Pre Production Supervisor

Job Title: Fabrication & Machining Supervisor (Pre Production)

Job Category: Full-Time, Salaried

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Position Overview

The Pre Production Supervisor is responsible for the daily leadership, coordination, and performance of assigned Pre Production operations, including fabrication, welding, machining, metalworking, and related component preparation activities. This position provides direct supervision to welders, fabricators, machine operators, assemblers, and other assigned employees and is accountable for ensuring production schedules, quality standards, safety requirements, and departmental performance expectations are consistently achieved.

The Pre Production Supervisor plans and directs daily production activities, assigns labor and resources based on operational priorities, monitors employee and departmental performance, addresses production constraints, and provides coaching and development to employees. The Supervisor works closely with Production Planning, Materials, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other operational teams to maintain efficient material and part flow and resolve issues that may impact safety, quality, delivery, or productivity.

This position is expected to maintain a visible presence on the production floor, provide effective leadership and accountability, and proactively identify and address issues affecting departmental performance.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Employee Management

• Provide direct supervision and day-to-day leadership to welders, fabricators, machine operators, assemblers, and other assigned Pre Production employees.
• Establish daily priorities, communicate expectations, and ensure employees understand production, quality, safety, and performance requirements.
• Assign employees and resources based on production schedules, staffing levels, employee capabilities, equipment availability, and operational priorities.
• Monitor employee performance, attendance, productivity, workmanship, and adherence to company policies and departmental procedures.
• Provide timely coaching, feedback, recognition, and corrective action when appropriate.
• Partner with Human Resources and Manufacturing leadership to address employee performance, attendance, conduct, and other workplace concerns.
• Participate in performance reviews and provide objective feedback regarding employee performance, development, and training needs.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, cross-training, and development of new and existing employees.
• Develop employees to strengthen technical capability, versatility, and departmental succession.
• Maintain appropriate staffing and departmental coverage and promptly communicate current or anticipated staffing needs.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, professionalism, effective communication, and continuous improvement throughout the department.
• Ensure company policies, procedures, and leadership expectations are consistently applied within the department.

Production Operations

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee daily Pre Production activities to achieve established production schedules and operational objectives.
• Review production schedules, work orders, and priorities and allocate labor, equipment, materials, and other resources accordingly.
• Monitor production progress throughout the shift and proactively address issues that may affect schedule attainment, productivity, quality, or delivery.
• Coordinate workflow and production priorities with Production Planning, Materials, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and downstream production departments.
• Ensure raw materials, components, hardware, tooling, equipment, and production documentation are available to support scheduled work.
• Utilize ERP, work order, scheduling, and production management systems to monitor jobs, materials, labor, and workflow status.
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, work instructions, specifications, work orders, and other production documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and support to employees when fabrication, welding, machining, assembly, or production issues arise.
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, equipment issues, staffing gaps, material shortages, and other constraints that may disrupt workflow.
• Escalate significant production constraints, material shortages, engineering concerns, equipment issues, and other operational risks to appropriate leadership.
• Monitor departmental production performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, throughput, labor utilization, material flow, and workflow.
• Ensure production equipment, tools, fixtures, and workstations are properly maintained and available for use.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Facilities regarding equipment repairs, preventive maintenance, or facility issues that could affect production.
• Support the development and implementation of standardized work instructions, departmental procedures, and improved production processes.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives designed to reduce waste, improve production flow, increase productivity, and enhance operational performance.
• Safely operate forklifts, production equipment, and other powered industrial equipment when necessary and when properly trained and authorized.

Quality & Safety

• Maintain accountability for quality and safety performance within the Pre Production area.
• Ensure completed components and work meet engineering specifications, established work instructions, downstream production requirements, and company quality standards.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to investigate production and quality concerns, identify root causes, and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Ensure employees follow established quality procedures and inspection checkpoints and promptly address recurring workmanship or process concerns.
• Promote and enforce compliance with OSHA requirements, company safety policies, required personal protective equipment (PPE), and established safe work practices.
• Identify and address unsafe conditions, behaviors, equipment concerns, and workplace hazards.
• Ensure safety incidents, near misses, quality issues, and other operational concerns are reported and escalated in accordance with company procedures.
• Participate in incident investigations, corrective actions, and safety improvement initiatives as required.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment consistent with company housekeeping and workplace organization standards.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the department.

Salary & Compensation

This is a full-time, salaried, FLSA exempt position. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and complies with all applicable labor laws and company policies.

Job Categorization

This position is a full-time, FLSA exempt role (SOC Code – 51-1011).

This position is designated as a Safety Sensitive position.

A Safety Sensitive position at FR Conversions is subject to post-offer and random drug/alcohol screenings.

All positions at FR Conversions are subject to at cause and post-incident drug/alcohol screenings.

Why FR Conversions?

FR Conversions is a mission-driven company dedicated to transforming lives through mobility. As a Fabrication & Machining Supervisor, you’ll play a key role in building the components that power our vehicle conversion process. You’ll lead a team that takes pride in its work, contributing directly to the safety, reliability, and quality of life-changing vehicles.

We offer a fast-paced, team-oriented environment where leadership is hands-on and your impact is visible every day. This is a leadership opportunity for someone who values teamwork, accountability, and hands-on impact in a high-output fabrication environment.

Requirements & Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Technical, manufacturing, welding, machining, fabrication, vocational, or related post-secondary education preferred.

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of manufacturing, fabrication, machining, welding, metalworking, or related production experience preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience in a fabrication-based manufacturing or production environment preferred.
• Experience directly supervising skilled trades or production employees, coordinating workflow, and managing daily production priorities strongly preferred.
• Experience training employees, troubleshooting production issues, addressing performance concerns, and improving processes across fabrication, machining, metalworking, welding, or related operations preferred.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, metalworking, manufacturing workflow, and shop-floor operations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, work instructions, specifications, and production documentation.
• Experience utilizing ERP systems, manufacturing work orders, scheduling systems, or production management systems.
• Working knowledge of hand tools, power tools, pneumatic tools, measuring devices, fabrication and machining equipment, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to understand and monitor production metrics, labor utilization, productivity, quality, throughput, and schedule attainment.
• Working knowledge of workplace safety requirements and manufacturing safety practices.
• Ability to safely operate forklifts and other powered industrial equipment; certification preferred or ability to become certified as required.

Leadership Skills

• Strong leadership, coaching, employee development, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to establish clear expectations and hold employees accountable for performance, quality, attendance, conduct, and safety.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and organizational levels.
• Strong organizational, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and make timely decisions in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to identify operational issues, determine appropriate corrective actions, and follow through to resolution.
• Demonstrated professionalism, reliability, sound judgment, and commitment to quality and operational excellence.

Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver's license required.
• Must maintain an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• Forklift certification preferred or ability to become certified upon hire.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Ability to regularly stand, walk, bend, twist, kneel, and move throughout production areas during the workday.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds independently and heavier materials with assistance when required.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to industrial noise, moving equipment, welding and fabrication activity, varying temperatures, and production conditions.
• Ability to safely operate production equipment when required and wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to maintain a regular presence on the production floor and move between Pre Production work areas throughout the workday. 

Screenings Required

• Pre-Employment Drug Test
• Pre-Employment Physical
• A clean driving record (MVR) check conducted prior to employment and annually thereafter.