Machine Shop Supervisor
Location: Bolton
Salary & Benefits
- Salary: £40,000 per annum (Negotiable for right candidate)
- Bonus: Performance-related bonus
- Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
- Benefits: As per company policy
- Holiday: 25 days + Statutory holidays
Direct Reports
- Supervising a team of 5 machine shop employees
Main Purpose of the Role
The Machine Shop Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day management, productivity, efficiency, and quality of all machining operations. The role ensures that customer requirements are met on time and to specification, while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and operational efficiency. The position requires a hands‑on, proactive approach and close collaboration with the Sales Department to ensure accurate machine lead times, realistic quotations, and effective production planning. A strong “can‑do” attitude and the ability to lead by example are essential.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
- Directly supervise, support, and develop a team of 5 machine shop employees.
- Supervise and manage all machine shop activities, ensuring production targets and delivery schedules are met.
- Program, set, and operate CNC turning and milling machines as required to meet customer and business needs.
- Ensure productivity is maximised across all machines through effective scheduling, staffing, and workflow control.
- Provide Sales with accurate machining times, costs, and lead times to support customer quotations.
- Ensure job timings are recorded accurately and reviewed for continuous improvement.
- Train and develop machine operators in CNC best practice to maximise efficiency, capability, and machine utilisation.
- Ensure all employees understand their job descriptions, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
- Conduct weekly production meetings, reporting progress, actions, and issues to senior management.
- Provide weekly updates to Sales on production status, capacity, and lead times for new and modified work.
- Encourage multi‑tasking where cycle times allow, ensuring operators carry out secondary machining or value‑added tasks.
- Ensure customer specifications, drawings, and quality requirements are fully understood and met.
- Ensure machining accuracy, in‑process inspection, and final quality checks are completed and correctly recorded.
- Ensure full compliance with the Quality Management System at all times.
- Act as a key member of the Quality Committee, attending and contributing to monthly meetings.
- Promote and enforce safe working practices and compliance with Health & Safety regulations.
- Ensure all company procedures and policies are followed consistently within the Machine Shop.
- Foster a positive, respectful, and professional working environment.
Machine Shop Capability – Supervisor Responsibility
- CMZ TC35MS – Horizontal Turning (2‑axis)
Capacity: Up to Ø500mm
Turning of weld necks and flanges
Boring, drilling, and threading on flange centres
PCD drilling and tapping up to Ø30mm / M12
- Dugard Yang ML55A – Horizontal Turning (2‑axis)
Capacity: Up to Ø500mm
Turning and modification of flanges
Centre boring and drilling
- Monarch – Horizontal Turning (2‑axis)
Capacity: Up to Ø450mm
Four‑jaw chuck capability for non‑round components up to 475mm long
Turning ovals, square flanges, and modifications
- Leadwell VTL‑800 – Vertical Turning (2‑axis)
Capacity: Up to Ø710mm
Used for larger diameter components above Ø500mm
Centre boring and drilling
- Hyundai WIA LV800RM (2019) – Vertical Turning Centre (3‑axis)
Capacity: Up to Ø650mm
Turning, drilling, and tapping
Driven tooling with 10‑tool capacity
- Herbert 9C – Horizontal Turning
Capacity: Up to Ø500mm
General turning and centre drilling
- Webster & Bennett 48" – Vertical Turning
Capacity: Up to Ø1371mm
Boring with pre‑existing bores over Ø160mm up to 150mm deep
- Webster & Bennett 72" – Vertical Turning
Capacity: Up to Ø2000mm
Boring with pre‑existing bores over Ø160mm up to 300mm deep
- Webster & Bennett 36" – Vertical Turning
Capacity: Up to Ø914mm
Boring with pre‑existing bores over Ø160mm up to 150mm deep
- Dugard Eagle 1000 – CNC Milling (3‑axis)
Bed size: 1000 × 500mm
Milling, drilling, and tapping
Flanges under Ø400mm
- Leadwell MVC 1500 – CNC Milling (3‑axis)
Bed size: 1500 × 1000mm
Milling, drilling, and tapping
Flanges up to Ø1000mm (primarily post‑turning)
- Doosan 650II – CNC Milling (3‑axis)
Bed size: 1300 × 670mm
Milling, drilling, and tapping
Flanges up to Ø670mm (primarily post‑turning)
- ODI Asquith – Drilling and tapping
Drilling and tapping
- Kitchen Walker – Drilling and tapping up to 2m OD
Drilling and tapping up to 2m OD
Skills, Experience & Attributes
- Proven experience supervising or leading a machine shop environment.
- Strong CNC turning and milling knowledge.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
- Strong understanding of production planning, lead times, and machining costs.
- Experience working with Qual ity Management Systems.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work closely with Sales and Management.
- Hands‑on, solution‑focused approach with a strong work ethic.
- High awareness of Health & Safety and safe systems of work.
