Operations Supervisor

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Manufacturing Operations Full-Time Exempt Employee Northbrook, IL, US

2 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

Join Our Team at Hu Friedy Group  – Innovating Excellence in Dental Instrument Manufacturing

Hu Friedy Group  is a leading manufacturer of dental instruments and infection prevention products. Our 10,000-plus products, hand‑crafted by highly skilled artisans, are known for their precision, performance, longevity, reliability, and quality. To help dental professionals be The Best in Practice, Hu Friedy Group  provides a unique combination of world class products, value-added services, clinical education, and dental community platforms that result in superior clinician performance and enhanced safety for dental professionals and their patients.

Working at Hu Friedy Group  is so much more than a job, as every employee has a part in driving and supporting the organization’s inspirational vision to be a global force in advancing dental performance through Best‑In‑Practice dentistry that improves lives around the world.

We are seeking a results-driven Operations Supervisor to lead our machining operations and develop a strong, performance-focused shop floor culture. This position will be responsible for ensuring the successful execution of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives by emphasizing standard work, waste elimination, and employee development.

• Develop a shop floor culture aligned with business goals in SQDC, emphasizing waste elimination and adherence to standard work.
• Lead daily SQDC board meetings and communicate performance metrics to the team.
• Monitor the production floor to ensure safe operations, responding to and investigating safety incidents and hazards in real-time.
• Provide clear, actionable feedback to individuals and the team regarding performance, safety, and improvement opportunities.
• Drive employee engagement by implementing Lean practices and promoting a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.
• Act as the first point of contact for safety, quality, delivery, and cost issues on shift; coordinate immediate countermeasures and longer-term improvements.
• Support and participate in Lean initiatives including Kaizen events, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and cross‑functional Lean committees.
• Participate in hiring and onboarding; ensure adequate staffing and skill coverage to meet customer and production demands.
• Regularly assess team skills, performance, and training needs; coach and take corrective action where appropriate.
• Collaborate with Quality, HR, Planning, and other departments to ensure smooth shift transitions and consistent performance.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of KPIs; update SQDC boards accordingly.
• May be responsible for overseeing additional departments during supervisor absences (e.g., vacation coverage).
• Support customer quality audits and drive root cause and corrective action initiatives when required.

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience, including 2+ years in a supervisory or team leadership role
• Demonstrated success leading teams in a manufacturing environment with Lean or continuous improvement exposure
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, GD&T, and related documentation
• Excellent leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills
• Experience in safety compliance and incident response
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and KPI tracking
• Flexible and autonomous; able to make sound decisions independently on an off‑shift
• CNC Machining experience is a plus