Company Information
Fríant is a leading manufacturer of innovative, accessible office furniture. Operating at the intersection of style and function, we’re passionate about upholding the ethos that quality craftsmanship and practicality aren’t mutually exclusive. From panel systems and seating to desks, storage, and more, our team is busy year-round creating everything needed for a total office solution. With headquarters and manufacturing in San Leandro, California and a plant in Suffolk, Virginia, our 630,000 square feet of facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and skilled fabric and woodworkers. We craft product that helps teams get things done while feeling good doing it, regardless of industry — because at Fríant, all work styles are welcome.
Summary/Objective
The CNC Operations Supervisor is a hands-on leadership position responsible for overseeing, training, and developing Wood Shop machine operators while supporting the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of CNC and other production equipment. This position requires strong CNC machining experience, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to effectively lead and develop employees in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
The Supervisor will learn and maintain proficiency in Friant’s Wood Shop machinery and other production equipment. This knowledge will be used to train new and existing operators, evaluate employee progression and proficiency, troubleshoot equipment issues, and provide hands-on production support to the engineering technician when necessary.
Working closely with the Engineering Technician & Production Manager, this position will develop a thorough understanding of production cycle times, labor and material requirements, machine capacity, and workflow to help optimize production schedules and respond effectively to changing operational needs. The ideal candidate is technically knowledgeable while also being patient, personable, approachable, and able to clearly teach and communicate with employees of varying levels of experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Directly supervise assigned Wood Shop machine operators and helpers, providing day-to-day direction, coaching, training, support, and accountability
- Establish and communicate clear expectations regarding productivity, quality, safety, attendance, workplace conduct, and proper machine operation
- Learn and maintain proficiency in operating the CNC and production equipment used throughout the Wood Shop, including Holzma, Weeke, Rover B, Rover K, and other production machinery
- Serve as a hands-on technical trainer for new and existing machine operators and helpers during initial onboarding and throughout their continued development
- Train employees on machine safety, setup, startup and shutdown procedures, proper operation, tooling, material handling, quality requirements, troubleshooting, and established production processes
- Demonstrate machine functions and production processes, provide supervised hands-on practice, and adapt training and coaching methods based on each employee's experience, skill level, learning pace, and demonstrated proficiency
- Regularly observe and evaluate operators to determine their progression, proficiency, strengths, and areas requiring additional instruction, practice, or retraining
- Provide timely and constructive feedback and coaching regarding employee performance, productivity, quality, safety, and machine operating practices
- Identify opportunities for cross-training and develop operators on additional machines and processes to improve employee versatility and production flexibility
- Maintain an approachable and supportive working environment where operators feel comfortable asking questions, requesting assistance, reporting equipment concerns, and seeking clarification when needed
- Set up and operate CNC machinery in accordance with production specifications, established procedures, quality standards, and safety requirements
- Perform machine adjustments, calibrations, tooling changes, and other routine technical functions necessary to maintain safe, accurate, and efficient operation
- Diagnose and troubleshoot machine alarms, errors, equipment interruptions, and operating issues; train operators on appropriate basic troubleshooting techniques; and identify recurring equipment issues and recommend corrective actions to the appropriate departments
- Perform or assist with routine equipment maintenance and minor mechanical repairs within the individual’s knowledge, training, and capabilities
- Recognize when equipment issues require additional technical expertise and coordinate with Engineering, Maintenance, Management, or outside technical resources as appropriate
- Maintain sufficient proficiency across Wood Shop machinery and processes to temporarily operate equipment or perform production work when necessary to alleviate production bottlenecks or provide coverage for an absent operator
- Develop and maintain a strong understanding of production flow, including process cycle times, machine capacity, labor and material requirements, production sequencing, and lead times
- Coordinate with relevant managers and leads to optimize Wood Shop production scheduling, machine utilization, staffing, and workflow, and assign or adjust operator responsibilities based on production priorities, employee proficiency, equipment availability, and workload
- Monitor production progress and proactively identify bottlenecks, equipment constraints, staffing shortages, material issues, or other conditions that may affect production, and communicate concerns and recommended adjustments to the appropriate personnel
- Communicate machine downtime, staffing concerns, employee training needs, production delays, and other operational issues to the Production Manager
- Set a strong example for workplace safety and ensure operators follow machine-specific safety procedures, required PPE, guarding requirements, and company safety policies
- Monitor product quality and reinforce established quality standards, providing coaching or retraining when expectations are not met
- Partner with the Manager and Human Resources, as appropriate, regarding employee performance, attendance, conduct, training, or other personnel matters
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment
- Perform other related duties as assigned based on production and operational needs
Competencies
- Leadership & Employee Development: Ability to provide direction, coach employees, establish expectations, and hold team members accountable while maintaining positive working relationships
- Training Ability: Ability to break down technical processes into understandable steps, demonstrate proper procedures, assess comprehension, and develop operators toward independent proficiency
- CNC Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of CNC machine setup, operation, adjustments, tooling, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance
- Mechanical Aptitude & Problem Solving: Ability to methodically diagnose equipment and operational issues, make appropriate adjustments or repairs, and determine when additional technical support is required
- Approachability & Interpersonal Skills: Patient, personable, and approachable, with the ability to build trust and create an environment where employees are comfortable asking questions and seeking assistance
- Safety Leadership: Demonstrates and reinforces safe work practices and holds employees accountable for following established safety requirements
- Production Management: Understands manufacturing schedules, lead times, machine capacity, staffing requirements, workflow, and changing production priorities
- Communication: Communicates instructions, technical information, expectations, and feedback clearly and effectively
- Organization & Time Management: Effectively manages multiple priorities and adjusts resources based on production needs
- Quality Focus: Maintains attention to accuracy and reinforces established quality standards throughout production
Work Environment and Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment and job site can be loud. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be required.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must be able to lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Required Education and Experience
- High school diploma/GED is required
- 5+ years of experience with CNC machinery (operating, setting up, troubleshooting, or repairing)
- 5+ years of woodworking manufacturing experience
- Ability to read engineering drawings and shop paperwork
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred
Supervisory Responsibility
This position supervises the Wood Shop Machine Operators and Machine Operator Helpers.
**Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- CNC machinery: 5 years (Required)
- Woodworking manufacturing: 5 years (Required)
Language:
- Spanish (Preferred)
- English (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- San Leandro, CA 94577 (Required)
Work Location: In person
