Customization Production Supervisor

Rocky Brands, Inc.•Nelsonville, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Customization Production Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily apparel customization operations, including Direct-to-Film (DTF) and related print production processes. This role leads production staff, manages workflow, maintains quality standards, and ensures customer orders are completed accurately, safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines technical printing expertise with employee supervision, operational oversight, equipment management, and continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced production environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Minimum 2–5 years of experience in production, printing, customization, apparel decoration, or related manufacturing environment.
Previous leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience preferred.
Experience operating DTF printers, digital printers, heat transfer equipment, screen print equipment, or similar production machinery strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of color management, print setup, artwork preparation, and production workflow processes.
Working knowledge of RIP software, graphic file preparation, and print production systems.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Effective communication, leadership, organizational, and time-management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Production Management, Graphic Design, Manufacturing, Business, or related field preferred.
Experience with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CADlink, or similar graphic design and RIP software.
Experience within apparel customization, branded merchandise, promotional products, or industrial print production environments.
Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise and lead employees, ensuring the team meets operational expectations.
Interview, hire, train and support ongoing skill development.
Ensure compliance with Company policies and legal requirements.
Plan, organize and monitor individual and team performance, documenting progress or identified development needs, supporting the employees’ professional growth.
Maintain accurate records and ensure operational documentation is complete.
Communicate effectively with employees, leadership, and cross-functional partners.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe work environment.
Lead continuous improvement in processes and team operations, identifying opportunities for improved workflow, productivity, and team effectiveness.
Oversee daily customization production activities, including production scheduling, workflow coordination, job prioritization, and labor allocation.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot DTF printers and related customization equipment including heat presses, curing systems, and finishing equipment.
Monitor production output to ensure efficiency, accuracy, quality, and on-time shipment of customer orders.
Review production schedules and coordinate with customer service, sales, warehouse, and distribution teams to meet operational deadlines and customer expectations.
Prepare and manage print files including artwork review, color calibration, layout adjustments, sizing, and print setup.
Ensure proper machine setup, maintenance, and cleaning procedures are consistently followed.
Coordinate equipment repairs and preventative maintenance to minimize production downtime.
Support production planning initiatives to improve throughput, turnaround times, and operational efficiency.
Inspect finished products for print quality, alignment, color accuracy, adhesion, placement, and overall durability.
Implement and maintain quality control standards throughout all stages of the customization process.
Identify and resolve production defects, print inconsistencies, and rework issues promptly and professionally.
Ensure customer specifications and branding requirements are consistently met.
Monitor quality metrics and recommend corrective actions or process improvements when needed.
Monitor inventory levels for inks, films, powders, apparel blanks, packaging materials, and production supplies.
Ensure accurate material usage and inventory control procedures are followed.
Assist with ordering, receiving, and tracking customization production supplies.
Minimize material waste and identify cost-saving opportunities within the production process.
Maintain organized workstations and efficient production flow throughout the department.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, workflow efficiency, print quality, and turnaround times.
Recommend and implement process improvements, equipment upgrades, and operational best practices.
Assist leadership with developing standardized operating procedures and training documentation.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.
On-Time Shipment %
Rework %
Scrap %
Machine Uptime
Forecast labor requirements
Balance workloads
Capacity planning
Production forecasting
Verify customer artwork
Maintain logo library and inventory
Approve production proofs
Coordinate artwork revisions
Ensure branding compliance
Ink consumption
Film usage
Powder usage
Waste reduction
Labor efficiency
Machine utilization
Ensure compliance with company policies, operational standards, and workplace safety procedures.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment.
Promote proper handling and usage of printing equipment, chemicals, inks, and materials.
Support compliance with environmental, safety, and operational regulations as applicable.
Utilize Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to prepare documents, manage schedules, create reports, organize data, and support daily departmental operations.
Maintain effective email communication by responding promptly to internal and external inquiries, drafting professional correspondence, and organizing messages using Outlook tools such as calendars, tasks, and folders.
Attend meetings (in-person or via Microsoft Teams), prepare and share documentation as needed, and follow up on assigned action items using task‑management tools such as Teams Tasks or Planner.
Create, update, and maintain records, spreadsheets, databases, reports, and other office documentation to support departmental processes and ensure accurate information tracking.
Communicate professionally with coworkers, leaders, customers, and visitors, both verbally and in writing, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and a high level of customer service.
Support teamwork by participating in shared projects, providing assistance to colleagues, and contributing to a respectful, collaborative workplace culture.