Production Supervisor (New Ulm)

Careen•Mankato, MN

9d•$62,000 - $82,000•Onsite

About The Position

Windings Inc. is a 100% employee-owned company where every team member shares in our success. Since becoming an ESOP in 1998, we've proudly supported critical industries like Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, and Medical. Our unique ESOP benefits can contribute 10-12% of your annual earnings to your retirement—at no cost to you—helping your savings grow through compound interest. For over 60 years, Windings has provided critical custom motors and components for the harshest applications, including outer space, military, downhole drilling, and motor sports to name a few. If you like to take on the “tough stuff”, join us and be part of a forward-thinking, people-focused company driven by our purpose: " Making our Customer’s Critical Mission Possible." We are looking for a Production Supervisor for our New Ulm location. This position is full-time on-site. The Production Supervisor is a frontline operational leader responsible for daily execution, labor management, and workforce leadership. This role serves as the single point of accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and employee performance on the shop floor. The Production Supervisor balances real-time decision-making, people leadership, and process discipline to ensure production commitments are met while maintaining a safe, engaged, and accountable workforce.

Requirements

Prior supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead 15+ direct reports; experience with 25 or more preferred.
Strong decision-making skills in dynamic, high-variability environments.
Proven ability to manage performance, attendance, and accountability directly.
Willingness to support weekend operations and extended hours as needed.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
Ability to lead through presence, consistency, and action.
Effective problem-solving and prioritization skills.
Ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and production tracking systems.
Positive, constructive leadership style with a focus on employee development.

Nice To Haves

Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing.
Exposure to lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement
Six Sigma Green Belt
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools.
Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred. Alternatively, 5+ years of supervisory experience in a production or manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Enforce all safety policies and safe work practices; actively identify and correct unsafe conditions or behaviors.
Lead by example to promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all company, regulatory, and ITAR/EAR requirements.
Own daily production execution, including staffing, prioritization, and labor reallocation across multiple work cells.
Execute the production schedule while responding to real-time disruptions common to a high-mix environment.
Ensure stable output and adherence to takt, throughput, and quality expectations in the high-volume cell.
Allocate resources to minimize downtime and ensure on-time completion of scheduled work.
Provide direct supervision to approximately 25 hourly production employees.
Set clear expectations for performance, attendance, conduct, and quality.
Address performance issues promptly and consistently, including corrective action when required.
Approve timecards and manage employee time-off requests to ensure production coverage.
Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
Foster a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.
Balance labor daily based on demand, skills, and priorities.
Identify skill gaps and work with management to support cross-training and workforce flexibility.
Monitor labor efficiency and escalate capacity constraints proactively.
Ensure adherence to standard work, SOPs, and best practices.
Support quality objectives including corrective actions, non-conformances, root cause analysis, and 5S initiatives.
Monitor production quality and take immediate corrective action when standards are not met.
Identify recurring issues and escalate systemic problems for resolution.
Serve as the primary communication link between production employees and management.
Lead daily shift communication and ensure smooth handoffs.
Maintain open, transparent communication with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and HR.
Keep employees informed of changes to processes, equipment, materials, and priorities.
Ensure availability of production supplies and materials to support scheduled work.
Coordinate replenishment and escalate shortages or risks to production flow.