Production Supervisor

Responsible for:

Senior Operative

Factory Operatives AND

Volunteers and individuals on work placements

1. Principal Purpose of the Role

The Production Supervisor will lead a small production team, ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the factory in the manufacture of various pet products. The role combines commercial production responsibility with the provision of a safe, supportive, and inclusive working environment for people with disabilities, including paid staff, volunteers, and individuals on work placements.

Production must meet agreed commercial quality standards and delivery timescales, while taking into account the individual skills, abilities, and support needs of the workforce.

The role includes responsibility for ensuring individuals on work placements are appropriately assessed, monitored, supported, and allocated suitable tasks, with their safety and wellbeing maintained at all times.

The post holder will act with integrity and will value, respect, and actively promote equality, diversity, dignity, and inclusion.

3.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety

Take overall responsibility for health and safety supervision within a complex factory environment that includes staff and volunteers with disabilities, heavy-duty machinery, and individuals with varying levels of experience

Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, ISO
9001, HACCP systems, and Independence Matters policies

Provide appropriate supervision to staff and volunteers, assessing individuals’ capability and suitability for specific tasks

Ensure safe systems of work are in place, machinery pre-start checks are completed, and required documentation is maintained and reviewed

Ensure all staff and volunteers receive appropriate induction, training, refresher training, and contamination control awareness

Assess individuals’ capacity, behaviour, and attitude to ensure safe placement within the factory

Monitor and carry out machinery maintenance, ensure documentation is completed, and report issues to the Factory Manager

Ensure awareness and compliance with Fire Safety, First Aid, and individual responsibilities

Take immediate action and report any health and safety concerns, unsafe practices, or machinery misuse

Organise and manage factory clean-downs to maintain a safe working environment

Provide appropriate First Aid provision across the workforce

Service Performance (Commercial and In-House)

Set daily and weekly production schedules to meet customer demand, delivery timescales, and stock requirements

Adjust production plans based on machinery capacity, raw materials availability, clean-down requirements, and labour resources

Plan production schedules for holiday periods to support forward planning

Ensure appropriate placement and support of individuals on work placements based on training needs, disabilities, and capabilities

Ensure staff provide high-quality support, instruction, and supervision to volunteers

Monitor and order raw materials, tools, and PPE to ensure continuity of production

Directly undertake high-level production tasks (e.g. forklift operation, band saw use, baling) where required

Diagnose and resolve machinery breakdowns to minimise production disruption

Implement changes to procedures and health and safety systems, ensuring clear communication to staff and management

Liaise with external engineers and develop internal knowledge of machinery where safe and appropriate

Motivate individuals, build effective teams, and manage varying abilities, restrictions, and attitudes, including mandatory placements

Performance Management

Encourage and support staff and individuals on work placements to achieve and improve productivity relative to their abilities

Deliver inductions, training, and refresher training aligned to work plans and development needs

Assess learning needs and ensure individuals are appropriately prepared before working on the factory floor

Maintain accurate records of material usage, wastage, and production output

Manage day-to-day personnel issues, including conflict resolution where required

Organise and lead regular team talks covering production, quality, machinery, and performance

Implement lean manufacturing techniques to reduce waste, downtime, and inefficiencies

Accurately record daily production outputs and staff performance into KPI systems

Monitor KPI data to ensure accurate timings, processes, and performance measurement

Ensure all staff meet required factory operative standards and report concerns to management

Attend trade shows when required to promote the business within the pet sector

Make operational decisions during the absence of the Factory Manager (within agreed authority limits)

Assess factory capacity and resources in consultation with the Factory Manager when considering new products, work, or customers

Quality Assurance

Carry out daily quality checks and ensure completion of all required documentation

Conduct final quality checks prior to despatch

Ensure staff understand and comply with quality standards,…