Supervisor Trainee

prattinternalcareersite; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Pratt Industries seeks a dependable Production Supervisor Trainee for its corrugated box facility in Grand Rapids, MI. The role supports safe operation of production equipment, quality control, and continuous improvement while rotating across departments to meet demand.

The trainee will help reduce downtime, participate in safety programs, and learn across operations from packaging to maintenance. Pratt Industries offers competitive benefits and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 6 months of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Preferred: packaging, corrugated, paper, plastics, or converting industries.

Responsibilities

• Operate corrugator and other production machines safely.
• Assist with machine setup, maintenance, and cleaning.
• Follow quality control procedures and perform in-process checks.
• Collaborate with supervisors and other departments to ensure smooth operations.
• Maintain housekeeping and safe work areas.
• Willingness to rotate between departments and work overtime as needed.

Skills

Reading & following instructions

Tape measure reading

Basic math

Lift Truck Operator License

Education

High school diploma or GED

Minimum 6 months manufacturing experience

Tools

Lift Truck Operator License

Job description

We are seeking a dependable and safety-focused Production Supervisor Trainee with prior manufacturing experience to join our corrugated box manufacturing facility. This position is designed for individuals with a solid foundation in production or packaging operations who are ready to expand their skills across multiple departments. The Production Trainee will be responsible for safely operating equipment, supporting quality standards, minimizing downtime, and recommending improvements to operations to meet customer demand.

Duties and Responsibilities

Safety & Compliance

• Always work in a safe manner and comply with company safety rules and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Participate in the Plant Safety Committee and help uphold safety standards across the team.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, hazards, or equipment issues.

Production Operations

• Operate a variety of production machines, including corrugator, flexo folder gluers, die cutters, stackers, and balers.
• Assist with machine setup, minor maintenance, and cleaning tasks.
• Understand machine capabilities and contribute to reducing waste and downtime while maintaining product quality.
• Work across different departments and equipment as needed based on production demands.
• Additional duties may be assigned by management.

Quality Assurance

• Follow all quality control procedures to ensure product meets or exceeds customer expectations.
• Conduct in-process quality checks and prevent non-conforming products from reaching customers.
• Complete accurate and timely production, safety, and quality reports.

Teamwork & Flexibility

• Collaborate with machine operators and supervisors to support smooth operations.
• Be adaptable to schedule or task changes and willing to rotate between departments.
• Maintain a positive and proactive approach to learning new equipment and processes.
• Must be able to work overtime as necessary, sometimes on short notice.

Housekeeping

• Housekeeping and cleaning of work areas – keep clean and free of tripping hazards during shift and end of shift cleaning of the area. In addition, good housekeeping of areas employee utilizes; break rooms, bathrooms, refrigerators etc.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Required: Minimum 6 months of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Preferred: Prior experience in packaging, corrugated, paper, plastics, or converting industries.

Language Skills

• Able to read and follow instructions; quality, safety, job packets

Mathematical Skills

• Able to read a tape measure with speed and accuracy. Able to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages, measurement, volume and rate. Able to apply concepts of high school math.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or graphic form. Ability to deal with problems involving one or more concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• May be required to maintain a current Lift Truck Operator License.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may occasionally be required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Pratt Industries is America's 5th largest paper and packaging company with more than 9,000 highly skilled green collar employees dedicated to the environment and sustainability. Pratt Industries is one of the largest corrugated packaging companies in America, with sophisticated manufacturing facilities in more than twenty states. The company operates several of the most modern, cost effective paper mills in the country, as well as a series of sheet and box plants strategically placed throughout the United States offering a wide range of creative packaging solutions. Pratt Industries is committed to recycling and the environment by harvesting the urban forest.

• Pratt Industries offers competitive compensation plans with incentive opportunities, full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, All State, Pre-Paid Legal, and 401(k) with company match, paid vacation, paid holidays, and childbearing and parental leave.