Production Supervisor

Applied Aerospace & Defense•Santa Ana, CA

70d•$110,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Aerospace & Defense is seeking a hands-on Production Supervision Manager for their Santa Ana, CA location. This full-time, exempt role requires a leader who is comfortable on the shop floor, focused on developing people, solving problems, improving processes, and driving results. The company manufactures highly engineered products and complex assemblies for aerospace, defense, and space applications. This is not a desk-only position; the ideal candidate will be visible, engaged, and committed to leading in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People.

Requirements

3–5+ years of Aerospace manufacturing leadership experience as a Production Supervisor, Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar role.
Understanding of manufacturing floor operations and meeting production commitments.
Proven ability to lead people, not just manage schedules.
Comfortable conducting difficult conversations and holding teams accountable while maintaining positive relationships.
Natural problem-solver with a track record of taking ownership and driving solutions.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Understanding of manufacturing metrics and the ability to translate data into action.
Effective communication skills with employees, leadership, and cross-functional partners.
Strong commitment to safety, quality, customer delivery, and operational excellence.
Demonstrated integrity, consistency, and professionalism in leadership.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college (or a high school diploma/GED with at least 5 years of experience in Manufacturing).
Minimum 3 additional years of supervisory experience in operations/industrial environments.
Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. Sponsorship for employment visas is not provided.
Ability to meet applicable security requirements associated with Department of Defense work.
Proficient in basic computer skills.
Ability to apply concepts of basic math techniques.
Ability to effectively communicate with peers and supervisors and provide technical feedback.
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, company communications, and memos.
Ability to write reports and simple correspondence.
Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations.
Ability to define and solve practical problems.
Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written or verbal format.
Ability to deal with problems involving several abstract and concrete variables in standardized situations.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Must be able to stand at least 6 to 8 hours a day.
Must be able to work with their hands, arms and be extremely accurate.
Must be able to walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a regular basis.
Must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds on a frequent basis.
Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds on a regular basis.
Specific vision abilities required include close & color vision.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace, defense, precision machining, or highly regulated manufacturing experience.
Experience with Epicor or another ERP/MRP system.
Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
Experience with 5S/6S and visual management.
Experience managing KPIs for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
Ability to work non-traditional hours including weekends as needed.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
Ability to influence others and lead small teams.
Ability to lead and coordinate multiple initiatives of moderate scope and impact simultaneously.
Effective problem-solving skills.
Ability to effectively work across all functions (i.e., HR, finance, sourcing, production, materials, shipping/receiving, sales, contracts, EHS, etc.) within a matrix organization.
Prior experience leading production teams within a manufacturing environment.
Prior experience in Machining and/or Fabrication/Assembly.
Experience as manufacturing process leader.
Aerospace industry experience.
Six Sigma / Green belt certified.
Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, working with VSM, Visual Management and DMAIC principals.
Ability to complete manpower planning and analysis including productivity, efficiency and overtime management.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and foster a high-performing production environment.
Coach, develop, motivate, and hold production employees accountable.
Drive daily execution to meet safety, quality, cost, and on-time delivery goals.
Manage production schedules, staffing, workflow, and changing priorities.
Identify and address potential roadblocks to maintain production flow.
Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, and Operations to resolve issues and enhance performance.
Utilize production data and KPIs to identify improvement opportunities and drive measurable results.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to boost efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance quality.
Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and efficient manufacturing environment using 6S principles.
Implement visual management to ensure clear communication of production status and priorities.
Monitor production costs, labor performance, quality, and delivery metrics.
Ensure employees receive proper training and qualification for their roles.
Conduct performance evaluations and provide regular, constructive coaching and feedback.
Address performance and employee relations issues consistently and appropriately.
Participate in interviewing, selecting, training, and developing production talent.
Cultivate a culture of accountability, teamwork, urgency, and continuous improvement.