Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Corrugator Superintendent
Department: Corrugator
Reports to: Plant Manager
Location: Langhorne, PA
Position Summary: The Corrugator Superintendent is accountable for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the corrugator line across all production shifts. This role owns the box plant's single corrugator — the Tier 1 constraint in the production system — and is directly responsible for the output quality, reliability, and crew performance that make the rest of the plant possible. The Corrugator Superintendent leads a team of shift-based crew leads, coordinates with maintenance and converting operations, and serves as the primary escalation point for all corrugator-related operational issues.
Compensation
The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At ND Paper, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
About Us
ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited – the largest containerboard producer in the world – ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive. At ND Paper, we are investing in our future, and that starts with our staff.
Key Responsibilities & Expected Results:
- Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.
Production Operations
- Direct and monitor corrugator operations across day, evening, and third shifts to achieve daily and weekly schedule attainment targets
- Maintain corrugator OEE by driving improvements in availability, performance rate, and quality output
- Ensure accurate, complete shift-to-shift handoffs through structured crew huddles and written shift logs
- Manage board spec execution — confirm correct flute, liner, medium, and adhesive specifications are running before each order
- Coordinate with the CS/scheduling function to flag production constraints, board availability issues, or order conflicts in advance
Safety & Compliance
- Own corrugator floor safety — conduct weekly safety walks, close corrective actions promptly, and ensure 100% compliance with PPE and lockout/tagout requirements
- Lead incident and near-miss investigations on the corrugator; implement and document corrective actions
- Ensure corrugator operations comply with all applicable OSHA standards, plant safety policies, and insurance requirements
- Maintain a visible safety culture: model expected behavior and hold crew accountable to the same standard
Team Leadership & Development
- Directly supervise corrugator crew leads across all shifts; conduct regular 1:1s and performance conversations
- Set clear expectations for crew lead roles, shift accountability, and escalation standards
- Identify and develop high-potential operators for crew lead or technical advancement
- Address performance issues promptly and in coordination with HR and the GM
- Maintain crew morale and engagement through consistent communication, recognition, and fair accountability
Equipment Reliability & Maintenance Coordination
- Partner with the Maintenance Lead to ensure preventive maintenance is scheduled, completed on time, and documented
- Track open maintenance work orders; escalate equipment reliability risks before they cause unplanned downtime
- Under Policy 055, serve as Tier 1 accountable manager for unplanned corrugator downtime events — participate in all root cause debriefs and corrective action sign-offs
- Monitor equipment condition daily; communicate concerns through the appropriate maintenance ticketing or work order system
Quality & Waste Management
- Monitor and reduce corrugator waste percentage — by shift, order type, and root cause
- Maintain board quality standards including warp tolerance, moisture content, and caliper compliance
- Ensure wasted board and defective product are properly logged, contained, and dispositioned
- Work with the converting superintendent to resolve board quality complaints before they reach the customer
Process Standards & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain and enforce corrugator SOPs; update procedures when processes change
- Lead or participate in structured problem-solving on recurring production, quality, or reliability issues
- Identify improvement opportunities in speed, splice efficiency, changeover time, and media utilization
- Report weekly corrugator KPIs on the plant scorecard; present trend analysis to the GM
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
The Corrugator Superintendent is evaluated against the following key performance indicators:
- Corrugator OEE (Availability × Performance × Quality)
- Waste % (MSF waste / MSF produced)
- Unplanned downtime events per month
- PM completion rate (% of scheduled PMs completed on time)
- Schedule attainment (% of planned corrugator orders run as scheduled)
- Safety — recordable incidents and near-miss reporting rate
- Crew lead effectiveness (assessed qualitatively via GM observation and 1:1 feedback)
Qualifications and Skills/Education and Experience
Required
- 5+ years of corrugated box or packaging manufacturing experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role
- Direct experience operating or supervising a corrugator line (single or double facer, dry end, slitter/scorer, cutoff)
- Demonstrated ability to lead multi-shift hourly teams with accountability and composure
- Working knowledge of corrugator mechanics, paper and starch systems, and board quality fundamentals
- Comfortable reading and interpreting production data: OEE, waste logs, downtime reports, and PM records
- Strong communication skills — written shift logs, verbal handoffs, and cross-functional coordination
Preferred
- Experience with structured problem-solving methods (5-Why, fishbone, or equivalent)
- Familiarity with a plant-level ERP or production tracking system
- Prior accountability for corrugator PM programs or equipment reliability metrics
- Experience implementing or maintaining SOPs and work instructions in a production environment
- OSHA 10 or 30 certification
- Bilingual in Mandarin a plus
Physical Requirements
Requirement
Frequency
Standing and walking on concrete for full shift
Continuously
Lifting and repositioning board stacks (up to 50 lbs)
Frequently
Bending, reaching, and stooping at stacker discharge
Frequently
Pushing / pulling loaded transfer cars or pallet jacks
Frequently
Working in high-heat, high-noise corrugator environment
Continuously
Operating forklift or reach truck (if licensed)
Occasionally
Rapid response to stacker jams or line speed changes
Frequently
Core Competencies (Results based)
- Production Management: Plans and manages corrugator output to achieve schedule attainment, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and cost targets.
- Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates a deep working knowledge of corrugator systems, including the wet end, dry end, splicers, slitter/scorer, and cutoff.
- Team Leadership: Develops crew leads, conducts performance conversations, and maintains accountability with professionalism and composure.
- Safety Culture: Models safe work behaviors, conducts routine safety walks, and ensures corrective actions are completed promptly.
- Problem Solving: Uses data and root cause analysis to identify issues before assigning blame, and implements effective, long-term corrective actions.
- Cross-Functional Communication: Proactively coordinates with converting, maintenance, customer service, and scheduling teams to prevent downstream disruptions and ensure smooth operations.
- Continuous Improvement: Identifies waste and operational inefficiencies, implements process improvements, and sustains gains through operator engagement and standardized practices.
Success Profile (What great looks like)
The successful candidate is a safety-focused, results-driven leader who combines strong technical knowledge with effective people leadership. They consistently deliver production goals, foster accountability, solve problems using data, collaborate across departments, and drive continuous improvement to enhance operational performance.
Working Conditions
Plant site
Attributes for Success
- Hard work – tackle each task with determination, passion and creativity; the willingness to put in whatever effort is required to successfully complete the job at hand.
- Pursuit of Excellence – strive to consistently exceed expectations in our day-to-day work and outperform our competitors in the marketplace, regarding work and company achievements as a collaborative goal with the desire to go above and beyond.
- Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
- Sense of Urgency – drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit – act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
- Adaptability – be fluid with ND Paper’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
- Servant Leadership – set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.