Color Lab Supervisor

Silgan Dispensing Systems•North Smithfield, RI

About The Position

The Color Lab Supervisor manages the color manufacturing department, from color matching through scheduling and supervision of color concentrate production. The role oversees color formulation and matching, production scheduling, inventory and purchasing, equipment maintenance, quality control, safety, and department budgeting. It also provides technical support to Sales and Engineering and coordinates with Product Stewardship, vendors, and corporate sourcing to address material specifications, regulatory compliance, pricing, and product issues. The supervisor assigns and oversees work for Color Lab personnel, conducts department meetings and annual hourly performance reviews, and handles personnel matters such as discipline, vacation requests, and absenteeism. The position maintains records of laboratory activity, manages reuse and recycling of leftover materials, and may perform other duties according to skill and availability when work in the primary classification is unavailable.

Requirements

Associate degree or equivalent experience.
Experience managing production schedules, deadlines, shipment dates, and quantities.

Nice To Haves

Two to five years of color matching process or formulation experience preferred.
Prior supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage the color manufacturing department, including color matching, scheduling, and supervision of color concentrate production.
Formulate and match customer color targets for Sales; approve or adjust color concentrates before submission to molding, ensuring correct additive proportions and compliance with Silgan Dispensing resin standards.
Manufacture production and customer color chips using plastic injection molding methods.
Review molding schedules for changes to deadlines, shipment dates, and quantities; schedule production so the Molding department receives colorant on time.
Order pigments, supplies, and machine-repair parts.
Assign work to Color Lab personnel and address discipline, vacation requests, absenteeism, and other personnel issues.
Maintain safe working conditions and conduct safety, quality, finance, and other department meetings.
Maintain adequate inventory of pigments, additives, and related supplies; manage perpetual inventory and balance obsolescence with productivity.
Ensure equipment and machinery are maintained in good working order and manage the department budget.
Conduct annual performance reviews for hourly employees.
Recycle barrel inventory and ground material; evaluate leftover material from prior runs for reuse or scrap.
Work with Product Stewardship to ensure ingredients meet government packaging regulations, including FDA compliance, and maintain colorant and resin specification sheets.
Attend meetings, including the daily production meeting.
Provide Sales and Engineering with technical support on materials, additives, and colorants.
Inspect, test, and verify incoming material; schedule raw-material deliveries and manage colorant quality control.
Maintain records of sample and Color Lab activity, including extrusion, Henscheling, dye weighing, colorant formulas, grinding, unit submissions, and color checks.
Meet with vendors and the corporate sourcing group regarding pricing, new products, and material-related problems; support budgetary and corporate objectives.
Perform other job-related duties as requested and, when primary-classification work is unavailable, other duties according to skill and availability.