Production Supervisor
Smurfit Westrock · Galesburg, IL
- Level
- Supervisor
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 25 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A supervisor production role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Galesburg, IL.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree preferred · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Supervisor roles in Illinois: typical posted base $75k–$101k.
Median of the low and high ends of 29 live postings that list pay, out of 56 production supervisor openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 58 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (3+ years)
Typical $75k–$101k, from 27 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 92%
- ✓ Lean 37%
- SAP 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Black Belt, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Smurfit Westrock
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Production Supervisor at Smurfit Westrock in other locations
This opening uses the same posting as the one in Liberty, MO. Smurfit Westrock lists this title in 13 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Career Opportunity
The Production Supervisor will be responsible for managing the production department employees in order to meet manufacturing and production schedules, coordinating production operations and maintaining effective quality procedures and safety regulations for the facility.
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock
- •Manage the day-to-day operations of the shift with constant emphasis on safety, quality, delivery and cost
- •Acts as first point of contact for operators regarding mechanical failure or production issues
- •Support continuous improvement initiatives and enforce control procedures, recommending improvements to the Plant Superintendent, as appropriate
- •Coordinates production activities with other departments to ensure production goals/objectives are accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner
- •Monitor production activities to eliminate waste and ensure adherence to production and shipping schedules
- •Input production data accurately into system to measure and monitor KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) around efficiencies, downtime, inventory and overall production
- •Provide recommendations to improve safety, environmental and health of the entire facility
- •Produce daily reports on daily shift production and daily shift review to assess if daily goals are met
- •Control load factors and workflow to ensure maximum use of available capacity and effective use of labor, tools and equipment.
- •Manage and coach employees, providing performance reviews and enforcing disciplinary actions.
- •Maintain staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training employees, and developing individual growth opportunities.
- •Directs maintenance employees to troubleshoot mechanical problems and perform preventative maintenance.
- •Enforce adherence to plant safety regulations and encourage employees to become safety- conscious.
- •Ensure daily that plant personnel follow all company standards and meet all customer commitments.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
to succeed
- •High School diploma or G.E.D. – Required
- •Bachelor’s degree (Business Management, Engineering or Operations Management) - Preferred
- •3+ years of corrugator / converting supervisory experience in a packaging facility – Required.
- •Experience working in a Lean environment; Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Certification.
- •Proven experience in operations, manufacturing, or supply chain
- •Excellent communication and listening skills.
- •Proven track record of effective problem-solving
- •Ability to embrace continuous improvement.
- •Strong collaboration and teaming skills with stakeholders across functions
- •Ability to coach and train employees
- •Ability to be an on-shift resource for troubleshooting problems in the process as well as maintenance issues.
- •Ability to make independent, effective decisions.
- •Possess the ability to be a self-directed team player.
- •Flexibility to work multiple shifts.
What we offer
- •Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
- •Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
- •An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
- •Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match and more!
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.