Distribution Center Supervisor

Bridgestone Americas•Williamsburg, SC

About The Position

Firestone Airide, part of Bridgestone, specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology for global markets and a range of vehicle and industrial applications. The Distribution Center Supervisor leads day-to-day warehouse operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity (SQDCP) objectives. The role directs hourly teammates across receiving, put-away, picking, packing, labeling, staging, and shipping; ensures accurate SAP transactions and inventory integrity; and supports on-time, error-free delivery to aftermarket, commercial vehicle, and automotive OEM customers. The Supervisor is the primary floor leader, partners closely with the DC Manager and cross-functional teams, and promotes safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Supervisor leads warehouse safety and environmental practices, develops hourly teammates and Team Leads, and coordinates inbound and outbound operations. The role maintains inventory accuracy and warehouse-system processes, supports quality and customer-specific requirements, monitors performance measures, and leads continuous improvement activities. The position works primarily on the warehouse floor, with exposure to forklifts, moving equipment, noise, and seasonal temperature changes. It requires extended periods of standing, walking, bending, and stair climbing, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds. Safety footwear, safety glasses, and high-visibility vests are required as applicable. Extended hours, overtime, and flexible schedules, including weekends, may be required to meet business needs. Bridgestone offers a supportive onboarding experience, training and regular mentorship, corporate social responsibility activities, a global and challenging work environment, support for agility, work/life effectiveness and long-term well-being, and an inclusive team. Bridgestone is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Requirements

3–5 years of warehouse, distribution, or logistics experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or team lead role.
Experience with SAP or a comparable ERP/WMS system.
Strong leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills, including the ability to motivate a diverse team.
Working knowledge of inventory control, cycle counting, FIFO, and shipping and receiving processes.
Understanding of customer-specific labeling, packaging, and ASN requirements for automotive OEMs.
Knowledge of OSHA requirements, powered industrial truck safety, and warehouse safe work practices.
Familiarity with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 management systems.
Proficiency with structured problem-solving tools, including 5 Why, 8D, PFMEA, and control plans, and with lean/5S principles.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams; ability to analyze data and prepare reports.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Clear written and verbal communication skills at all levels of the organization.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, and climb stairs for extended periods and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work extended hours, overtime, and flexible schedules, including weekends, to meet business needs.
If hired, must complete Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify an applicant.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field.
Experience in an automotive, manufacturing, or OEM-supplier distribution environment.

Responsibilities

Promote and model a positive, accountable safety culture and ensure teammates follow safety rules, PPE requirements, and safe work practices.
Conduct and document safety observations, job safety analysis reviews, and PPE assessments.
Ensure powered industrial truck operators are trained and certified and complete pre-shift inspections.
Investigate incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions; implement and verify corrective actions.
Maintain emergency preparedness, support drills, and support environmental management requirements, including waste segregation, recycling, and ISO 14001 compliance.
Supervise, schedule, and assign work to hourly teammates and Team Leads to meet shipping and receiving requirements.
Lead daily start-up and tier meetings to communicate priorities, safety topics, performance results, and customer requirements.
Train, coach, and cross-train teammates using standard work and point-of-use work instructions; maintain training records and skills matrices.
Identify and develop high-potential teammates and Team Lead candidates.
Administer attendance, timekeeping, and work rules consistently; address performance and conduct issues with Human Resources.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, and individual improvement plan reviews for direct reports.
Direct receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, billing, staging, loading, and shipping activities.
Coordinate inbound and outbound shipments to meet customer schedules, carrier pickups, and automotive delivery windows.
Ensure customer-specific packaging, returnable containers, pallet builds, stacking, and load securement meet requirements and prevent damage.
Verify shipping labels, packing lists, bills of lading, and advance ship notices before products leave the dock.
Manage dock and staging areas to maintain organization, traceability, and proper label placement.
Balance labor and equipment to respond to volume peaks, expedites, special orders, and OE, commercial vehicle, automotive, and international orders.
Maintain warehouse equipment and facilities and coordinate repairs with maintenance.
Ensure accurate and timely SAP transactions, including goods receipts, transfer orders, handling units, deliveries, and goods issues.
Lead cycle counting; investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies and process inventory adjustments according to financial controls.
Maintain FIFO, bin-location accuracy, and barcode labeling of storage locations.
Track customer returnable packaging balances and ensure accurate reporting and follow-up.
Support SAP and warehouse-system improvements, including scan-based picking, delivery grouping, and validation enhancements.
Ensure compliance with the Quality Management System and customer-specific requirements, including automotive OEM labeling and packaging standards.
Conduct order-accuracy audits and verification checks to prevent picking, packing, labeling, and shipment-quantity errors.
Lead or support containment and root-cause investigations for customer complaints and internal nonconformances using 5 Why, 8D, and Is/Is Not methods.
Support PFMEA and control plan updates, corrective and preventive actions, and verification of effectiveness.
Prepare for and participate in internal and external audits; maintain document control for work instructions and visual standards.
Monitor and report KPIs such as on-time shipment, order accuracy, inventory accuracy, productivity, and safety.
Maintain the SQD board and visual management tools and communicate performance trends and action plans.
Lead 5S, lean, and waste-reduction activities, including regular 5S audits.
Identify and implement improvements to pick strategy, receiving and put-away flow, packaging-material selection, and workplace layout.
Lead or participate in cross-functional continuous improvement projects.
Partner with Customer Service, manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, sales, and quality to resolve order, routing, and delivery issues.
Communicate with carriers and customer contacts about shipment status, pickups, and adjustments.
Promptly escalate risks to on-time delivery, quality, or safety to the DC Manager.
Perform other duties as assigned to support distribution center objectives.