Job Location: Indianapolis, IN
Pay rate: $70,000
Position Summary:
As Injection Molding Supervisor, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of our injection molding production cell(s).
You will lead a team of hourly operators and technicians, ensure machines run safely and efficiently, troubleshoot and resolve part issues, oversee mold changeovers, and drive improvements to achieve production, quality, cost and safety targets.
You will play a key role bridging operations, maintenance, and quality to ensure production stability and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise, schedule, coach and develop hourly production staff (machine operators, helpers, material handlers) in the injection molding department.
- Assign work, monitor performance, enforce safety, housekeeping and quality standards.
- Set up and run injection molding machines, ensure proper material loading, cycle times, part ejection, downstream off-tools and assembly cells.
- Perform mold change-overs: remove one mold, install and align next mold, purge material, verify machine parameters, part quality and setup.
- Troubleshoot molding issues such as incomplete fill, flash, short shots, warpage, sink, dimensional tolerance issues, etc.; analyze root cause (process, mold, machine, material), implement corrective action and track results.
- Monitor machine performance: cycle times, downtime, scrap rates, yield, preventative maintenance schedules; work with maintenance/engineering to minimize unplanned machine/mold downtime.
- Work with Quality to assure parts meet specification (dimensional, cosmetic, functional) and initiate containment/corrective actions as needed.
- Drive continuous improvement efforts: plan and implement process improvements, small‐tooling modifications, reduce cycle times, scrap and cost; train staff on best practices (Kaizen, 5S, SMED).
- Ensure adherence to safety rules, lockout/tagout procedures, proper machine guarding, ergonomic best practices and PPE usage.
- Maintain production records, shift reports, mold logs, scrap and downtime logs; report key metrics to management.
- Collaborate with other functions (maintenance, tooling, engineering, supply chain) to support launches of new molds/parts and maintain reliable production output.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in injection molding manufacturing environment, ideally in automotive or high-volume plastic components.
- Proven ability to operate and set up injection molding machines and change molds.
- Hands-on troubleshooting experience: identifying molding defects, analyzing root causes (process, mold, machine, material) and implementing corrective actions.
- Strong supervisory experience: managing hourly staff, driving performance, enforcing standards, coaching and mentoring.
- Good mechanical aptitude and knowledge of mold changeover procedures, machine parameters, material flow, cooling, ejection systems.
- Familiarity with manufacturing metrics: cycle time, yield, downtime, scrap, OEE.
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Kaizen, 5S, SMED) preferred.
- Strong communication skills (oral and written), ability to work cross-functionally in fast-paced production.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; technical training or associate degree in manufacturing, plastics technology, or related is a plus.
- Ability to stand, walk, lift, climb on platforms, and safely work around running machinery; shift-work flexibility may be required.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary, benefits package including health, dental, vision, retirement plan, paid time off.