Job Description

Overview

The Production Supervisor (2nd Shift) in Chicago, IL is responsible for leading daily manufacturing operations, specifically overseeing the Weld Department, which includes MIG, TIG, and robotic welding processes. This role focuses on meeting production targets, ensuring quality standards, and maintaining safety while fostering operational efficiency and workforce development.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise daily production activities with primary responsibility for weld operations.
  • Ensure production schedules are met across welding booths, robotic cells, and downstream processes.
  • Balance labor and workflow to eliminate bottlenecks and maintain throughput.
  • Coordinate with Planning, Quality, and Maintenance to resolve production challenges.
  • Monitor and report daily performance metrics including output, efficiency, rework, and on-time delivery.
  • Support weld quality initiatives and work closely with Quality and CWI personnel.
  • Oversee setup and operation of MIG, TIG, and robotic welding systems.
  • Identify opportunities to improve arc-on time, reduce rework, and optimize weld cell utilization.
  • Assist with weld process troubleshooting and corrective actions.
  • Promote adherence to company quality standards and applicable codes.
  • Ensure first-article inspections and in-process checks are completed.
  • Lead corrective actions for non-conformance within the department.
  • Maintain documentation and production records as required.
  • Enforce all OSHA and company safety policies.
  • Ensure proper PPE usage and safe welding practices.
  • Monitor ventilation and fume extraction systems within weld areas.
  • Conduct regular safety meetings and address hazards promptly.
  • Supervise, coach, and develop production employees, including welders and operators.
  • Support hiring, onboarding, and training efforts.
  • Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback.
  • Manage scheduling, attendance, overtime, and staffing levels.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead Lean initiatives including 5S, workflow improvements, and waste reduction.
  • Track and analyze KPIs such as productivity, scrap rates, and labor efficiency.
  • Recommend equipment upgrades and process enhancements.
  • Support cross-training efforts to build workforce flexibility.

Requirements

  • High School Diploma or GED required.
  • Technical or trade school education is preferred.
  • 5+ years of manufacturing experience, with significant exposure to welding operations.
  • 2+ years of supervisory experience in a production environment.
  • Experience in a high-mix or high-volume manufacturing environment preferred.
  • Strong understanding of MIG, TIG, and robotic welding processes.
  • Ability to read and interpret blueprints and weld symbols.
  • Knowledge of WPS/PQR documentation preferred.
  • Familiarity with ERP systems and production reporting tools.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office.
  • Strong organizational and decision-making skills.
  • Effective communicator across all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Data-driven mindset with focus on measurable results.
  • Ability to spend extended periods on the production floor.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally.
  • Exposure to industrial manufacturing conditions including heat, noise, and welding environments.

How this job compares in Chicago, IL

Pay in context

At roughly $36/hr, this posting lands within a few percent of the $38/hr median for welding jobs in Chicago, IL, whose middle half runs $31–$47/hr across 90 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 48% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. In other words it is a market-rate offer, so benefits, overtime, and shift schedule are where the real difference between this and the next posting on the list shows up.

The local market in Chicago, IL

We're tracking 104 other active welding openings in Chicago, IL right now, from 65 different employers. 44 of them were added in the last week. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 371 other active welding openings from 240 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Chicago, or widen the search to Illinois.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Staff on Site (13), S&C Electric Company (12), and Gerber Collision & Glass (11). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Chicago at $38/hr, Itasca at $36/hr, and Downers Grove at $36/hr. Chicago is among them.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG and TIG work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

See all lead welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • CWIthe AWS Certified Welding Inspector credential. It is an inspection qualification rather than a welding one, requiring documented experience plus a three-part exam, and it is the usual route off the torch into QC.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Chicago, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Production Supervisor (2nd Shift) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.