Operations Supervisor

 Forney Industries is one of America’s longest operating family-owned welding and metal working product companies. Forney is celebrating 93 years in business, and introduced the first publicly available arc welder in the 1940’s. With such a longstanding history, it’s safe to say that Forney Industries has been there for welders and metal workers since the beginning of the trade. Headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company now offers more than 5,000 products for the automotive, hardware, farm and ranch, and do it yourself markets. Distributing products to all 50 states, Forney has an extensive customer network and is committed to providing the highest standard products and customer service possible.  

Summary:

Give working direction to 5-30 Operations Associates. This employee is responsible for ensuring daily process and operation discipline on the floor. Assist in development of key processes through kaizen methodology and continuous improvement initiative. Provide input to personnel reviews for direct reports. Develop, train, and retain key distribution associates to continually make Forney’s organization stronger with focus on succession plan. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise the daily work flow and Operations Associate activity to warehouse and ship orders to Forney customers.
• Lead team of 5-30 Operations Associates in several distinct processes – working directly with the associates and leads.
• Manage productivity of team and provide direct feedback to associates.
• Assist in process development for key operation’s processes.
• Improve delivered product quality continuously. Promote quality discipline to team by ensuring all associates are trained in key process methodology.
• Assist management team with recognition of waste in our Operation – both labor waste and material waste. Assist with best-in-class inventory presentation, reduce material movement prior to shipment, and help reduce raw material inventory.
• Contribute to an Operations environment that provides consistently great customer service. Deliver on-time to Forney’s customers. Short cycle times and best in class responsiveness are required. Become familiar with lean methodology to assist in this implementation on our floor.
• Demonstrated expertise in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), preferably Körber Edge, including the ability to train, mentor, and support new team members in system utilization and best practices.
• Contribute to an Operations environment that values Forney’s distribution associates through demonstrated adherence to rules and processes. Focus on personnel development by providing a great training program, consistent process discipline, and clearly defined expectations.
• Eliminate safety hazards on the floor. It is a primary responsibility of this position to recognize, isolate and eliminate safety hazards to our personal.
•  Ensure all new associates are trained in their respective areas 

Requirements

Education and/or Experience: 

High School graduation preferred. Associates Degree in Operations management or supervision a plus. Alternatively 3-5 years in Operations environment desired.

• Lean training or self-study combined with extensive implementation experience preferred. 

Other Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to lead and inspire personnel is required. Personal integrity is critical.
• Personal initiative is mandatory. Self-directed individual with high enthusiasm desired.
• Provide support to management in dealing with non-performing employees, communicating performance feedback and expectations, providing process and personnel discipline, valuing diversity, encouraging risk-taking.
• The demonstrated ability to work constructively with many different types of people. Positive and consistent verbal communication skills are required.
• Warehouse material systems familiarity desired.

Language & Mathematical Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or virtual on-line classroom.  Must be a self-starter and able to perform tasks without direct supervision.  Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality.  Maintains strict confidentiality at all times.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

•              Warehouse floor with material handling equipment.
•              Frequent lifting of 50+ pounds is necessary.
•              The majority of the work shift will be spent standing and walking.
•              Operation of material handling equipment (pallet jack and fork lift) is      probable.
•              Overtime may be required to meet processing demands.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and peripheral vision.

Qualification Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please Note:  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.  Duties, responsibilities, or qualifications may change at any time with or without notice.