Maintenance Supervisor, Paint

The Paint Shop Production Engineer, Sealer plays a critical leadership role within the automotive manufacturing operation, managing paint line operations to ensure vehicles or parts are coated with the highest quality finish (typically Class A). This role requires strong technical acumen, process discipline, and people management capabilities to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and compliance are maintained at all times. 

This position is pivotal in achieving key business objectives such as first-time quality (FTQ), line efficiency, defect-free finishes, and lean operations. The supervisor will be responsible for coordinating labor, materials, machinery, and data to maintain seamless and cost-effective paint shop operations. 

• Ensure all painting processes meet or exceed internal and customer quality standards 
• Manage control plans and visual inspection processes at various checkpoints (e.g., stone chip test, DOI, haze, orange peel, runs, sags) 
• Investigate and resolve process issues leading to defects such as dirt, mottling, color mismatch, fish eyes, etc
• Coordinate with the Quality Assurance and Engineering departments to drive root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA)

• Ensure optimal performance of robots, atomizers, reciprocators, curing ovens, booths, flash-off zones, and conveyor systems 
• Collaborate with maintenance and automation teams to minimize breakdowns and maintain OEE
• Support introduction of new models, colors, or materials through process validation and capability studies 

• Enforce strict compliance with safety standards, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), hazardous material handling, and fire safety protocols 
• Conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments, and emergency response drills
• Manage waste disposal and emissions control in compliance with environmental regulations (e.g., VOC limits) 

• Lead and mentor a team of operators, painters, inspectors, and line leaders (typically 20–60 personnel per shift) 
• Develop skills matrix and training plans for cross-functional and cross-shift capability building
• Conduct performance appraisals, absentee management, and conflict resolution
• Foster a high-performance culture with accountability, recognition, and continuous improvement 

• Drive Lean Manufacturing principles such as Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, and Kanban within the paint shop 
• Participate in and lead Six Sigma projects aimed at reducing rework, overspray, material waste, and cycle time 
• Analyze daily KPIs and use data to identify trends, variances, and improvement opportunities 

• Maintain accurate records for process parameters, quality checks, shift reports, OEE, and downtime logs 
• Ensure process compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and local regulatory frameworks
• Prepare for and support internal and external audits (e.g., customer audits, ISO/TS audits)

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Chemical Engineering, Automotive Technology, or Industrial Engineering 
• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in an automotive paint shop, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role

Technical Skills: 

• Proven knowledge of paint shop layouts, conveyor systems, robots (Fanuc, Dürr, ABB), and spraying equipment 
• ECOAT systems with full understanding to the process controls and operating parameters
• Understanding of coating chemistry, paint material types (water-based, solvent-based), and application techniques

Soft Skills:  

• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Ability to work under pressure and lead during emergencies or breakdowns