Production Supervisor

The Production Supervisor will oversee the end-to-end production process for envelope manufacturing—from the conversion/printing/assembling of envelope stock through to the packaging and dispatch of finished envelopes. The incumbent ensures safe, efficient operations, consistent quality, optimal throughput, and timely packaging while coordinating production and packaging teams, materials, equipment and process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

**Production & Packaging Oversight**
- Plan, schedule and monitor production runs for envelope manufacturing (cutting/folding/glueing, printing, conversion) and subsequent packaging operations (counting, bundling, boxing, labelling).
- Coordinate all steps from raw material input (paper/board/rolls) through conversion, finishing, inspection, packaging and dispatch.
- Ensure production targets (volume, efficiency, yield, scrap/rework) are met within agreed timeframes.
- Monitor and manage packaging operations: container/box preparation, correct labelling/marking, bundling of envelopes, shipment readiness.
- Liaise with warehouse/logistics for packaging material supply (boxes, pallets, shrink wrap, labels) and finished goods dispatch.

**Quality, Safety & Compliance**
- Ensure product quality standards are adhered to: correct envelope size/specification, fold/glue integrity, print quality, packaging integrity.
- Inspect finished envelopes and packaging; return defective items to appropriate stage for rework/correction.
- Enforce safety procedures and good housekeeping (5S), ensure that machines and packaging lines operate safely and in compliance with organizational policies.
- Maintain documentation and records (production logs, packaging records, downtime logs, scrap/rework data).

**Team Leadership & Training**
- Supervise and lead operators, converters, finishers, packaging staff, line-leaders and related manpower.
- Assign tasks, shift schedules, monitor performance; coach and develop team members to ensure efficient and high-quality operations.
- Work with Maintenance and Quality teams to ensure efficient machine setup, changeovers, preventive maintenance and minimize downtime.

**Process Improvement & Cost Control**
- Analyse production and packaging data (yield, scrap, downtime, labour variances) to identify improvement opportunities and implement corrective actions.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives (lean manufacturing, kaizen, waste reduction) in both production and packaging areas.
- Optimise labour, material cost, packaging cost, minimise overtime and unplanned downtime.

**Cross-Functional Coordination**
- Work closely with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Purchasing/Materials, Warehouse, Logistics and Dispatch to ensure overall smooth flow from production to finished packaged product.
- Assist with new product introductions (envelope sizes, special finishes, packaging variants) and ensure packaging line readiness.
- Provide daily/shift reports to Production Manager on output, packaging status, issues/risks, corrective measures.

Key Metrics / KPIs
- Production volume vs target (units or bundles)
- Conversion/packaging lead-time
- Material yield / scrap rate (paper, glue, packaging materials)
- Downtime (planned/unplanned) and machine utilisation
- Packaging accuracy (counts per box, label accuracy, bundle integrity)
- Labour efficiency, overtime usage
- Number of quality rejects/rework from production or packaging
- Safety incidents / compliance adherence

Qualifications & Skills

**Education & Experience**
- Bachelor’s degree/ equivalent diploma OR substantial experience in Production, Industrial
- Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment (preferably paper/conversion/packaging). Relevant experience in envelope manufacturing is a plus.
- Proven experience overseeing packaging operations and end-to-end production.

**Technical & Leadership Skills**
- Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, equipment (cutting/folding/glueing machines, envelope converting machines, bundling/boxing/labeling lines).
- Good working knowledge of packaging materials, packaging line operations.
- Proficiency in using MS Office (Excel, Word)
- Excellent leadership, communication, team-management skills; ability to motivate and train staff.
- Strong problem-solving skills, ability to analyse production/packaging data and implement improvements.

Working Conditions
- Manufacturing plant environment: may involve standing for long periods, moderate lifting, walking across production and packaging areas.
- Must comply with safety PPE requirements, machine lock-out/tag-out procedures.
- Shift work may be required (including early/late or night shifts) depending on production schedule.
- High pace environment; may face pressure to meet deadlines and targets.

Why this Role Matters

In an envelope manufacturing facility, the link between production conversion and packaging/distribution is critical. The Production Supervisor ensures that th