3rd shift supervisor CNC machining

Position Summary

The Adams Company is seeking an experienced Shift Production Supervisor to lead daily manufacturing operations across multiple production departments within our gear and shaft manufacturing facility.

This position is responsible for supervising production employees, coordinating workflow between departments, maintaining safe and efficient operations, supporting schedule execution, and driving continuous improvement. The successful candidate will be a strong communicator with proven manufacturing leadership experience and experience working with a union labor force.

The Shift Production Supervisor will work closely with Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations Leadership to ensure production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with customer requirements.

Primary ResponsibilitiesProduction Leadership

• Direct daily activities of production employees across multiple manufacturing departments.
• Provide leadership, coaching, training, and accountability for shift personnel.
• Monitor workload, staffing coverage, and machine availability to ensure resources are aligned with production priorities.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and actively support employees in meeting safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.
• Promote a positive, team-oriented work environment focused on communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Multiple Department Coverage

• Provide leadership support and coordination across all manufacturing operations and any other assigned production areas.
• Monitor workflow between departments and help resolve bottlenecks that may affect delivery, quality, or efficiency.
• Shift priorities as needed based on production schedules, staffing, machine status, material availability, and customer commitments.
• Ensure smooth handoffs between shifts and departments so production information, quality concerns, and job priorities are clearly communicated.

Union Workforce Leadership

• Lead employees in a union manufacturing environment while maintaining a fair, consistent, and professional approach.
• Apply company policies and labor agreement requirements consistently and appropriately.
• Support positive employee relations through clear communication, respectful issue resolution, and consistent follow-up.
• Assist with attendance management, overtime coordination, coaching, corrective action, and conflict resolution when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with leadership and union representatives when questions or concerns arise.

Scheduling and Production Execution

• Work closely with Production Planning and Scheduling to execute daily and weekly production priorities.
• Coordinate manpower, equipment, and department priorities to support schedule attainment and customer delivery commitments.
• Identify jobs at risk and communicate concerns early to planning, operations, quality, and maintenance teams.
• Assist with overtime planning, staffing adjustments, and schedule recovery efforts.
• Use strong multitasking skills to manage production issues, employee needs, quality concerns, and schedule changes throughout the shift.

Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with company safety procedures and expectations.
• Support incident reporting, root cause review, and corrective action follow-up as needed.
• Reinforce quality standards, inspection requirements, documented work instructions, and proper escalation of nonconforming conditions.
• Support scrap reduction, rework reduction, first-pass quality, and process improvement efforts.
• Encourage employee involvement in continuous improvement, standard work, training, and production efficiency initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 3 or more years of experience in production supervision, manufacturing leadership, operations management, or shop floor leadership.
• Experience supervising employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with a union labor force or labor agreement environment.
• Ability to coordinate multiple departments, priorities, and production issues simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, workflow management, employee communication, and shop-floor execution.
• Proven ability to multitask, make timely decisions, and adapt to changing production needs.
• Excellent communication, follow-up, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office or similar production reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Machining experience is a plus, including CNC turning, milling, VMC operations or related metalworking.
• Experience supervising gear manufacturing, shaft manufacturing, precision machining, heavy equipment components, or power transmission component production.
• Experience with ERP systems, production reporting, work order tracking, or shop-floor scheduling tools.
• Experience with Global Shop Solutions ERP is helpful.
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, safety leadership, or supervisor training is preferred.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Leads by example and maintains a consistent presence on the production floor.
• Communicates clearly with operators, setup personnel, planners, engineers, quality staff, maintenance, and management.
• Understands both people leadership and manufacturing operations.
• Stays organized and practical while managing competing priorities.
• Maintains urgency without sacrificing safety, quality, or employee respect.
• Drives accountability while supporting teamwork and employee development.
• Is comfortable making decisions under pressure and escalating issues when appropriate.

Physical and Work Environment

• Regular presence on the manufacturing floor is required.
• Frequent walking through production departments and interaction with production employees is expected.
• Work is performed in a typical industrial manufacturing environment with exposure to machining operations, production equipment, and shop-floor conditions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in production areas and respond to operational needs throughout the shift.

Work Schedule and Employment Status

• Full-time position.
• Shift assignment and hours may vary based on business needs and production coverage requirements.
• Occasional overtime or adjusted hours may be required to support production schedules, staffing needs, or customer commitments.

part of our journey!

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Application Question(s):

• Do you have 2 years of scheduling and planning experience?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Manufacturing: 2 years (Preferred)

Location:

• Dubuque, IA 52002 (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Dubuque, IA 52002 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Dubuque, IA 52002: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person