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Distribution Center Supervisor

Company Overview

Firestone Airide, specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 80 years of research and development on technologically advanced air springs for the global marketplace. Firestone engineers air springs and related products for commercial trucks and trailers, cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, mini vans, motor homes, buses, agricultural equipment, rail and industrial applications.

Job Category

Supply Chain & Procurement

Position Summary

The Distribution Center Supervisor leads day-to-day warehouse operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity (SQDCP) objectives. This role directs hourly teammates across receiving, put-away, picking, packing, labeling, staging, and shipping; ensures accurate SAP transactions and inventory integrity; and supports on-time, error-free delivery to aftermarket, commercial vehicle, and automotive OEM customers. The Supervisor serves as the primary floor leader, partners closely with the DC Manager and cross-functional teams, and drives a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Safety and Environmental

  • Promote and model a positive, accountable safety culture; ensure teammates follow all safety rules, PPE requirements, and safe work practices.
  • Conduct and document safety observations, job safety analysis (JSA) reviews, and PPE assessments.
  • Ensure powered industrial truck (forklift) operators are trained, certified, and complete pre-shift inspections.
  • Investigate incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions; implement and verify corrective actions.
  • Maintain emergency preparedness, including evacuation routes, fire extinguisher access, and clear aisles, and support drills such as Disaster Day exercises.
  • Support environmental management system requirements, including waste segregation, recycling, and ISO 14001 compliance.

Leadership and Teammate Development

  • Supervise, schedule, and assign work to hourly teammates and Team Leads to meet daily shipping and receiving requirements.
  • Lead daily start-up and tier meetings to communicate priorities, safety topics, performance results, and customer requirements.
  • Train, coach, and cross-train teammates using standard work and point-of-use work instructions; maintain training records and skills matrices.
  • Identify and develop high-potential teammates and Team Lead candidates, including use of available learning resources such as LinkedIn Learning.
  • Administer attendance, timekeeping, and work rules fairly and consistently; address performance and conduct issues in partnership with Human Resources.
  • Participate in hiring, onboarding, and individual improvement plan (IIP) reviews for direct reports.

Warehouse Operations

  • Direct receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, billing, staging, loading, and shipping activities.
  • Coordinate inbound and outbound shipments to meet customer schedules, carrier pickups, and automotive delivery windows.
  • Ensure correct customer-specific packaging, returnable containers, pallet build, stacking, and load securement to prevent damage and pallet collapse.
  • Verify accurate shipping labels, packing lists, bills of lading, and advance ship notices (ASN) before product leaves the dock.
  • Manage dock and staging areas to maintain organization, traceability, and proper label placement.
  • Balance labor and equipment to respond to volume peaks, expedites, specials, and OE, commercial vehicle, automotive, and international orders.
  • Maintain warehouse equipment and facilities in good working condition and coordinate repairs with maintenance.

Inventory Control and SAP

  • Ensure accurate and timely SAP transactions, including goods receipts, transfer orders, handling units, deliveries, and goods issues.
  • Lead the cycle count program; research and resolve inventory discrepancies and process inventory adjustments according to financial controls.
  • Maintain FIFO, bin location accuracy, and barcode labeling of storage locations.
  • Track customer returnable packaging balances and ensure accurate reporting and follow-up.
  • Support SAP and warehouse system improvements, including scan-based picking, delivery grouping, and validation enhancements.

Quality and Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with the Quality Management System and customer-specific requirements, including automotive OEM labeling and packaging standards.
  • Conduct order accuracy audits and verification checks to prevent pick, pack, label, and shipment quantity errors.
  • Lead or support containment and root cause investigations for customer complaints and internal nonconformances using 5 Why, 8D, and Is/Is Not methods.
  • Support PFMEA and control plan updates, corrective and preventive actions, and verification of effectiveness.
  • Prepare for and participate in internal and external audits; maintain document control for work instructions and visual standards.

Performance Management and Continuous Improvement

  • Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time shipment, order accuracy, inventory accuracy, productivity, and safety.
  • Maintain the SQD board and visual management tools; communicate performance trends and action plans.
  • Lead 5S, lean, and waste-reduction activities, including regular 5S audits.
  • Identify and implement improvements to pick strategy, receiving and put-away flow, carton and packing material selection, and workplace layout.
  • Lead or participate in cross-functional continuous improvement projects.

Communication and Collaboration

  • Partner with Customer Service, manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, sales, and quality to resolve order, routing, and delivery issues.
  • Communicate directly with carriers and customer contacts regarding shipment status, pickups, and adjustments.
  • Escalate risks to on-time delivery, quality, or safety to the DC Manager promptly.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support distribution center objectives.



Minimum Qualifications


Education and Experience

  • Associate or bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field preferred.
  • 3–5 years of warehouse, distribution, or logistics experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or team lead role.
  • Experience in an automotive, manufacturing, or OEM-supplier distribution environment preferred.
  • Experience with SAP or a comparable ERP/WMS system required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Strong leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills with the ability to motivate a diverse team.
  • Working knowledge of inventory control, cycle counting, FIFO, and shipping and receiving processes.
  • Understanding of customer-specific labeling, packaging, and ASN requirements for automotive OEMs.
  • Knowledge of OSHA requirements, powered industrial truck safety, and warehouse safe work practices.
  • Familiarity with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 management systems.
  • Proficiency with structured problem-solving tools (5 Why, 8D, PFMEA, control plans) and lean/5S principles.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams; ability to analyze data and prepare reports.
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills at all levels of the organization.

Key Performance Measures

  • Safety: recordable injuries, near-miss reporting, and completion of safety observations and audits.
  • Quality: order accuracy, customer complaints, and label and shipment errors.
  • Delivery: on-time shipment and missed or expedited shipments.
  • Inventory: cycle count accuracy and inventory adjustments.
  • People: attendance, training completion, cross-training coverage, and retention.
  • Cost and productivity: labor efficiency, overtime, and premium freight.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

  • Work is performed primarily on the warehouse floor with exposure to forklifts, moving equipment, noise, and seasonal temperature changes.
  • Must be able to stand, walk, bend, and climb stairs for extended periods and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Required personal protective equipment includes safety footwear, safety glasses, and high-visibility vests as required.
  • Must be able to work extended hours, overtime, and flexible schedules, including weekends, to meet business needs.

What we offer


At Bridgestone, what really matters is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to “Serve Society with Superior Quality”, for that, we offer you more than just a competitive compensation; we will provide you:


  • A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
  • The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
  • A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
  • Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
  • An effective and inclusive team.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is our policy to consider all individuals for employment based on their unique merit and without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.


Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.

Our Benefits

Bridgestone Americas believes that taking care of you means more than just a prescription or dental plan. Our benefit plans are designed to meet our teammates' emotional, financial and physical needs, helping them thrive at work.

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Physical Health

At Bridgestone, we care about your physical health. That’s why we offer competitive benefits to ensure our teammates have access to quality and equitable healthcare.

Learn More
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Emotional Well-being

We recognize that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. That's why we offer a supportive work environment and resources to help our teammates manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Learn More
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Financial Well-being

Bridgestone helps you invest in your future by investing in you. We provide resources and benefits to support your financial health, including retirement plans and financial planning resources, among others.

Learn More

Bridgestone Application & Interview FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about our application and interview process to help you prepare.

Before you apply for one of the available opportunities at Bridgestone, review each of the skills needed for the role that interests you and be prepared to show how you meet the qualifications.

Whether on a job application or your resume, it is essential to customize your information to highlight the most relevant connections to the job you want.

Once you have provided your information to Bridgestone, you will receive a request for an interview if you are being considered.

In the Bridgestone hiring process, depending on the role you are being considered for, you may have a one-on-one interview or a panel interview, and both can happen in person or via video call. If you are applying for a manufacturing or retail role, you will probably interview in person or at the location where you plan to work. All these factors can change how you might prepare for and conduct an interview, so we have created a guide that covers virtual or video interview tips and in-person interview tips. We have also included other common information you should consider.

Prepare Your “Elevator Speech”
In most interviews, you will get the prompt to “tell us about yourself” or something of that nature. It’s best to prepare a short but compelling description of yourself. Consider including:
Brief summary of your career, potentially highlighting your most relevant job.
Why are you looking to start a career at Bridgestone, or are you looking to change careers/jobs?
What was interesting about this particular role or working at Bridgestone?

Be Ready to Answer Questions
During an interview, you will be asked questions about previous experience to learn more about you. Whether you are asked about strengths or weaknesses or about a particular work situation that you might have considered a challenge or a win, it helps if you structure your answers with the STAR Method.
Situation: Describe the challenge you faced, win you had, or relevant situation
Task: Explain the role you played
Action: What were the detailed steps you took or how you accomplished the task
Result: Explain the outcome
Make sure that it is relevant to the role you are seeking. This method also helps you demonstrate how you accomplished something or overcame a challenge independently or while working well with a team.

Be Ready to Ask Questions
It is also important to ask questions to help you make an informed decision about the role if an offer is extended to you. Remember that you are interviewing Bridgestone as much as we are interviewing you, so asking interview questions is critical.
Some questions you can ask:
What would my day-to-day role look like?
Describe the team I would be working with.
What is your favorite thing about working at Bridgestone?
You mentioned (insert topic here). Tell me more about that.

By asking open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” you can learn more about the role and the people you would be working with. And by circling back on information shared during the interview, you show that you are actively listening and interested.

Plan Your Route
If you are interviewing in person, map out the route you will take before the day of your interview to make sure you allow enough time for travel. Be mindful of traffic patterns and look for any construction in the area. Aim to be about 15 minutes early for your interview so you can find a place to park and take some time to prepare mentally.
If you have an unexpected schedule conflict, notify your recruiter via phone/email/text so they can work to reschedule your time.

Dress to Impress
Dress appropriately for the role you want. Different work environments may be more casual, but you always want to look your best for an interview. Consider this for a video interview as well. Most of us have better posture and body language when we look and feel our best. While no one may know you are wearing pajamas, your casual demeanor may not make a great first impression. Make sure you are free of as many distractions as possible. With many of us having to work from home while taking care of our families, we understand that quiet space can be challenging to find for you as well as for the interviewers. While we encourage you to find an area where you can focus and not be interrupted, we understand that life happens and might just happen during your interview, so don’t stress too much about it.

What to Bring
Even if you have provided a resume, always bring one additional copy for each person interviewing you. And for any interview, it’s always good to bring a pen and paper if you want to take notes. Stay engaged in the conversation; no one wants to see the top of your head while you write notes for the entire interview.

There may be a chance one or more of your interviews will be conducted virtually. Here are our tips to prepare;

Check Your Tech
Confirm what platform you will use and make sure that you have it properly installed and launched on your system.
If you use a device like a tablet or a laptop, ensure it is fully charged. Try not to use a phone if possible.
Confirm that your webcam and microphone are allowed and work correctly in your chosen browser.
Test your internet connection to ensure it is strong and working.
If using headphones, make sure they are connected and selected prior.
At the beginning of the interview, verify that the interviewer can hear and see you.
Close other programs on your computer. Getting notifications during your interview is distracting and unprofessional. Before your interview, ensure all other computer windows are closed, and notifications are silenced or turned off.
Switch your other devices onto silent mode; however, have your phone handy if your interviewer is having technical difficulties or trying to reach out via phone or email.
If you need any accessibility accommodations or are concerned about the required virtual platform not being fully accessible for you, please let the recruiter at Bridgestone know. We will reach out to discuss how to best support you.

Prepare Your Space
Conduct your interview in a quiet, well-lit environment, without a backlight or window that may put you in a shadow.
Find a place with a simple backdrop or blank wall to eliminate distractions and put the focus on you.
Avoid taking an interview from your vehicle. If it is the only quiet place you can find, DO NOT attempt to interview while driving or in a moving vehicle; our recruiters will end the call. After all, at Bridgestone, we make safety a business value.

Smile for the Camera
Look at the camera. Looking directly at the video camera (not the screen) is the only way to maintain direct eye contact with your interviewer.
Try to focus on sitting up straight and making eye contact. At the beginning of the interview, verify that the interviewer can hear and see you.
Be mindful of your body language. Not all physical cues translate from in-person interviews to video interviews. Be sure to have good posture and stay engaged.
Silence any other technology, i.e. smart watches; you don’t want to be distracted or appear disinterested during your interview."

When the interview ends, whether virtual or in person, you can ask what to expect as the next step in the process. The person conducting the interview can let you know if there are additional interviews to expect or if you will hear from HR with a decision as to whether you have been chosen for the role.

We ask that you be patient as we may have several candidates to interview, but we value your time and will offer the professional courtesy of a response either way. Also, if you are no longer interested in the role or have accepted another role, please notify your recruiter so they can remove you from the interview process.

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As a member of our Talent Community, you will receive access to news, events and career opportunities at Bridgestone. Sign up now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us.

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