Job Title: Production Supervisor
Location: Danvers, MA
Commitment: Full-Time, Exempt
Workplace Summary:
Backer Hotwatt, Inc., established in 1952, is a leading manufacturer of custom and standard electric heating elements and thermal solutions designed to solve complex engineering challenges. Companies across the medical device, semiconductor, industrial equipment, HVAC, aerospace, and test & measurement markets rely on Backer Hotwatt for innovative products, exceptional quality, and responsive customer support.
The Production Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of assigned production areas, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with production schedules and quality standards. This role provides direct leadership to production employees, supports workflow execution, promotes accountability on the production floor, and works closely with the Production Manager and cross-functional teams to help meet operational goals.
The ideal candidate has experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment, understands the importance of safety, quality, and on-time delivery, and can effectively balance employee support, floor presence, and production accountability in a fast-paced setting.
Key Responsibilities
1. Production Oversight & Schedule Execution
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Supervise daily production activities to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and according to schedule.
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Support the execution of production plans established by the business, helping ensure customer demand and delivery timelines are met.
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Coordinate labor and resources within assigned areas to maintain workflow and achieve daily production targets.
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Monitor production progress throughout the shift and escalate scheduling, staffing, equipment, or material concerns as needed.
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Communicate daily priorities, schedule changes, and production updates clearly to employees and leadership.
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Assist in tracking production performance metrics such as output, efficiency, on-time delivery, and scrap.
2. Team Leadership & Employee Support
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Provide day-to-day supervision, direction, and support to production employees across assigned areas.
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Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and professionalism on the production floor.
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Train, coach, and develop employees to improve performance, flexibility, and engagement.
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Support cross-training efforts to build coverage and strengthen team capability.
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Conduct shift start-up meetings or regular team huddles to communicate priorities, updates, and expectations.
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Partner with the Production Manager on employee performance, coaching, corrective action, and development planning.
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Help onboard new employees and ensure they are trained on work instructions, quality standards, and safety procedures.
3. Quality & Process Compliance
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Ensure employees follow established work instructions, quality requirements, and standard operating procedures.
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Monitor product quality throughout the production process and address issues promptly to minimize defects and rework.
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Work closely with the Quality team and Production Manager to investigate non-conformances, identify root causes, and support corrective actions.
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Reinforce quality expectations and help ensure finished products meet customer and company standards.
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Identify opportunities to improve consistency, reduce errors, and strengthen process discipline.
4. Continuous Improvement & Operational Support
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Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, productivity, quality, and workflow efficiency.
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Assist with lean manufacturing and 6S efforts within assigned production areas.
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Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and process challenges and communicate improvement ideas to leadership.
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Participate in efforts to improve layout, material flow, equipment utilization, and overall productivity.
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Encourage employees to contribute ideas that improve operations and team performance.
5. Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance
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Promote and enforce a safe work environment by ensuring compliance with OSHA requirements and company safety policies.
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Monitor employee adherence to PPE requirements, safe work practices, and housekeeping standards.
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Address unsafe conditions or behaviors promptly and escalate concerns when needed.
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Support safety training, incident follow-up, and corrective action implementation.
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Participate in safety walks, audits, and other initiatives that help maintain a safe and organized workplace.
6. Materials, Inventory & Floor Coordination
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Help ensure production areas have the materials, tools, and supplies needed to maintain workflow.
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Monitor work-in-progress and material usage within assigned departments.
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Communicate shortages, inventory discrepancies, or material concerns to the appropriate teams in a timely manner.
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Support the efficient movement of materials throughout the production process to minimize delays and downtime.
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Assist with inventory accuracy and organization on the production floor.
7. Communication & Cross-Functional Collaboration
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Serve as a key point of communication between production employees and leadership.
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Work closely with the Production Manager, Planning, Quality, Procurement, Customer Service, Maintenance, and HR to support daily operations.
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Communicate production issues, staffing concerns, equipment needs, and operational risks in a timely and professional manner.
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Provide updates on shift performance, team needs, and production challenges.
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Help reinforce company goals, department expectations, and operational priorities across the team.
8. Accountability
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Set clear daily expectations for employees regarding productivity, quality, attendance, conduct, and safety.
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Hold team members accountable for following procedures and meeting performance expectations.
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Address performance issues promptly and consistently, in partnership with the Production Manager and HR as needed.
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Recognize strong performance while maintaining fairness and consistency across the team.
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Lead by example through dependability, professionalism, follow-through, and a strong work ethic.
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Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and accountability across assigned production areas.
What We Are Looking For
Requirements:
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High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or additional manufacturing/technical training preferred.
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3+ years of manufacturing experience required, with prior leadership, lead, or supervisory experience preferred.
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Experience working in a fast-paced production environment with responsibility for meeting schedules and quality expectations.
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Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
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Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, safety practices, and quality standards.
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Ability to coach employees, manage priorities, and respond effectively to changing production needs.
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Familiarity with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and 6S practices preferred.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office and comfort working with production-related systems or reporting tools.
What We Have To Offer
We offer benefit packages that may include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Paid Time Off (including your birthday), Paid Holidays, and 401(k).
Additional Duties You Should Understand
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
Backer Hotwatt, Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, protected genetic information, political affiliation, or any other characteristics protected by local laws, regulations, or ordinances.
