Shift Supervisor

Industry: Manufacturing (Food Packaging)

Job Purpose

To oversee and coordinate all production activities during an assigned shift within a plastic injection moulding facility, ensuring efficient operations, consistent product quality, adherence to food safety standards, and compliance with health and safety regulations. The role is critical in maintaining production targets while ensuring that packaging products meet stringent food-grade requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Management

• Supervise daily shift operations of injection moulding machines and auxiliary equipment.
• Ensure production targets, output volumes, and deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Monitor machine performance, cycle times, scrap rates, and downtime.
• Coordinate mould changes, start-ups, and shutdowns efficiently.
• Optimize production processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

2. Quality Control & Food Safety Compliance

• Ensure all products meet required specifications for food-grade packaging.
• Enforce adherence to quality standards such as ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, or HACCP.
• Conduct regular quality checks and ensure proper documentation is maintained.
• Address non-conforming products promptly and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain strict hygiene and contamination control practices in line with food safety regulations.

3. Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise, lead, and motivate production staff, including machine operators and setters.
• Allocate tasks and manage workforce planning per shift requirements.
• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to improve team performance.
• Handle disciplinary issues in line with company policies and South African labour laws.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

4. Health & Safety Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
• Conduct safety briefings and enforce safe work practices.
• Identify hazards, report incidents, and implement corrective measures.
• Ensure proper use of PPE and safe handling of raw materials and machinery.

5. Equipment & Maintenance Coordination

• Work closely with maintenance teams to ensure machinery is operating optimally.
• Report breakdowns and coordinate timely repairs to minimize downtime.
• Support preventive maintenance programs and basic troubleshooting.

6. Inventory & Material Control

• Monitor raw material usage (resins, colorants, additives).
• Ensure proper handling and storage of food-grade materials.
• Coordinate with stores/logistics to ensure material availability for uninterrupted production.
• Minimize material waste and ensure proper regrind usage within quality limits.

7. Reporting & Administration

• Complete shift reports detailing production output, downtime, quality issues, and staffing.
• Maintain accurate production and quality records.
• Communicate shift handovers effectively to the next supervisor.
• Provide feedback and recommendations to management on process improvements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production output vs. target
• Scrap and reject rates
• Machine uptime and efficiency
• Compliance with food safety and quality standards
• Health and safety incident rates
• Staff productivity and absenteeism

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Grade 12 (Matric) – essential
• Technical qualification in Plastics Technology, Engineering, or Manufacturing – advantageous

Experience

• 3–5 years’ experience in plastic injection moulding
• At least 2 years in a supervisory role within manufacturing
• Experience in food packaging or FMCG manufacturing is highly preferred

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of injection moulding processes and machinery
• Understanding of polymers and material behaviour
• Familiarity with quality standards for food packaging
• Basic troubleshooting and process optimization skills
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles is advantageous

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Good problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• High attention to detail and quality