Production Supervisor

SUMMARY:
This role is responsible for ensuring production output, quality compliance, equipment reliability, and cost efficiency while leading and developing production teams.

POSITION INFO:

Job Title: Production Supervisor

Industry: Precision Engineering / High-Volume Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Maitland, Cape Town

Salary: R50,000 – R62,000 pm

Role Overview

Our client, a leading precision engineering manufacturer, is seeking a highly capable Production Supervisor – 2nd Operations to oversee daily shop floor operations within a high-volume mechanical production environment.

This role is responsible for ensuring production output, quality compliance, equipment reliability, and cost efficiency while leading and developing production teams. The successful candidate will be a hands-on, technically minded supervisor with strong operational discipline, capable of driving performance through structured planning, effective leadership, and continuous improvement.

Key Purpose of the Role

Lead daily production execution to meet takt time, output targets, and on-time delivery.
Ensure components are manufactured to specification, on schedule, and at optimal cost.
Maintain stable processes and equipment reliability.
Drive continuous improvement across safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
Minimise waste, downtime, scrap, and rework through disciplined supervision and control.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Qualification in Operations Management or Production Management – essential.
• Mechanical Engineering or related technical qualification – advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years experience in manufacturing or mechanical production.
• Experience in high-volume or repetitive production environments.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience on the shop floor.
• Exposure to production control, workflow planning, and team leadership.
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and compliance requirements.

Languages

• English and Afrikaans.

Key Responsibilities

Production Performance & Throughput

• Execute daily production plans and meet output targets.
• Coordinate operators to maintain continuous workflow and prevent stoppages.
• Balance production lines and allocate labour efficiently.
• Monitor cycle times, bottlenecks, and capacity utilisation.
• Implement immediate corrective actions when targets are at risk.
• Track hourly and daily performance metrics.
• Escalate issues early and implement recovery plans.
• Ensure strict adherence to approved processes and SOPs.
• Oversee specialised processes such as heat treatment, where applicable.
• Maintain a strong focus on Right-First-Time production.

Production Data, Reporting & Control

• Record and analyse production metrics (output, downtime, scrap, labour efficiency).
• Identify trends and losses using factual data.
• Support improvement initiatives through measurable insights.
• Maintain accurate production and system records.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure all production complies with internal procedures and quality standards.
• Enforce process discipline and standard work practices.
• Ensure traceability and correct identification of materials and components.
• Investigate and resolve quality issues immediately.
• Support root-cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Promote a zero-defect mindset across the team.

Equipment Reliability & Maintenance

• Ensure operators perform daily autonomous maintenance checks.
• Monitor machine condition and prevent breakdowns.
• Support TPM and preventative maintenance initiatives.
• Ensure breakdowns are logged and addressed promptly.
• Drive improvements in uptime and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

People Leadership & Supervision

• Lead, coach, and develop operators to meet performance standards.
• Provide clear direction and daily work allocation.
• Manage attendance, timekeeping, and labour utilisation.
• Address behavioural or performance issues promptly.
• Ensure training and competency records are up to date.
• Foster a culture of accountability, discipline, and ownership.

Stock & Material Control

• Ensure material availability to prevent production stoppages.
• Manage work orders and ERP system compliance.
• Control WIP, scrap, and rejects.
• Maintain accurate stock movement records.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Maintain 5S and housekeeping standards.
• Use visual management tools for rapid decision-making.
• Identify waste across processes (waiting, defects, motion, overproduction, inventory).
• Lead improvement projects to increase efficiency and reduce cost.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce safe work practices and PPE compliance.
• Fulfil legal safety responsibilities.
• Stop unsafe work immediately.
• Promote proactive safety awareness.
• Maintain compliance with legal and company requirements.

Cost Control

• Monitor and manage departmental costs.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
• Reduce losses related to scrap, downtime, or inefficiencies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and Support departments.
• Contribute to broader operational and organisational objectives.

Key Performance Indicators

• On-Time Delivery performance
• Throughput vs production plan
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• First-Time-Right / defect rate
• Scrap and rework percentage
• Labour productivity
• Cost per unit produced
• Safety compliance
• Production target achievement

Core Competencies

• Strong production and processing knowledge.
• Understanding of high-volume manufacturing principles.
• Lean manufacturing and waste reduction expertise.
• Line balancing and capacity planning capability.
• Root-cause problem-solving ability.
• Mechanical systems understanding.
• Inventory and production control knowledge.
• ERP and shop-floor systems proficiency.
• People leadership and labour relations skills.

Personal Attributes

• Clear, confident communicator.
• Decisive and action-oriented leader.
• Practical and results-driven.
• Strong problem-solver.
• Able to handle pressure in fast-paced environments.
• High accountability and ownership mindset.
• Skilled in conflict resolution and team motivation.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role is best suited to a technically strong production supervisor who combines hands-on manufacturing knowledge with leadership capability. The ideal candidate thrives in structured environments, understands production metrics, and is motivated by achieving measurable performance improvements.