Fabrication Supervisor

MID-STATES•South Beloit, IL

4d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Fabrication Supervisor is responsible for directing all day-to-day fabrication activities and ensuring fabricated materials are planned, produced, kitted, staged, and delivered in support of production and field schedules. This position oversees Fab/Cage-Tie operations and coordinates fabrication requirements supporting Hollowcore, Wetcast, field materials, secondary welds, and other plant needs. The Fabrication Supervisor is responsible for maintaining fabrication readiness, controlling material flow, developing employees, maintaining welding and fabrication standards, improving operational performance, and establishing consistent processes across operations. This position works closely with Production, Planning & Throughput, Engineering, Quality Control, Purchasing, Yard, Shipping, Maintenance, and Project Management to prevent fabrication-related delays and support safe, efficient production.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
Ability to obtain and maintain required company safety certifications.
Ability to obtain required welding qualifications applicable to company fabrication processes.
3+ years of experience in a manufacturing, welding, steel fabrication, or related production environment.
Experience with welding, steel fabrication, cage assembly, or similar fabrication processes.
Experience leading crews and coordinating daily work activities.
Experience working around overhead cranes, rigging, and material handling equipment.
Demonstrated ability to analyze processes, identify constraints, develop improvements, and implement change.
3+ years of leadership, supervisory, or lead experience.
Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, fabrication drawings, engineering details, and material requirements.
Working knowledge of welding and steel fabrication processes.
Understanding of reinforcing steel, welded assemblies, embeds, plates, angles, coil rods, cages, and miscellaneous fabricated components.
Ability to verify fabrication dimensions and requirements against drawings and specifications.
Working knowledge of welding, cutting, grinding, drilling, saws, and common fabrication equipment.
Understanding of safe overhead crane operation, rigging, lifting, and material handling practices.
Ability to plan manpower, prioritize fabrication work, and coordinate material readiness with production schedules.
Ability to identify material, drawing, equipment, and labor constraints before they impact production.
Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Office proficiency.
Working knowledge of applicable welding procedures and welding qualification requirements.
Ability to lead, train, develop, and hold employees accountable.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Ability to establish clear daily priorities and maintain accountability for fabrication readiness.
Ability to coordinate effectively with Production, Planning & Throughput, Engineering, Quality Control, Purchasing, Yard, Shipping, Maintenance, and Project Management.
Ability to balance manpower and resources based on changing fabrication and production priorities.
Demonstrated ability to improve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
Ability to make timely decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Welding Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related technical field.
Completion of a recognized welding, fabrication, or skilled trades program.
ACI/PCI Certified
OSHA 30
AWS welding certification or other applicable welding qualification.
Qualified/certified in overhead crane operation and rigging.
Experience in precast/prestressed concrete fabrication.
Experience coordinating fabrication requirements across multiple production departments.
Experience managing fabrication priorities, material readiness, kitting, staging, or production support activities.
Experience with fabrication jigs, fixtures, templates, and tooling.
Experience coordinating outside processing such as galvanizing.
Experience with inventory control, material tracking, kitting, and staging systems.
Experience monitoring fabrication backlog, labor efficiency, schedule adherence, rework, and other production KPIs.
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
Experience developing fabrication leads, welders, and skilled production employees.
Experience building cross-training plans and improving employee competency across multiple fabrication functions.
Experience developing and implementing standardized work.
Demonstrated success by reducing fabrication backlog, rework, hot fixes, material shortages, or missed production requirements.
Experience using KPIs and visual management tools to drive department performance.

Responsibilities

Direct daily fabrication and cage-tie activities.
Execute fabrication priorities based on established production schedules.
Coordinate daily workload and manpower requirements.
Monitor fabrication progress throughout the day.
Ensure required materials are fabricated, kitted, staged, and available ahead of production.
Remove fabrication bottlenecks and constraints.
Manage secondary weld requirements and backlog.
Balance manpower based on fabrication workload and production priorities.
Ensure fabrication goals are achieved safely and efficiently.
Maintain accountability for work quality, completion, and readiness.
Maintain visibility of upcoming fabrication requirements.
Plan and track Hollowcore/Elematic fabrication requirements.
Review Wetcast drawings and develop required fabrication and material lists.
Coordinate fabrication of field materials, including embeds, coil rods, and other miscellaneous steel requirements.
Maintain status tracking from Open → Kitted → Completed → Staged.
Ensure completed fabrication is properly identified and staged for production or field use.
Coordinate galvanizing requirements, scheduling, and material movement.
Track materials sent to and returned from galvanizing.
Maintain control of secondary weld requirements.
Establish and maintain a controlled hot-fix process.
Prevent fabrication shortages from becoming production delays.
Maintain clear material flow from fabrication through staging and final use.
Review upcoming production schedules and fabrication requirements.
Coordinate daily fabrication priorities with the Production Manager.
Identify labor, material, drawing, or equipment constraints before they impact production.
Verify required information and materials are available before fabrication begins.
Participate in pre-production meetings.
Identify fabrication risks and constraints for upcoming projects.
Coordinate with: Production Manager, Planning & Throughput, Hollowcore, Wetcast, Engineering, Quality Control, Purchasing, Project Management, Yard, Shipping, Maintenance.
Communicate priority changes and fabrication status.
Escalate shortages or delays that could impact the production schedule.
Conduct routine safety observations.
Enforce company safety policies and fabrication procedures.
Ensure proper PPE usage.
Ensure welding, cutting, grinding, material handling, and lifting activities are performed safely.
Conduct toolbox talks and safety inspections.
Investigate incidents and near misses.
Correct unsafe conditions and behaviors.
Ensure fabrication equipment and work areas are operated safely.
Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the department.
Ensure fabricated components meet drawings, specifications, and established quality standards.
Verify fabrication dimensions and requirements before materials are released to production.
Ensure welding is performed in accordance with approved procedures.
Monitor fabrication workmanship and consistency.
Reduce fabrication errors, rework, and hot fixes.
Support corrective actions and root cause investigations.
Identify recurring fabrication discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
Maintain traceability and identification of fabricated materials when required.
Work closely with Quality Control to maintain fabrication and welding standards.
Monitor and Improve: On-time fabrication completion, On-time kit readiness, Missed and late kits, Fabrication backlog, Secondary weld backlog, Labor efficiency, Schedule adherence, Hot-fix frequency, Rework, Galvanizing turnaround and delays, Material shortages, Overtime utilization, Department productivity.
Use performance data to identify recurring constraints and implement corrective actions.
Maintain accurate visibility of fabrication inventory.
Monitor material usage and availability.
Coordinate material requirements with Purchasing.
Identify material shortages before they impact production.
Establish minimum inventory requirements for commonly used fabrication materials where appropriate.
Control storage and staging locations for fabricated materials.
Reduce unnecessary material movement and handling.
Support inventory accuracy and material accountability.
Communicate upcoming material requirements based on the production schedule.
Ensure fabrication equipment is inspected before use.
Coordinate equipment repairs with Maintenance.
Report equipment issues promptly.
Maintain production readiness of welding and fabrication equipment.
Ensure welding machines, saws, cutting equipment, jigs, fixtures, and tools are properly maintained.
Coordinate preventive maintenance requirements.
Identify recurring equipment issues affecting fabrication performance.
Ensure proper storage and control of department tools and equipment.
Plan the training of new fabrication employees.
Develop lead personnel and future department leaders.
Cross-train employees across fabrication functions.
Develop employee competency in welding, cage assembly, material preparation, and fabrication processes.
Ensure required welding qualifications and certifications remain current.
Conduct performance coaching.
Build succession plans for key fabrication positions.
Reinforce company expectations and standards.
Identify employee skill gaps and establish training priorities.
Coordinate and lead fabrication-related training.
Maintain clean and organized fabrication work areas.
Enforce 5S standards.
Establish designated material, fabrication, and staging locations.
Ensure raw materials, completed fabrication, tools, and equipment are properly stored.
Maintain organized cage-tie and fabrication areas.
Improve material flow throughout fabrication operations.
Maintain clear and safe travel paths.
Ensure completed materials are clearly identified and staged.
Prevent accumulation of obsolete, unidentified, or unnecessary materials.
Establish consistent fabrication processes and expectations.
Standardize fabrication practices across applicable plant operations.
Reduce reliance on tribal knowledge.
Develop documented standard work for critical fabrication processes.
Standardize material identification, kitting, staging, and status tracking.
Establish consistent expectations for fabrication quality.
Improve consistency between employees, shifts, and plants.
Ensure approved processes are followed and sustained.
Maintain fabrication readiness and status boards.
Provide visibility of upcoming fabrication requirements.
Clearly identify Open, Kitted, Completed, and Staged work.
Maintain visibility of secondary weld backlog.
Track galvanizing status and expected return dates.
Maintain visibility of material shortages and constraints.
Coordinate logistics visibility for kitted materials and required timelines.
Use visual management to communicate priorities and identify potential schedule risks.
Identify fabrication inefficiencies.
Eliminate waste and unnecessary motion.
Reduce fabrication lead times.
Improve material flow and staging.
Reduce hot fixes and emergency fabrication.
Reduce rework and recurring fabrication errors.
Improve kitting accuracy and readiness.
Develop fixtures, jigs, tooling, and processes that improve consistency and efficiency.
Apply Lean manufacturing principles.
Standardize successful improvements.
Implement corrective actions that improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
Communicate fabrication status throughout the day.
Coordinate daily with the Production Manager.
Maintain communication with Planning & Throughput regarding upcoming fabrication requirements.
Communicate material shortages and fabrication constraints promptly.
Escalate issues impacting production or field schedules.
Provide clear expectations and priorities to fabrication employees.
Coordinate with production supervisors regarding material readiness.
Communicate galvanizing and secondary weld status.
Maintain positive communication between Fabrication and supporting departments.
Maintain fabrication readiness and status tracking.
Track labor utilization.
Monitor fabrication KPIs.
Maintain welding qualification and certification records.
Maintain applicable welding procedures and fabrication documentation.
Document fabrication quality concerns.
Track secondary weld requirements and completion.
Track galvanizing status and delays.
Report schedule variances and missed fabrication requirements.
Track hot fixes and recurring root causes.
Maintain department performance metrics.
Review fabrication performance and corrective actions with the Production Manager.