Digital Supervisor

Outdoor Cap Company, Inc•Bentonville, AR

About The Position

The Supervisor of Digital & R&D supports the leadership and daily execution of Digital Print, Patch Production, and Sample Embroidery operations. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with team guidance and process oversight, ensuring accurate, efficient, and high-quality decoration across multiple product lines. The position carries responsibility for managing digital printing (Mimaki UV and sublimation), Arcus DTF printing for headwear and apparel, laser decoration, advanced patch manufacturing (leather, acrylic, faux leather, fabric merrow), and embroidery sample oversight. The Digital Supervisor also ensures accuracy and consistency in digital and embroidery sampling, acting as a quality gatekeeper before full production runs. In addition, the role provides R&D structure, leadership, and innovation while assisting in annual reviews, training enhancements, and cross-department collaboration to ensure team growth and on-time delivery.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in digital print, embroidery, sublimation, DTF, laser decoration, or patch production.

Responsibilities

Support the Digital Supervisor and Production Manager in leading daily production activities for Digital Print, Embroidery, and Patch manufacturing.
Supervise digital operations across Mimaki UV, sublimation, Arcus DTF, and laser decoration workflows.
Oversee patch production processes, including leather, faux leather, acrylic, and fabric merrow patch styles.
Ensure accurate setup and operation of merrow machines and related finishing equipment.
Monitor production flow, troubleshooting issues, and maintain output quality.
Oversee embroidery and digital samples to ensure designs match specifications and customer requirements.
Approve or escalate sample runs prior to full-scale production.
Collaborate with Digitizing and QC teams to verify design accuracy, color match, and placement consistency.
Maintain sample records and use feedback to drive process improvements.
Provide guidance on new product development, testing, and innovation in digital decoration, embroidery, and patch technologies.
Partner with R&D to design and validate new materials, techniques, and process enhancements.
Act as the bridge between operations and innovation, ensuring smooth transition of R&D concepts into production.
Lead annual performance reviews for assigned team members.
Develop and implement upskilling and cross-training programs to build team versatility.
Mentor operators in machine operation, sample preparation, technical troubleshooting, and quality standards.
Promote a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and improvement.
Ensure quality standards are consistently applied to embroidery, digital print, DTF, sublimation, laser, and patch processes.
Conduct in-process and final inspections to confirm adherence to specifications.
Maintain production logs, sample approval documentation, defect tracking, and corrective action records.
Enforce all safety standards and operational procedures.
Work with Warehouse, and QC to coordinate priorities and align schedules.
Provide accurate updates on job status, lead times, and sample approvals.
Support seamless workflow between Digital, Embroidery, and other production areas to maximize on-time delivery.
Participate in weekly cross-department meetings to share insights and drive alignment.