Hollowcore Supervisor

Join Our Team at Mid-States!
Are you driven, hardworking, and passionate about building something that lasts? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment where safety, quality, and craftsmanship are top priorities? If you're ready to take on the challenge, Mid-States Concrete Industries is hiring top talent to join our growing team!

About the Role:

The Hollowcore Supervisor is responsible for directing all day-to-day Hollowcore production activities, ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in accordance with engineering requirements, quality standards, and production schedules. This position oversees Hollowcore production and Kitting/Woodshop/Foam operations while coordinating closely with Planning & Throughput, Engineering, Quality Control, Maintenance, Fabrication, Shipping, and other supporting departments to maintain uninterrupted production.

The Hollowcore Supervisor is responsible for developing employees, maintaining production standards, maximizing bed utilization and throughput, improving operational performance, and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.           

Key Responsibilities:

Production Management

• Execute production schedules established by the Production Manager/Manager of Planning & Throughput. Coordinate daily bed assignments and production priorities.
• Monitor production progress throughout the shift. Ensure beds are stripped, cleaned, set up, stressed, produced, cured, cut, and released efficiently.
• Remove production bottlenecks and constraints. Balance manpower between Hollowcore, Kitting/Woodshop/Foam, and supporting operations based on workload.
• Ensure daily and weekly bed production goals are achieved safely and efficiently. Minimize lost bed time and unnecessary production delays.
• Maintain consistent workflow between stripping, setup, production, cutting, and material handling.

Production Planning & Coordination

• Coordinate daily labor requirements. Review upcoming Hollowcore production requirements.
• Verify beds, strand, embeds, insulation, foam, blockouts, materials, drawings, and equipment are ready before production begins. Ensure kitting and woodshop requirements are completed ahead of scheduled production.
• Identify potential production constraints before they impact the schedule.
• Coordinate with: Planning & Throughput, Quality Control, Fabrication, Maintenance, Shipping and Yard.
• Communicate schedule changes and production priorities. Coordinate bed turnover to support the next scheduled production cycle.
• Escalate material, drawing, equipment, or manpower shortages that could impact production.

Safety

• Conduct daily safety observations. Ensure employees follow established Hollowcore production and stressing procedures.
• Ensure proper lockout/tagout and equipment safety requirements are followed. Enforce safe stressing and de-tensioning practices.
• Monitor safe crane and material handling practices. Investigate incidents and near misses.
• Ensure proper PPE usage. Correct unsafe conditions and behaviors immediately.
• Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the department.

Quality

• Ensure products meet engineering drawings, specifications, and established quality standards. Verify proper bed setup prior to production.
• Ensure strand patterns, stressing requirements, blockouts, embeds, openings, insulation, and other production details are correct. Monitor concrete placement/extrusion and production quality.
• Ensure proper dimensions and production tolerances are maintained. Monitor cutting and finished product quality.
• Reduce defects, discrepancies, damage, and rework. Support corrective actions and root cause investigations.
• Drive First Pass Yield (FPY) improvements. Work closely with Quality Control to address recurring Hollowcore discrepancies.
• Reinforce standardized work and quality expectations with employees.

Productivity & Performance

• Monitor and improve: Daily beds produced, Pieces and square footage produced, Bed utilization, Labor efficiency, Schedule adherence, Bed cycle time, Setup and changeover time, Production downtime, Equipment downtime, Rework and discrepancies, Overtime utilization, Department productivity, Cutting and stripping efficiency, Lost production time
• Use production performance data to identify constraints and develop corrective actions.

Equipment & Facility Management

• Ensure production equipment is inspected before use. Coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance with Maintenance.
• Report equipment issues promptly. Maintain production readiness of Hollowcore equipment.
• Monitor stressing equipment and ensure required inspections and calibrations are current. Monitor saws, extruders, cranes, concrete delivery systems, bed equipment, and other production machinery.
• Coordinate equipment downtime to minimize production impact. Ensure tools and production equipment are properly maintained and stored.
• Identify recurring equipment issues affecting production performance.

Development

• Plan the training of new employees. Develop lead personnel and future department leaders.
• Cross-train employees across Hollowcore operations. Ensure employees are trained in multiple areas of the production process.
• Develop operator competency on critical production equipment. Build succession plans for key positions.
• Conduct performance coaching. Reinforce company expectations and standards.
• Hold EOW Foreman meetings. Identify employee skill gaps and establish training priorities.

Housekeeping & Organization

• Maintain clean, organized work areas. Enforce 5S standards.
• Ensure forms and tools are properly stored. Improve material flow throughout the production floors.
• Maintain clear and safe travel paths around beds and production equipment. Ensure production areas are prepared for the following shift/day.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify production inefficiencies. Eliminate waste and unnecessary motion.
• Improve bed setup and changeover times. Reduce production downtime.
• Improve bed cycle time and utilization. Standardize Hollowcore production processes.
• Improve material staging and kitting processes. Identify recurring production constraints and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Lead Lean manufacturing initiatives. Support improvements to equipment, tooling, layouts, and production methods.
• Implement corrective actions that improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

Communication

• Communicate production status throughout the day. Escalate issues impacting schedule, safety, quality, or productivity.
• Coordinate daily with the Production Manager. Maintain communication with Planning & Throughput regarding schedule performance and constraints.
• Communicate upcoming production requirements to department leads and employees. Provide clear expectations and priorities to employees.
• Coordinate shift handoffs and communicate outstanding issues. Maintain positive communication between Hollowcore and supporting departments.

Documentation & Reporting

• Complete daily production reports. Track labor utilization.
• Monitor Hollowcore production KPIs. Track bed production and schedule attainment.
• Document downtime and production delays. Document quality concerns and recurring discrepancies.
• Report schedule variances. Track causes of missed or delayed beds.
• Maintain department performance metrics. Review production performance and corrective actions with the Production Manager.

Qualifications:

Required

Preferred

• High school diploma or GED

• Associate’s degree in construction management
• Manufacturing/Manufacturing Technology
• Concrete Technology
• Industrial Technology

• Ability to obtain and maintain required company safety certifications.
• Ability to obtain required training/certification for stressing operations, overhead cranes, rigging, and other critical Hollowcore equipment.

• PCI Level I or II certification.
• ACI Concrete Field-Testing Technician – Grade I.
• OSHA 30 certification.
• Qualified/certified in overhead crane operation and rigging.

• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• 3+ years leadership experience
• Experience leading crews and coordinating daily production activities.
• Experience rigging and operating overhead cranes
• Demonstrated ability analyze process, develop improvements, and implement change

• 3+ years of experience in precast/prestressed concrete or Hollowcore production.
• Hands-on experience with Hollowcore production equipment and processes.
• Experience coordinating multiple crews or work areas within a production operation.
• Experience working in a high-volume, schedule-driven manufacturing environment.

• Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, production drawings, bed layouts, and engineering requirements.
• Understanding of Hollowcore production processes including bed preparation, strand layout, stressing, setup, concrete placement/extrusion, curing, de-tensioning, stripping, and cutting.
• Working knowledge of prestressing strand patterns, stressing requirements, blockouts, embeds, openings, insulation, and production tolerances.
• Understanding of safe stressing and de-tensioning practices.
• Working knowledge of overhead crane operation, rigging, and material handling.
• Ability to plan manpower, prioritize daily production, and coordinate bed turnover.
• Ability to identify production constraints and make timely decisions to maintain schedule and throughput.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Office proficiency.

• Experience operating or supervising Hollowcore extruders, saws, stressing equipment, concrete delivery systems, and related production equipment.
• Understanding of concrete mix behavior, curing, strength development, and how concrete performance impacts Hollowcore production.
• Experience with production planning or scheduling systems.
• Experience monitoring bed utilization, cycle time, downtime, labor efficiency, and schedule attainment.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Experience with preventive maintenance coordination and production equipment troubleshooting.

• Ability to lead, train, develop, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to set clear daily expectations and maintain accountability for production results.
• Ability to balance manpower and resources based on production priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to improve safety, quality, productivity, and schedule performance.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with Production, Planning & Throughput, Quality Control, Maintenance, Fabrication, Shipping, and Yard operations.
• Ability to make timely decisions in a fast-paced production environment while maintaining safety and quality standards.

• Experience developing foremen, leads, and equipment operators.
• Experience building cross-training plans and developing employee competency across multiple production functions.
• Experience tracking and improving production KPIs such as beds produced, bed utilization, labor efficiency, cycle time, downtime, First Pass Yield, and schedule attainment.
• Demonstrated success by reducing production downtime, improving bed turnover, and eliminating recurring production constraints.

What “ROCKS” about Mid-States Concrete Industries?

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401K Opportunities with Employer match
• Discretionary bonus program
• Weekly pay
• Safety Incentives and Milestone Recognition for your achievements
• Fun, team-focused Company Events
• Advancement and leadership opportunities in a growing company
• Professional development reimbursement
• Paid time-off (sick, vacation and Holidays)
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) opportunities.

Our vision is to change the world by being the safest and most innovative precast building company. We partner with our customers to innovate, design, and build meaningful buildings in which to live, work, and play. We commit to all of this by creating a positive experience with every interaction, having a sense of humor, and believing that being a little weird is a good thing!

Mid States Concrete Industries is an equal opportunity employer, including individuals with disabilities and veterans, and is committed to maintaining a diverse workplace. Mid States Concrete Industries is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact Human Resources or you may call us at 1-800-236-1072.