1st Shift Production Supervisor

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and motivated 1st Shift Production Supervisor to lead daily production operations at our Tier 1 automotive manufacturing facility in Charlotte, Michigan. This role is responsible for supervising production associates, ensuring safety, meeting production schedules, and driving continuous improvement in a high-volume plastic injection molding environment.

The ideal candidate has previous supervisory experience in automotive manufacturing, strong leadership skills, and a proven ability to improve productivity, quality, and employee engagement while maintaining a safe work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead first-shift production employees to achieve daily production, quality, and safety objectives.
• Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining efficiency, quality standards, and customer delivery requirements.
• Monitor production metrics including OEE, scrap, downtime, cycle times, and labor efficiency.
• Lead daily shift meetings and communicate production goals, safety expectations, and operational updates.
• Coach, mentor, and develop production associates through training, performance feedback, and accountability.
• Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Materials, and Tooling departments to resolve production issues.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety regulations, and IATF 16949 quality standards.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and minimize downtime.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for production, quality, and equipment issues.
• Maintain accurate production records, employee attendance, and shift reports.
• Promote a positive team environment focused on safety, quality, communication, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Experience supervising employees in a plastic injection molding operation.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production scheduling, and workforce management.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to interpret production metrics and use data to improve operational performance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing reporting systems.

Preferred

• Experience working for a Tier 1 automotive supplier.
• Familiarity with IATF 16949 quality requirements.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• Knowledge of automated manufacturing equipment and robotic cells.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary of $70,000–$75,000 based on experience