Production Supervisor

Build a Bright Future; Come Shine with us!

At SolarWorld, each and every one of our green-collar employees is helping to save the world by delivering clean energy from sand and sun.

Our vision is simple: We Build the SolarWorld.

We are the global leader in providing customer-oriented solar energy solutions, striving to make solar energy competitive and affordable for the average consumer. The SolarWorld group is dedicated to the core business of solar photovoltaic products and technology, operating production facilities in Germany and the USA. With 500 MW of production capacity at our state of the art manufacturing facility in Oregon, SolarWorld operates the largest solar manufacturing site in North America.

Innovation, customer focus and growth not only define our company, but also describe our employees - the foundation of our success. SolarWorld is dedicated to providing a work climate that promotes career growth, open communication and new ideas. To ensure employees' success, we provide best-in-class benefits that focus on delivering quality of life and personal development. SolarWorld employees enjoy a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation (5 weeks for exempt) and reimbursement of education expenses for qualified degree level programs!

Our culture not only encourages, but also demands personal responsibility, diversity, and an entrepreneurial way of thinking. Join us in a bright future and build a successful career for yourself. Feel good knowing that the work you do every day will build a better tomorrow for generations to come!

Position Overview:

In this critical role you will manage a 24/7 production line for the manufacture of silicon solar cell modules, with the support of engineering and quality managers and their teams in a startup environment. You will direct a medium-size work force of production operators and maintenance technicians. You will be responsible for production output, yield, quality and accurate reporting.

Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities for this position include the following:

• Lead and manage a growing workforce of up to 120 production operators running a 24/7 assembly production line on 12-hour.
• Develop and execute operational plans for a near completely automated assembly line. 
• Managing daily, weekly and monthly output of solar panels. 
• Create plans for equipment downtime to ensure this fully integrated line maintains the output necessary to achieve daily/weekly goals.
• Partner with engineering/other departments (including Equipment, Maintenance, Process, Quality, Automation Engineering and support organizations) to ensure quality and performance of finished product and maintain SolarWorld's product reputation as best-in-the-industry.
• Manage headcount for production workers within company policies to meet production plans and ramp-up.
• Build a world-class production team by creating a ramp-up plan for hiring, training, and operator certification.
• Ensure manufacturing throughput goals while maintaining the highest levels of safety.
• Develop and implement work procedures/instructions with engineering staff, verify compliance and implement corrective actions. Optimize and audit procedures to secure the fulfillment of department goals.
• Ensure safe and environmentally sound practices within all areas through best practices and employee. involvement. Must conform to all safety regulations and or procedures and maintain a safe working environment at all times.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate for this position brings an enthusiasm for saving the environment through our philosophy of sustainability - "clean energy from sand and sun". All employees of SolarWorld must be able to operate in a fast-paced, high-growth work environment and be able to tolerate ambiguity as we develop processes and operate entrepreneurially to accomplish deliverables. Our employees relish a challenge and look forward to exercising creative freedom to accomplish new tasks.

The successful candidate will possess the following combination of experience, knowledge, and skills:

• BS degree in technical or business field, or equivelant work experience.
• 10+ years of experience managing a product assembly production line in a 24/7, high-volume manufacturing environment using highly-automated production equipment.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years recent experience as a Production Supervisor in a product assembly environment managing over 40 operators/technicians in a 24/7 environment.
• Must have experience managing a fully-automated production assembly line with completed product output cycle times of less than 40 seconds.
• Recent proven experience building and managing teams in a high-growth environment. 

The successful candidate will have the above experience along with a majority of the following: 

• Proven ability to work in a highly-matrixed environment to achieve business objectives.
• Manage employee performance utilizing performance management tools. Ensure that all departmental staff are effectively aligned to organizational performance metrics.
• Knowledge and experience championing such concepts and methodologies as: TPM, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S.
• Strong desire to bring best practices to the team, share your knowledge and expertise and enable your team members' mutual success as the organization continues to grow.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels.
• Proven ability to successfully manage people including managing first line supervisors or managers and projects. This includes performance management, annual reviews, employee recognition and coaching.
• Must possess advanced computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office productivity tools (e.g., Excel, Power Point, Word). Additional preference for detailed knowledge of ERP and MES systems for reporting, analysis and management and control of high-volume manufacturing.
• Preference for detailed understanding and training in statistical analysis, lean manufacturing and problem solving methodologies and tools that are used in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Must be able to travel to other SolarWorld sites domestically and internationally, as required, for knowledge transfer and problem solving. Must have, or be able to obtain, a valid passport. Travel will be substantial in the beginning with extended visits to SolarWorld's other module production facilities.

Additional Requirements - Must be able to:

• Stand or sit for long periods.
• Perform tasks (that may be repetitive) that require reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, kneeling, walking, stooping and/or bending.
• Occasionally lift or move up to 40 pounds (50 pounds for Module Manufacturing).
• Work in an environment that generates OSHA permissible machine noise levels.
• Use tools that require fine hand skills.
• Visually, observe and differentiate small moving parts.
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment.
• Climb and descend stairs or step stools.
• Operate ladders (Maintenance Technicians Only).
• May be required to alternate schedules to meet production goals. 

To Apply:

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to submit your resume and a cover letter. 

Note: All offers of employment are contingent upon a candidate's successful completion of SolarWorld's pre-employment drug testing, and background investigation, which includes employment, education and criminal histories.

~ SolarWorld is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V/G ~