Supervisor at Katayama American Company Llc – Shelbyville, Kentucky

The Production Supervisor will lead and develop associates and team leaders in a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment. This role requires a leader who thinks strategically and prioritizes Safety, Quality, and Delivery (SQD) while driving continuous improvement and fostering cross-functional collaboration. The Production Supervisor should be highly organized, customer-focused, and capable of identifying and addressing issues through data-driven root cause analysis.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Directly supervise up to 50 employees in a production department.
• Ensure compliance with standard operating procedure (SOP).
• Coach, mentor, and develop associates and team leaders to achieve operational excellence.
• Adjust resources to meet production demands.
• Follow weekly schedules to achieve daily requirements.
• Ensure compliance with required paperwork such as control sheets, weekly schedules, 5M changes etc.
• Responsible for ensuring a safe environment and promoting a culture of safety among team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct monthly performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback.
• Identify and nurture future leadership within the team.
• Translate strategic goals into tactical plans and measurable actions on the production floor.
• Align team objectives with broader organizational goals to meet customer and business expectations.
• Monitor KPIs and initiate actions to close performance gaps.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to ensure stable and efficient operations.
• Actively participate in problem-solving teams and root cause analysis (5-Why, Fishbone, etc.).
• Escalate issues appropriately while maintaining a sense of urgency and ownership.
• Manage daily operations with a clear focus on Safety, Quality, and Delivery.
• Support lean manufacturing principles and drive waste reduction initiatives.
• Participate in driving corrective actions based on customer complaints, audits, and performance trends.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment; Tier 1 automotive experience highly preferred.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Proven ability to think strategically and execute tactically under pressure.
• Experience with lean tools and problem-solving methodologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.