Foam Pouring Supervisor

Ashley Furniture Industries•Tupelo, MS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Foam Pouring Supervisor oversees foam pouring operations in a furniture manufacturing environment. This hands-on leadership role ensures production targets and quality standards are met, manages team performance, maintains safety and regulatory compliance, monitors foam mixing ratios and pouring processes, and coordinates with production planning to optimize schedules and minimize downtime. The supervisor leads and develops foam pouring operators, implements quality control procedures, and drives continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and product quality. The role also manages equipment maintenance and calibration, production workflows and metrics, quality inspections and documentation, safety training and audits, chemical inventory and handling, and improvement projects. The position is based in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise, temperature variations, chemical fumes, polyurethane processing, and material handling equipment. It involves extended standing or walking on concrete floors and use of required PPE. Competitive compensation is based on experience. The position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, or equivalent work experience.
Three to five years of experience in foam manufacturing or related chemical processing operations desired.
At least two years of supervisory experience leading production teams.
Knowledge of safety regulations, OSHA requirements, and manufacturing best practices.
Strong leadership and communication skills, including the ability to motivate and develop teams.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities in fast-paced production environments.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
Understanding of manufacturing metrics and KPIs.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.
Comfort working in a manufacturing environment with exposure to chemicals, noise, and varying temperatures.
Ability to wear required PPE, including respirators, safety glasses, and protective clothing.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of polyurethane foam chemistry and production processes.
Associate's degree in manufacturing technology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Forklift certification and experience operating material handling equipment.
Familiarity with ERP/MES systems.
Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) or quality management certification.
Experience in furniture manufacturing or bedding components production.
Knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and quality management systems.
Background in polyurethane chemistry, foam formulations, or chemical processing.
Understanding of environmental regulations related to chemical manufacturing.
Experience with preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

Responsibilities

Supervise daily foam pouring operations and ensure production targets support manufacturing schedules.
Monitor foam mixing ratios, temperatures, and pouring processes to maintain quality standards and product specifications.
Coordinate with production planning to optimize schedules, minimize downtime, and maximize equipment utilization.
Troubleshoot equipment issues, implement corrective actions, and ensure proper maintenance and calibration of machinery, mixing equipment, and auxiliary systems.
Manage production workflow and track and report output, efficiency, downtime, and quality metrics.
Lead, train, coach, and develop foam pouring operators; conduct performance evaluations and provide feedback.
Schedule shifts and manage labor resources to ensure coverage and meet production demands.
Coordinate with HR on hiring, training, onboarding, and disciplinary matters; recognize high performance and address deficiencies through coaching or corrective action.
Ensure foam products meet company specifications, customer requirements, and industry standards; inspect density, firmness, consistency, and dimensional accuracy.
Implement and monitor in-process and final quality checks; document quality issues and records, and coordinate with Quality Assurance on non-conformances.
Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action planning; track quality metrics and reduce scrap, rework, and customer complaints.
Enforce safety regulations, OSHA requirements, company policies, environmental rules, and chemical-handling requirements.
Conduct safety meetings, training, audits, and workplace inspections; ensure appropriate PPE use and safe maintenance practices, including lockout/tagout.
Investigate and report safety incidents, near-misses, and environmental releases.
Monitor chemical inventory, coordinate supply needs with Purchasing, and manage ordering, storage, handling, labeling, segregation, and rotation of materials.
Track waste, reduce scrap and environmental impact, monitor material usage, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
Identify process improvements and participate in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
Standardize best practices, collaborate with Engineering on equipment upgrades and new technologies, and lead Kaizen events and improvement projects.
Share lessons learned and best practices across shifts and departments.