Assistant Production Supervisor

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION Supervise daily factory floor activities to ensure that production is completed safely, efficiently and according to the production plan and approved quality requirements. Ensure staff perform their assigned duties, production records are accurate, product checks are completed and operational problems are promptly addressed or escalated.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Staff supervision and shift management

• Confirm staff attendance, punctuality and readiness for duty at the start of each shift.
• Allocate staff to production lines and duties according to the production plan, competence and staffing requirements.
• Brief staff on production targets, product specifications, quality concerns and safety requirements.
• Monitor staff performance and ensure employees follow work instructions and approved operating procedures.
• Coordinate breaks and relief arrangements to maintain safe production coverage.
• Coach employees, identify training needs and ensure inexperienced staff receive appropriate supervision.
• Address misconduct within delegated authority and report absenteeism, repeated poor performance and disciplinary concerns to management.
• Conduct and record shift handovers, including outstanding production, quality, maintenance and staffing issues. Production supervision
• Implement the approved production schedule and monitor progress against shift targets.
• Confirm the correct raw materials, tooling, product specifications and packaging are available before production starts.
• Verify that line start-ups, product changes and machine adjustments are performed by authorised, competent personnel.
• Monitor production speeds, output, downtime and waste throughout the shift.
• Identify production delays and coordinate corrective action with operators, maintenance and management.
• Prevent unauthorised changes to production settings, material blends or the production sequence.
• Ensure finished pipes, ducts, coils and bundles meet the required length, quantity and packaging instructions. Production record checking
• Check production sheets during the shift and before handover for completeness, accuracy and legibility.
• Verify job numbers, product descriptions, dimensions, pressure classes where applicable, line numbers, dates and shift details.
• Confirm raw material grades, batch references and material consumption are recorded correctly.
• Cross-check recorded output against meter readings, coil or bundle counts and finished goods transferred to stock.
• Check that scrap, start-up waste, rejects, rework and downtime are recorded with the correct quantities and reasons.
• Investigate missing information and discrepancies with the responsible employee and ensure corrections remain traceable.
• Sign off records within delegated authority and submit them within the required timeframes. Quality checks and product control
• Ensure start-up, in-process and changeover checks are completed at the frequencies specified in the approved quality control plan.
• Perform or verify routine floor checks, including outside diameter, wall thickness, ovality, length, appearance and product marking, as applicable.
• Check pipe and duct printing for correct product information, legibility, traceability and metre marking accuracy.
• Check coils, reels and bundles for correct quantities, secure packaging, identification and damage.
• Ensure measuring equipment is suitable, serviceable and within its calibration or verification period.
• Coordinate sample collection and testing with the laboratory and Quality Control team.
• Stop affected production when quality requirements are not met and immediately notify the relevant manager and Quality Control.
• Identify, segregate and record suspect or nonconforming products to prevent unintended use or dispatch.
• Verify that corrective adjustments are checked before production continues; obtain required Quality Control approval for product release. Materials, stock and waste control
• Confirm that only approved raw materials, additives and rework materials are used according to authorised mixing instructions.
• Ensure materials and work in progress are clearly identified, correctly stored and protected from contamination.
• Monitor material usage and report shortages, excessive consumption and unexplained losses.
• Verify quantities and identification when finished goods are handed over to the Stock Controller.
• Participate in weekly stocktakes and investigate discrepancies relating to the production floor.
• Ensure scrap is separated, weighed, recorded and stored in the designated areas.
• Identify practical opportunities to reduce waste and improve material utilisation. Equipment care and maintenance coordination
• Ensure operators complete required pre-start inspections and daily equipment care checks.
• Monitor equipment for leaks, unusual noise, unstable operation and other signs of deterioration.
• Report defects promptly and provide clear information about the fault and its production impact.
• Coordinate access for maintenance and confirm equipment is authorised for return to service before restarting.
• Ensure staff do not bypass guards, safety devices or isolation procedures, or undertake repairs beyond their authorisation. Safety, housekeeping and workplace discipline
• Enforce required PPE, safe working practices and housekeeping standards.
• Keep walkways, emergency exits, electrical panels and firefighting equipment accessible.
• Monitor safe handling, stacking and movement of pipes, coils, reels and raw materials.
• Stop unsafe work and report hazards, incidents and near misses immediately.
• Ensure spills, loose strapping, scrap and other obstructions are removed promptly.
• Conduct shift safety briefings and follow up on assigned corrective actions. Reporting and continuous improvement
• Submit a shift report covering output against plan, waste, downtime, quality issues, staffing and outstanding actions.
• Escalate issues that may affect safety, product quality, delivery commitments or production continuity.
• Follow up on actions from previous shifts, quality findings and maintenance requests.
• Recommend practical improvements to productivity, quality, housekeeping and staff effectiveness. AUTHORITY
• Allocate daily duties and adjust staff deployment within approved staffing arrangements.
• Stop unsafe work or affected production where equipment or product quality is at risk.
• Place nonconforming products on hold pending assessment by Quality Control.
• Escalate staffing, quality, maintenance and material issues to the responsible manager.
• Product release, specification changes, material substitutions and formal disciplinary decisions remain subject to the company’s delegated approval requirements.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Grade 12 or equivalent; a relevant manufacturing or technical qualification is advantageous.
• At least three years’ manufacturing experience, preferably in plastics extrusion or pipe production.
• Previous experience supervising a production team or shift.
• Ability to read production plans, product specifications and work instructions.
• Practical experience checking production records and using basic measuring equipment.
• Basic numeracy, computer literacy and clear written reporting skills.
• Willingness to work shifts and provide effective shift handovers. KEY COMPETENCIES Team leadership, attention to detail, practical problem-solving, clear communication, planning, accountability and consistent enforcement of safety and quality requirements. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
• Achievement of agreed production targets and schedules.
• Accuracy, completeness and timely submission of production records.
• Completion of required quality checks and timely containment of defects.
• Waste, rework and downtime against agreed targets.
• Staff attendance, deployment and completion of assigned duties.
• Stock reconciliation accuracy and correct finished goods handovers.
• Housekeeping standards, safety compliance and closure of reported actions.