Factory Supervisor

Role Overview and Responsibilities

The Factory Supervisor will oversee the daily operations on the production floor of upholstered furniture manufacturing, including stages such as timber framing, foam and padding preparation, fabric or leather cutting, sewing, and the final upholstery process. This role involves task allocation based on technician expertise to meet piece-rate targets efficiently.

Quality assurance is a critical part of this position, involving regular inspections at every stage to guarantee frame integrity, foam density accuracy, precise seam stitching, proper pattern alignment, and smooth, wrinkle-free upholstery before packaging.

As a team leader, the supervisor will mentor, manage, and assess technicians and line workers, providing training on machine operation, safety practices, and upholstery techniques, especially for new recruits. Maintaining workplace safety standards is vital, including careful handling of pneumatic staple guns, woodworking saws, and chemical adhesives while ensuring a clean, organized environment following 5S methodology to avoid fabric or oil damage.

Responsibilities also include oversight of raw material consumption—timber, leather, fabrics, springs, foam, and hardware—to reduce waste, coordinating with inventory teams to maintain uninterrupted supply and prevent production stoppages.

The supervisor should continuously identify process inefficiencies, reduce rates of rework, and implement Lean manufacturing principles to improve production output and reduce operational costs.

Qualifications and Requirements

• 3 to 5+ years of practical experience in furniture manufacturing, especially in upholstered furniture or sofas, including minimum 2 years in supervisory or team leadership roles.
• Comprehensive understanding of sofa construction, wood joinery, foam grade differentiation, cutting techniques for fabric and leather, and industrial upholstery operations.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting technical documents such as blueprints, CAD drawings, and cutting sheets.
• Strong leadership and communication abilities to effectively manage floor workers, resolve conflicts, and enhance team productivity.
• Excellent problem-solving aptitude to swiftly address issues like production bottlenecks, material flaws, or equipment downtime.
• Physical stamina to stand and move around the factory floor for prolonged durations and the capability to handle furniture parts weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Minimum education requirement of high school diploma (12th pass). Additional qualifications such as degrees or vocational certificates in Manufacturing Management, Industrial Technology, or Upholstery/Woodworking are advantageous.