Manufacturing Supervisor Jobs in Tennessee

Lead Machine Operator / Working Supervisor – Wood Products Manufacturing

$20–$29/hr + performance bonus | Mon–Thu 6:30 AM–4:00 PM, Fri 6:30–10:30 AM | Ashland City, TN | Full-time, on-site

Are you the person on the floor everyone comes to when a setup won't hold or a machine won't run right? Madison Mill is looking for a hands-on lead to run our finishing department. You'll run the machines, lead the operators, and own the results.

What we make

We make turnings, dowels, tool handles, closet rods, garden stakes, and button plugs, both coated and uncoated. That's hundreds of different items for customers ranging from major big-box retailers to local hardware stores. The equipment includes lathes, sanders, drilling and shaping machines, and finishing lines, with names like Weinig, Timesavers, and Locatelli. It's one of the most varied production departments in specialty wood products.

What you'll do

• Run the machines. Take on the hard setups and the tough troubleshooting yourself. You're the technical authority in the department. You'll read prints and CAD drawings to make parts to spec, and you'll lead maintenance, including building a preventive maintenance routine.
• Lead the team. Assign work, train operators on the equipment in real time, set priorities, approve timecards, and do performance reviews.
• Run production. Turn customer orders and ship dates into a daily schedule. You'll hit targets for safety, uptime, output, waste, and quality, and flag capacity problems early.
• Keep it tight. Manage tooling, consumables, and material inventory, run cycle counts, and keep the department on budget.
• Keep the Production Manager informed. Report clearly on what's working and what isn't. You'll use Asana, email, and Microsoft Office, and we'll train you on Asana.

This is a working leadership job. You'll lead from the floor, not from an office.

What you bring

• 4+ years hands-on in woodworking or a comparable precision manufacturing trade
• Real skill at machine setup, operation, troubleshooting, and basic maintenance
• Mechanical know-how across hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems
• Experience training or leading others. Formal supervisor experience is a plus but not required.
• Comfortable reading prints and using calipers and a tape measure
• Able to run a team meeting and write a clear procedure
• Forklift license, or willing to get one
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Able to stand and walk a full shift and lift up to 50 lbs

Pluses: Experience on Weinig, Timesavers, Locatelli, or similar equipment; Spanish; technical training or trade certifications.

Why Madison Mill

We've been making wood products in Tennessee for over 65 years. We're American-made, we're growing, and we're investing in new equipment and in our people. We keep our handshake commitments, we measure twice and cut once, and we enjoy the work. If you want to step up into leadership without leaving the craft behind, we'll back you with real training and real support.

Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, technical training, and professional development support.

Pay: $20.00 - $29.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least 4 years of hands-on experience in woodworking or a comparable precision manufacturing trade? (Yes or No)
• Which of these have you personally set up and run? Moulder / Lathe / Wide-belt sander / Boring or drilling machine / Finishing or coating line / None (List All That Apply)

Work Location: In person