Manufacturing Technical Operations Supervisor

Fischer Paper Products Inc•Antioch, IL

1d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Fischer Paper Products is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Technical Operations Supervisor to lead technical support, workforce development, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives within our manufacturing operations. This role is ideal for an experienced manufacturing leader with strong technical knowledge of converting operations who enjoys solving problems, developing employees, and improving performance. The successful candidate will serve as a technical resource for operators and production teams while driving operational excellence, employee engagement, quality, safety, and productivity. The ideal candidate has experience in paper converting, printing, packaging, or roll-to-roll manufacturing environments and possesses a strong understanding of machine setup, process troubleshooting, operator development, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

5+ years of manufacturing, technical operations, production support, or converting experience.
2+ years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Experience leading teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Excellent communication, coaching, and employee development abilities.
Working knowledge of GMP and HACCP requirements.
Proficiency with production performance metrics and continuous improvement initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Experience in paper converting, flexographic printing, packaging, tissue, paper products, labels, or related manufacturing industries.
Strong technical knowledge of paper rolls, cylinders, inks, adhesives, coatings, slitting, rewinding, laminating, printing systems, and converting equipment.
Experience training machine operators and leading workforce development initiatives.
Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, or Six Sigma experience.
Project management experience within a manufacturing environment.
Experience improving machine uptime, setup reduction, waste reduction, and operational efficiency.
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise Technical Operations team members, including scheduling, coaching, performance management, and employee development.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Leadership teams to achieve operational goals.
Mentor employees on project management principles and successful execution.
Drive workforce development, engagement, retention, and succession planning initiatives.
Promote employee recognition, communication, and a positive team environment.
Serve as the primary technical resource and escalation point for converting operations.
Lead and support machine operators in equipment setup, startup, adjustments, troubleshooting, and changeovers.
Provide technical expertise in paper converting, printing processes, web handling systems, and manufacturing operations.
Support equipment and processes involving paper rolls, cylinders, inks, adhesives, coatings, printing systems, and converting machinery.
Troubleshoot complex production issues affecting quality, efficiency, machine performance, waste, and downtime.
Develop and implement best practices for machine setup, process control, operating procedures, and troubleshooting techniques.
Monitor machine performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, waste reduction, and overall equipment effectiveness.
Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering teams to improve equipment reliability and operational performance.
Support new product launches, process improvements, customer requirements, and equipment implementation projects.
Lead hands-on training for machine operators on equipment setup, troubleshooting, changeovers, and operational best practices.
Develop and implement onboarding programs and skills-based training plans for new hires.
Provide ongoing coaching to strengthen technical knowledge, equipment ownership, and problem-solving capabilities.
Drive cross-training initiatives to create a flexible and highly skilled workforce.
Identify skill gaps and create targeted employee development plans.
Support succession planning and career growth opportunities for production employees.
Promote a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing across all shifts.
Serve as the primary escalation point for complex equipment, process, and production issues.
Diagnose and resolve technical challenges impacting safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
Collaborate with Production and Maintenance teams to minimize downtime and improve equipment reliability.
Investigate recurring process issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Utilize root-cause analysis tools to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve long-term performance.
Lead Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives from concept through implementation.
Utilize Lean Manufacturing principles and problem-solving methodologies to improve operational performance.
Analyze production metrics and identify opportunities to increase efficiency, improve quality, and reduce waste.
Implement corrective and preventive actions to support operational excellence.
Support new product introductions, process changes, equipment upgrades, and pilot runs.
Drive initiatives focused on productivity improvements, waste reduction, and cost savings.
Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and company quality standards.
Partner with Quality teams to investigate non-conformances and implement corrective actions.
Maintain compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Enforce adherence to: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards, Company safety policies and procedures.
Promote a strong safety culture through active employee involvement and accountability.