Value Stream Supervisor - Weld & Grind/Polish

The Baker Company; Sanford (ME); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Baker Company in Sanford, Maine is seeking a Value Stream Supervisor for Weld & Grind/Polish to lead a hands-on team building American-made laboratory and clean air equipment. You’ll oversee welding and grind/polish, develop welders, and ensure high quality, craftsmanship, and safety.

Reporting to the Manufacturing Operations Manager, this role emphasizes continuous improvement, 5S, lean manufacturing, scheduling, and training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent manufacturing experience.
• Five years of TIG welding and supervisory experience required.
• Strong communication and leadership skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of welding and grind/polish teams, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives using lean tools and 5S.
• Manage downtime and coordinate with plant teams to improve line capacity and efficiency.
• Develop and apply control plans to sustain improvements and quality.
• Mentor teams on Lean methodologies and problem solving.
• Ensure documentation and training support compliance and safety.

Skills

Welding supervision

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

Communication

Scheduling

5S

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent manufacturing experience

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Join The Baker Company as our Value Stream Supervisor - Weld & Grind/Polish and lead a team that takes pride in building products that make a difference. At The Baker Company, we manufacture high-quality, American-made laboratory and clean air equipment used in scientific research and healthcare. In this hands-on leadership role, you’ll oversee welding and grind/polishing operations, support and develop skilled welders, and help ensure our products meet the highest standards for quality, craftsmanship, and safety. If you’re an experienced welding professional who enjoys leading people, solving problems, and taking pride in work that has a purpose, we’d love to have you join our team in Sanford, Maine.

The Value Stream Supervisor – Weld & Grind/Polish is a leadership position, reporting directly to the Manufacturing Operations Manager with responsibility to lead, direct, and manage weld and grind/polish departments. The position oversees and manages the day-to-day production environment on site, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement. The role requires a strong managerial skill set, including experience with team building, leadership skills, scheduling, 5S, lean manufacturing, inventory control and quality. Role model and demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct supervision of assigned employees including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Assist and support plant teams (Value Stream Supervisor and Team Leads) with goal-setting and tracking for Continuous Improvement measures.
• Manage unscheduled equipment down time.
• Select and apply appropriate Continuous Improvement tools aimed at improving line capacity, production line efficiency and process reliability.
• Use KPIs to drive the operation and improve the process.
• Support the capital plan and execute against those plans by achieving compliance to schedule targets.
• Create control plans for improvement efforts such that the improvements gained are sustainable.
• Facilitate, train and mentor effective teams to solve problems and eliminate waste.
• Mentor and coach teams on Continuous Improvement and Lean methodology.
• Ensure that all necessary documentation is completed and recommend process changes and employee training to meet and maintain compliance.
• Work with production teams to effectively identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Establish, communicate and reapply agreed upon best practices.
• Direct and coordinate various programs essential to manufacturing procedures (e.g. training, safety, housekeeping, cost reduction, worker involvement, etc.)
• Assist in managing inventory to ensure appropriate levels are maintained and material movement is being tracked and transferred accurately.
• Identify, recommend and implement changes to improve productivity and reduce cost and scrap, monitor scrap and rework data. Direct the establishment, implementation and maintenance of production standards.
• Direct and monitor department leads to accomplish goals of the manufacturing plan, consistent with established manufacturing and safety procedures.
• Act as a liaison between departments to inform personnel of communications, decisions, policies and all matters that affect their performance, attitudes, and results.
• Assist in the development and formulation of long and short-range planning, policies, programs and objectives.
• Reinforce associate’s awareness of keeping the customer’s end use and needs in mind with every task they do.
• Provide value to our customers by using Lean tools and concepts to identify and eliminate waste in all forms (scrap/rework, transportation, motion, waiting, inventory, over production, over processing, and under-utilization of people). Uses systemic thinking by seeing processes from end to end and works to challenge the status quo to eliminate the root cause of problems. Is involved in individual and/or team activities that involve using Lean tools and concepts to improve the flow of information and material.
• Other duties as required by supervision.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Safety

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Must have physical capabilities commensurate with the job’s requirements
• Must have a high safety awareness of self, others and surrounding environment

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent manufacturing experience
• Five years of TIG welding and supervisory experience required
• Basic computer skills – but not limited MS Office
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Ability to guide a team to collectively create actionable solutions
• Must have strong communication skills, both verbal and written, plus possess strong negotiation skills to be successful in this position
• Experience with Lean

SHIFT:

1st Shift = 6:50am-3:10pm, Monday-Friday

Relocation and employment sponsorship are not offered.

The salary range for this role is $70,000-$85,000 USD. The range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. The Baker Company considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.