Production Supervisor

JM Selection are currently recruiting for one of the UK’s leading precision metal pressings, stampings and assemblies specialists, with a manufacturing heritage in Redditch. The company has made strategic investments which includes a £500,000 site expansion to integrate the acquired Quality Springs & Pressings business, and a further £150,000 invested in additional Agie Charmilles wire erosion capacity to extend the in-house tool room.

General role

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Production Area Supervisor leads the setting and operations team within an allocated section of the power press shop. They are accountable for the safe, efficient and right-first-time delivery of production from that section – leading their team day to day, coordinating tool changes and set-ups, driving OEE, output and quality performance, and protecting the welfare and development of their people.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the setting and operations team within the allocated power press section.
• Hold daily shift briefings, allocate work clearly and ensure structured handovers between shifts.
• Manage day-to-day attendance, holiday cover, performance and conduct in line with company HR policy, with support from the Production Manager and HR.
• Coach and mentor team members, identify training and development needs, and actively support apprentices and new starters.
• Deliver the agreed production schedule for the section – output, on-time delivery and adherence to plan.
• Coordinate planned and reactive tool changes with the Tool Room to minimise downtime and protect tool life.
• Monitor and drive section KPIs – OEE, output, scrap, rework, downtime and changeover times – taking targeted action when performance drifts.
• Ensure material flow into and out of the section is well-managed, and that right-first-off is achieved on every set-up.
• Ensure COSHH controls are observed for lubricants, oils, solvents and cleaning products.
• Lead toolbox talks, near-miss reporting and post-incident learning within the section.
• Ensure first-off inspections, in-process checks and end-of-run controls are completed in line with the quality plan.
• Work closely with the Quality team to contain, investigate and resolve non-conformances at source.
• Support APQP, PPAP and customer-specific quality requirements across our aerospace (EN9100), automotive (IATF 16949) and environmental (ISO 14001) accreditations.
• Lead 5S, standard work and visual management within the section.
• Identify and deliver improvements to changeover time (SMED), OEE and quality first-time.

Key skills and experience

• Proven supervisory or team-leader experience within a power press, metal stamping or comparable batch-manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical and hydraulic power presses, including tool change and setting principles.
• Solid understanding of machine safety legislation and standards – PUWER, machine guarding, light curtains, two-hand controls, lock-out / tag-out.
• Track record of delivering production KPIs – output, OEE, scrap, on-time delivery and changeover time.
• Practical experience of lean manufacturing tools – 5S, SMED, standard work, visual management.
• Strong people-leadership skills – comfortable with day-to-day team management, coaching, performance conversations and conflict resolution.
• Computer literacy – confident with MRP / MES systems and Microsoft Office.
• Experience supervising in environments accredited to IATF 16949, EN9100 or ISO 14001.
• Familiarity with high-speed press platforms – Bruderer, Bihler, Finzer, Haulick & Roos, SMV or similar.
• Practical exposure to APQP / PPAP and other automotive or aerospace quality processes.
• Experience leading or contributing to formal continuous improvement programmes.

Qualifications

• ILM Level 3 (or equivalent) team-leader / supervisory qualification – held or willingness to work towards.
• IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General Certificate – held or willingness to obtain.
• Mechanical engineering apprenticeship or relevant technical qualification welcomed.

Package and Benefits

• 39-hour working week.
• Life assurance cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Company social events.
• On-the-job training, professional development and clear progression pathways within a growing business.