach the team to improve workmanship, adopt Lean practices, and meet key performance indicators.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in material handling/manufacturing (union experience a plus).
• 2+ years supervising employees on the production floor.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Lean/Continuous Improvement experience with track record of implementation.
• Proficiency in forklift operation and basic painting/mechanical assembly.

Responsibilities

• Lead production employees to meet or exceed planned output.
• Create and adjust daily/weekly schedules; remove roadblocks.
• Coordinate materials and monitor inventory levels.
• Conduct first-article and in-process inspections.
• Coach team for high workmanship, efficiency, and teamwork.
• Apply Lean layouts and techniques for continuous improvement.
• Balance quality, productivity, cost, and safety to meet KPIs.
• Train, motivate, monitor, and evaluate performance; provide feedback.
• Ensure safety procedures; lead incident investigations.
• Maintain shop-floor organization and housekeeping, reduce rework, manage maintenance expenses.
• Flag priority projects; communicate issues affecting schedules and ship dates.
• Process production cards and verify timecards; ensure deadlines.
• Foster professional communication and report employee relations issues to HR.
• Administer CBA and Work Rules; handle grievances.
• Set up work areas for next day; open/close building.

Skills

Team leadership

Scheduling

Lean/Continuous Improvement

Quality focus

Problem solving

Communication

Safety

Engineering drawings interpretation

MIG welding

Forklift operation

Paint spraying

Tools

MIG welding

Forklift operation

Paint sprayer

Job description

About the roleLead a hands-on production team building rack systems in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You’ll plan the day’s work, align materials, and set up work areas before the shift begins—then keep operations moving smoothly from first-piece checks to final output. Your focus: hit or exceed plan while balancing quality, cost, productivity, and safety.What you’ll doCoordinate, direct, and lead production employees to meet or outperform budgeted output.Build and adjust daily/weekly schedules, assign work, and remove roadblocks to keep workflow on track.Stage and coordinate materials for each job; monitor and maintain inventory levels.Conduct first-article and periodic in-process inspections to ensure work meets policies, procedures, and specifications.Coach the team for top-tier workmanship, efficiency, commitment, and teamwork.Implement Lean layouts, tools, and techniques in your area to drive continuous improvement.Balance quality, productivity, cost, and safety to achieve strong results across all KPIs.Train, motivate, monitor, and evaluate employee performance; provide timely feedback.Control and minimize labor hours while safeguarding quality and schedule.Ensure safety and incident reporting procedures are followed; lead accident and injury investigations.Own shop-floor organization and housekeeping standards.Reduce rework and manage maintenance and shop supply expenses within your area.Flag and communicate priority projects or issues—especially those impacting customer schedules and ship dates.Distribute, collect, review, verify, and enter employee production cards on deadline.Review, verify, and submit employee timecards by required cutoffs.Foster professional, respectful communication across the team.Identify and report employee relations issues to Human Resources.Administer the CBA and Work Rules; handle grievances through the first step.Set up work areas for the next day; open and close the building(s) as assigned.What you bring5+ years in a material handling and/or manufacturing plant (union experience a plus).2+ years supervising employees on the production floor.Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.Lean/Continuous Improvement experience with a track record of implementation.Strong attention to detail and proven problem-solving ability.MIG welding ability preferred.Forklift operation proficiency.Proficiency in industrial & commercial painting and mechanical assembly; familiarity with a paint sprayer.Physical demands & work environmentRegular standing, walking, bending, and movement throughout the facility.Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds; some physical exertion required.Exposure to shop elements including noise, dust, fumes, and odors.Required PPE: safety glasses and steel-toe footwear.