Mechanical Shop Supervisor

The Mid-Level Mechanical Shop Supervisor oversees all shop operations, ensuring efficient fabrication, repair, and maintenance of mechanical components and assemblies. This role leads a team of technicians and tradespeople, manages workflow and resources, enforces quality and safety standards, and drives continuous improvement in shop processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Workflow Management & Scheduling

  • Plan and prioritize shop work orders, balancing routine tasks, repair jobs, and custom fabrication projects.

  • Coordinate with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to align shop capacity with plant needs.

• Team Leadership & Development

  • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate 8–12 shop technicians, welders, machinists, and apprentices.

  • Identify skill gaps; develop and deliver training programs in welding, machining, fitting, and safety best practices.

• Quality Assurance & Inspection

  • Implement and uphold shop quality control processes—dimensional checks, weld inspections, material certification.

  • Review blueprints, drawings, and CAD files to verify compliance with specifications and tolerances.

• Equipment & Tool Oversight

  • Ensure shop machinery (CNC mills/lathes, press brakes, welding stations) is maintained, calibrated, and safety-compliant.

  • Manage spare parts and tooling inventories; collaborate with maintenance for preventive upkeep.

• Process Improvement & Efficiency

  • Analyze shop KPIs (throughput, rework rates, on-time delivery); lead Kaizen events to reduce cycle times and scrap.

  • Standardize work instructions and optimize shop layout for material flow and ergonomics.

• Safety & Compliance

  • Enforce LOTO, confined-space entry, PPE use, and shop safety protocols; chair weekly safety meetings.

  • Conduct regular safety audits, root-cause incident investigations, and corrective action follow-through.

• Documentation & Reporting

  • Maintain accurate job logs, timecards, material usage, and quality records in the ERP/CMMS.

  • Prepare weekly and monthly performance reports for plant leadership.

Key Focus Areas

1. Shop Workflow Efficiency & On-Time Delivery

2. Technician Skill Development & Cross-Training

3. Fabrication Quality Control & First-Pass Yield

4. Equipment Reliability & Preventive Maintenance Coordination

5. Lean Process Improvement (Kaizen, 5S)

6. Safety Leadership & Regulatory Compliance

7. Accurate Shop Documentation & KPI Tracking

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or related field.

• 4–7 years of hands-on shop experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role.

• Proficient in reading and interpreting mechanical drawings and CAD models.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills

• Expertise in welding, machining, and fabrication processes

• Proficiency with shop management systems (ERP/CMMS)

• Analytical mindset with experience in KPI tracking and process improvement

• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities

• Commitment to safety and quality standards