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.