Full-Time

Supervisor

Production

Posted on 9/15/2025

Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

1,001-5,000 employees

High-speed automotive stamping, welding, and assembly

No salary listed

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

In Person

Category
Operations & Logistics (2)
,
Required Skills
Inventory Management
Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent required
  • 3+ years’ experience in a supervisory role
  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
  • Automotive manufacturing industry experience preferred
  • Must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation
Responsibilities
  • Manage processes with detailed accuracy, and discipline.
  • Coaches and assist all employees with problem solving, and personal issues.
  • Train team members’ on various processes, procedures and job tasks within their work zone
  • Certify team members’ on individual workstations to satisfy each level of progression on the skills matrix
  • Ensures quality standards are met.
  • Ensures on time delivery is met according to customer demands, and scheduling.
  • Pays close attention to detail. Example: Safety, Housekeeping, quality, performance, instructions given by management, and employee well-being.
  • Incident reporting, and investigation of root cause for injuries, near misses, and manufacturing equipment incidents (i.e. mis-hit, tool crash, etc..).
  • Monitors employee attendance, and disciplines accordingly in accordance with the employee handbook.
  • Monitor production quality and throughput. Ensure that hour by hour boards, zone boards and other production monitoring systems are updated.
  • Work with support groups to return processes to standard when abnormal conditions occur.
  • Manages operations in accordance with attendance.
  • Directs team leaders, material handlers, operators, and support groups on daily task.
  • Conducts tool box talks daily to remind employees of all categories listed on the check sheet.
  • Follows Company produces for production identification & traceability, containment of nonconforming material, inventory movements and production reporting.
Desired Qualifications
  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
  • Automotive manufacturing industry experience preferred
Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

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Challenge Manufacturing specializes in high-speed progressive stamping, high-tonnage transfer, automated assembly, and multiple welding methods (resistance, projection, MIG, drawn arc stud welding) to produce automotive structures for Tier 1 suppliers. Its processes turn raw metal into precise, high-quality assemblies through automated lines with about 1,500 industrial robots across 12 locations, enabling fast production and high consistency. The company differentiates itself by its large, employee-owned ESOP model that aligns worker incentives with company success, a global footprint, and a culture built on Safety, Ownership, and Teamwork, alongside its scale and focus on automotive structures. The goal is to be the best global supplier of automotive structures while delivering value to its employee-owners.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$100M

Headquarters

Walker, Michigan

Founded

1981

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • EV production reaching 35% of global sales by 2030 drives lightweight assembly demand.
  • Nearshoring trends increase North American OEM capacity 15-20% through 2027, favoring Challenge.
  • Tier 1 supplier consolidation creates M&A opportunities for employee-owned companies to scale.

What critics are saying

  • EV transition reduces stamped metal component demand; integrated battery housings favor composites.
  • Chinese suppliers undercut pricing; Challenge's Michigan cost structure cannot compete.
  • Top 3 OEM customers represent 60-75% revenue; 20% production drop loses 15-25% revenue.

What makes Challenge Manufacturing unique

  • 1,500+ industrial robots with AI-driven predictive maintenance reduce downtime 25-30%.
  • Employee-owned ESOP structure aligns workforce incentives with long-term operational excellence.
  • Specialized welding expertise positions Challenge for emerging EV battery enclosure demand.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term Disability

Basic Life

Voluntary Life

LTD

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Challenge Incentive Program

Paid Time Off

ESOP shares

Company News

Business Wire
Oct 17th, 2023
WhiteHawk Capital Partners Provides Senior Term Loan Facility to Challenge Manufacturing

WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP announced it has entered into an agreement with Challenge Mfg. Company, LLC to provide a senior term loan facility.

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