Production Supervisor-MP&L

Ford Motor • Sterling Heights, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Material Handling Supervisor is a front-line leadership role that bridges the gap between strategic planning and shop-floor execution. You will oversee a team of material handlers, tugger drivers, and forklift operators in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. The primary focus is on maintaining a safe work environment while achieving operational targets related to delivery precision and cost. You will be expected to troubleshoot real-time delivery issues, manage labor relations, and drive a culture of continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing principles. The Material Handling Supervisor leads a team of hourly personnel in the execution of daily logistics operations. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, timely, and accurate delivery of materials from the warehouse to the production line, managing labor resources, and maintaining inventory integrity to support uninterrupted manufacturing.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in warehouse management or logistics within a manufacturing environment (Automotive experience strongly preferred).
• High School Diploma or GED
• Strong proficiency in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle).
• Experience working in a unionized environment (UWA/UAW) is a significant advantage.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Proven leadership ability with a track record of managing diverse teams.
• Strong conflict resolution skills, the ability to work under pressure, and excellent verbal communication.

Nice To Haves

• Forklift operator trainer certification or OSHA safety certification is a plus.
• Experience with Lean / Six Sigma methodology and / or Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) Experience

Responsibilities

• Enforce all safety protocols and PPE requirements. Conduct regular safety talks, perform area inspections, and lead incident investigations to ensure a "zero-accident" culture.
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of hourly employees. Manage shift schedules, overtime, performance evaluations, and training requirements.
• Coordinate the daily movement of materials to ensure 100% on-time delivery to the production line, preventing any line-stoppages due to material shortages.
• Oversee cycle counting processes and dock-to-stock transitions to ensure system inventory matches physical stock. Investigate and resolve discrepancies in the Warehouse Management System (WMS).
• Manage the daily inspection and maintenance schedules for the material handling fleet (forklifts, tuggers, AGVs) to ensure equipment uptime and operator safety.
• Identify bottlenecks in the flow of material and implement "Standard Work" instructions to improve efficiency and reduce waste (Muda).
• Supervise inbound and outbound freight operations, ensuring trailers are spotted, unloaded, and processed according to the delivery schedule.
• Act as the primary liaison between the logistics department and production shift managers to align on daily priorities and volume fluctuations.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED