Area Production Supervisor

Company:

Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc.

Job Description:

Are you a hands-on manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys developing people, improving processes, and delivering results? Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is seeking an experienced Production Supervisor to help lead manufacturing operations at our Reading, PA facility.

In this role, you'll provide leadership to production employees within your assigned department, ensuring daily operations run safely, efficiently, and in alignment with quality and production goals. You'll work closely with the Production Manager, Shift Supervisors, Maintenance, and Training teams to strengthen operational performance, develop employees, and drive continuous improvement.

If you're a manufacturing professional who enjoys being on the production floor, solving problems, coaching employees, and making a measurable impact on safety, quality, and productivity, we'd love to hear from you!

What You'll Do

Lead Daily Production Operations

• Provide visible, hands-on leadership to production employees within your assigned department.
• Oversee daily production activities to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and schedule attainment.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and participate in or lead GEMBA walks to identify improvement opportunities.
• Execute daily production schedules, ensuring alignment with established production plans and work cell requirements.
• Participate in production scheduling meetings and proactively plan for staffing shortages.
• Coordinate production problem-solving activities to address operational challenges and maintain product quality.
• Serve as a key communication link between department employees and plant management.

Champion Safety & Workplace Standards

• Promote a strong safety culture where employee well-being is a core priority.
• Lead departmental safety activities, including Job Safety Analyses (JSA), safety training, safety talks, safety audits, and safety huddles.
• Maintain strong housekeeping and 5S practices throughout the assigned production area.
• Partner with Shift Supervisors on safety and quality incident investigations.
• Ensure incidents are appropriately documented and corrective actions are addressed.
• Encourage employee engagement and accountability in maintaining a safe working environment.

Develop & Support Production Employees

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and guidance to production employees.
• Partner with the Production Manager, Shift Supervisors, and Training Coordinator to support employee training and job qualification requirements.
• Help ensure new and existing employees receive the training needed to perform their roles safely and effectively.
• Support staffing needs by participating in interviews and the hiring process.
• Provide input on employee performance and performance reviews.
• Partner with Shift Supervisors to maintain accurate personnel documentation.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable work environment.

Drive Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure employees understand and consistently follow established quality standards and procedures.
• Lead and support production problem-solving activities to address quality and process challenges.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Support customer complaint investigations and help develop effective long-term corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to improve production processes, employee performance, and overall department effectiveness.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable improvements.

Manage Production Systems & Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely production transactions within the ERP system.
• Train and support employees on M3, barcode transactions, and Ignition systems.
• Monitor production performance and maintain accurate operational reporting.
• Help ensure production activities align with the established production schedule.
• Identify and address reporting discrepancies that could impact production planning or performance tracking.
• Use operational data and performance metrics to support decision-making and continuous improvement.

Partner with Maintenance & Plant Leadership

• Coordinate scheduled maintenance activities with Production and Maintenance Planners.
• Communicate equipment concerns and escalate urgent maintenance needs through the Shift Supervisor.
• Partner with Production leadership to align staffing, equipment availability, and production requirements.
• Maintain effective communication across departments to support operational priorities.
• Assist with resolving production challenges that could impact quality, efficiency, or customer delivery.

What We're Looking For

• 5–7 years of manufacturing and supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production processes, and employee supervision.
• Knowledge of the plastics industry and a basic understanding of industrial equipment.
• Proven decision-making and problem-solving skills, including problem identification, root cause analysis, and resolution.
• Ability to develop action plans, prioritize work, and drive results.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as Infor M3 or SAP.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, supervisors, and cross-functional teams.
• Team-oriented mindset with a commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

What Will Help You Succeed

We're looking for a manufacturing leader who combines strong operational knowledge with a hands-on, people-focused leadership style.

You'll be successful in this role if you're comfortable spending time on the production floor, coaching employees, addressing operational challenges, and using performance data to drive improvements.

The ideal candidate is proactive, organized, and able to balance daily production demands with longer-term improvement opportunities. You'll need to communicate effectively, make sound decisions, and create an environment where employees feel supported while remaining accountable for safety, quality, and performance.

Compensation & Benefits

• Profit-sharing opportunity
• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive employee benefits
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth

Why Join Us?

• Take on a key leadership role within our Reading, PA manufacturing operation.
• Make a direct impact on workplace safety, product quality, and production performance.
• Lead and support employees while helping strengthen workforce capabilities.
• Drive meaningful continuous improvement initiatives that improve operational efficiency.
• Partner closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Training teams.
• Gain experience with manufacturing technologies, production systems, and operational performance management.
• Contribute to a culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Join a global advanced materials organization committed to innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.

If you're an experienced manufacturing professional who enjoys leading people, solving production challenges, and driving continuous improvement, we encourage you to apply and help strengthen our manufacturing operations in Reading, PA!

The salary range for this position is $82,600.00 - 103,200.00 USD Annual. Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary will be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status

Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email [email protected]. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The law requires Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc. to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. For information regarding your legal rights and protections, please click on the following link: Know Your Rights

Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc. will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information

As a Federal Contractor, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc. is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.