Open-Die Forging Operations Supervisor

Location: Metro Detroit, MI

Employment Type: Full-Time

Shift: 2nd Shift

Compensation: $80,000–$85,000 annually

A day on your 2nd shift

You walk in as the afternoon ramps up. A quick huddle with your team sets the tone—safety brief, production targets, quality priorities. You circulate through the forge, keeping a close eye on open-die operations and related processes, confirming work instructions are followed and equipment is running to plan. When a press shows signs of drift, you troubleshoot with Maintenance and loop in Quality and Engineering to keep downtime to a minimum. You coach operators, document progress, and ensure PPE and plant policies are non-negotiable. By end of shift, production, delivery, and quality goals are met—and your documentation is crisp and complete.

What you'll do

• Lead and coordinate all 2nd-shift forging activities in a heavy industrial environment.
• Coach, develop, and hold production team members accountable for performance and safety.
• Hit daily production, quality, and delivery targets while minimizing downtime.
• Oversee open-die and related forging operations; respond rapidly to issues as they arise.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Operations to resolve equipment and process problems.
• Enforce PPE usage, safety procedures, and plant policies; conduct shift meetings to set priorities.
• Track attendance, training status, and productivity; maintain accurate shift and production records.
• Troubleshoot production and equipment concerns; escalate when needed.
• Drive continuous improvement around safety, quality, throughput, and scrap reduction.
• Ensure adherence to work instructions, process requirements, and quality standards.
• Onboard new hires and advance the skills of experienced operators.

What you bring

• 3+ years in manufacturing leadership or supervision.
• Background in forging, steel/metals, stamping, machining, foundry, or other heavy manufacturing.
• Direct forging experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing safety and production best practices.
• Proven ability to manage production teams and drive accountability.
• Skilled at troubleshooting and coordinating with maintenance and technical groups.
• Clear communicator with strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Comfortable working in a heavy industrial setting.
• Available to work 2nd shift.

Preferred experience

• Open-die or closed-die forging operations.
• Forging presses and other heavy industrial equipment.
• Aerospace or high-strength metal components.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.
• Quality initiatives and scrap reduction.
• Training and developing employees at multiple skill levels.
• OSHA and plant safety programs.