HORSBURGH & SCOTT Job Description – Gearbox Assembly Supervisor Job Title: Gearbox Assembly Supervisor
Department: Manufacturing Operations – Gearbox Assembly & Repair
POSITION SUMMARY Horsburgh & Scott is seeking an experienced, hands-on Gearbox Assembly Supervisor to lead daily operations within our industrial gearbox assembly, disassembly, inspection, and repair department. This position is responsible for supervising assembly technicians and mechanics, coordinating production activities, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring customer orders are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule. The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical background in industrial gearboxes, power transmission equipment, and heavy industrial machinery, combined with proven leadership experience in a manufacturing or repair environment. The Gearbox Assembly Supervisor must be comfortable working directly on the shop floor, providing technical guidance, resolving mechanical challenges, and holding employees accountable for productivity, quality, safety, and performance. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Production Leadership & Daily Operations - Supervise daily gearbox assembly, disassembly, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair operations.
- Coordinate daily work assignments based on customer priorities, production schedules, manpower availability, and delivery requirements.
- Establish clear daily production goals and communicate expectations to employees.
- Monitor job progress and proactively address issues that could impact production timelines.
- Ensure technicians are working efficiently and effectively while maintaining quality standards.
- Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Planning to resolve production challenges.
- Coordinate overtime and rotating weekend coverage to meet customer commitments.
- Maintain a strong shop-floor presence and provide hands-on assistance when necessary.
2. Gearbox Assembly & Technical Oversight - Oversee the disassembly, inspection, rebuilding, and assembly of industrial gearboxes and related power transmission equipment.
- Provide technical guidance regarding bearings, seals, shafts, gears, housings, and other mechanical components.
- Ensure proper assembly procedures, tolerances, fits, and mechanical specifications are followed.
- Verify critical measurements, clearances, bearing settings, gear contact patterns, backlash, and alignment.
- Assist employees in troubleshooting complex mechanical problems.
- Ensure proper use of precision measuring instruments, lifting equipment, hydraulic tools, and assembly equipment.
- Review engineering drawings, assembly instructions, technical specifications, and work orders.
- Coordinate testing, inspections, and final quality verification before equipment is released.
- Identify opportunities to improve assembly processes, tooling, and repair methods.
3. Employee Supervision & Development - Provide direct supervision, coaching, and technical support to gearbox assembly technicians and mechanics.
- Establish and communicate clear performance expectations.
- Monitor employee attendance, productivity, work quality, and adherence to company policies.
- Conduct employee performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback.
- Identify employee training needs and coordinate technical development.
- Support onboarding and hands-on training of new employees.
- Develop employee versatility through cross-training and skills development.
- Address performance and behavioral concerns promptly and professionally in coordination with Human Resources.
- Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and a positive working environment.
4. Productivity, Efficiency & Continuous Improvement - Monitor labor hours against estimated job hours and production targets.
- Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities to reduce assembly and repair cycle times.
- Improve productivity through effective manpower planning and workflow management.
- Minimize rework, downtime, and unnecessary labor costs.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
- Work with Operations and Engineering to develop standardized assembly procedures.
- Ensure accurate reporting of labor hours, job progress, and production activity.
- Drive accountability for meeting established production and delivery goals.
5. Quality Control & Customer Commitments - Ensure all gearbox assemblies and repairs meet engineering specifications, customer requirements, and company quality standards.
- Verify that inspection and assembly documentation is accurate and complete.
- Ensure all critical measurements and assembly requirements are properly documented.
- Address quality concerns immediately and coordinate corrective actions.
- Support root-cause investigations involving assembly failures, rework, or customer complaints.
- Maintain a strong focus on first-time quality and reducing warranty-related issues.
- Coordinate with Operations leadership to ensure customer delivery commitments are achieved.
6. Safety & Workplace Organization - Enforce all company safety policies and OSHA requirements.
- Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment and safe lifting and rigging practices.
- Conduct routine safety observations and address unsafe conditions immediately.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient assembly department.
- Promote 5S workplace organization and continuous safety improvement.
- Ensure tools, equipment, and work areas are maintained in safe operating condition.
- Participate in safety meetings, incident investigations, and corrective action initiatives.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial gearbox assembly, mechanical repair, heavy equipment maintenance, or a related manufacturing environment.
- Previous supervisory, team lead, or demonstrated leadership experience.
- Strong mechanical knowledge of industrial gearboxes, gear drives, bearings, shafts, seals, and power transmission equipment.
- Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, blueprints, and technical specifications.
- Experience using precision measuring equipment and mechanical assembly tools.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise employees and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong understanding of production scheduling, labor utilization, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical and assembly issues.
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing customer priorities.
- Willingness and availability to work rotating weekends and additional hours based on operational requirements.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - 7–10 years of experience in industrial gearbox assembly, rebuilding, or heavy mechanical repair.
- Experience supervising gearbox mechanics or industrial assembly technicians.
- Experience with large industrial gear reducers, custom gearboxes, and heavy-duty power transmission systems.
- Familiarity with gearbox inspection, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations.
- Experience working in a job-shop or engineered-to-order manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge of ERP systems, production reporting, and labor tracking.
- Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Technical degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent hands-on mechanical experience preferred.
WORK SCHEDULE & AVAILABILITY Regular Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM. Rotating Weekend Requirements: Due to the nature of our industrial gearbox repair and manufacturing operations, this position requires flexibility to support customer demands and production commitments. - Rotating weekend assignments will be scheduled based on operational needs.
- Weekend coverage may be required to support critical customer projects, emergency repairs, and production deadlines.
- Additional hours may be necessary to ensure completion of customer orders and maintain production schedules.
- The supervisor is expected to coordinate staffing and provide leadership coverage during assigned weekend operations.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT - Ability to work in an industrial manufacturing and mechanical assembly environment.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the manufacturing facility for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation; mechanical lifting equipment is available for heavier components.
- Exposure to manufacturing equipment, industrial machinery, noise, and typical shop-floor conditions.
- Required use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Ability to safely work around heavy industrial equipment and lifting operations.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE The successful Gearbox Assembly Supervisor will be a hands-on manufacturing leader who understands industrial gearbox assembly and repair operations. We are seeking an individual who: - Leads by example and maintains a strong presence on the shop floor.
- Understands the importance of customer deadlines and production commitments.
- Can balance technical problem-solving with employee supervision.
- Holds employees accountable while providing coaching and development.
- Takes ownership of departmental productivity, quality, and performance.
- Communicates effectively with employees, management, and supporting departments.
- Thrives in a custom manufacturing and repair environment where priorities can change quickly.
WHY JOIN HORSBURGH & SCOTT? Horsburgh & Scott has a 140-year history of providing engineered gearing solutions, industrial gearboxes, and power transmission products to customers across a wide range of industries. We offer the opportunity to work with complex industrial equipment, lead an experienced team of mechanical professionals, and play a critical role in delivering high-quality products and repair services to our customers. Equal Employment Opportunity Horsburgh & Scott is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to legally protected characteristics.
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