Production Supervisors provide leadership in a production setting.
This post provides exhaustive information on the production supervisor job description and career, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
It shows how to become a production supervisor, the common requirements you will need to meet to be hired for the role, as well as the various career opportunities you can explore as a production supervisor.
Please, read on:
What Does a Production Supervisor Do?
Production supervisors are operations or line managers, which means their job description involves having a hands-on leadership role in their companies and the company’s product-making activities.
Elaborately, production supervisors come under the industrial production manager categories.
According to Indeed, the production supervisor ensures that production processes run without a hitch and performs duties such as coordinating everyday production activities, troubleshooting and solving problems as they arise, and makes sure the production area is clean and safe for everyone.
Production supervisors are mostly seen in companies like commercial bakeries, automakers and many other companies engaging in mass-production of goods on schedule.
Employees of manufacturing companies frequently turn to their production supervisors for answers and direction to their questions about their assigned duties.
It takes different kinds of employees to make a successful manufacturing or industrial company work efficiently.
From the plant or factory manager to the line assembly employee, everyone in a manufacturing-type or industrial company has a vital role to play.
For instance, a production supervisor represents the leadership team and the face most seen by the company’s rank-and-file employees.
They perform several duties and are held responsible in general for meeting company production goals.
Depending on the company, a production supervisor’s job description may include tasks such as directing, coordinating or planning work activities and obtaining necessary resources for production success.
In essence, these professionals should be able to ensure that their assigned assembly functions deliver products that will meet all company quality, cost, and quantity requirements.
Other duties they usually perform include reviewing production orders and processing schedules and deciding on the resources needed to meet those orders or schedules.
They are also responsible for meeting company budget goals.
These supervisors work as a team and closely with the rank-and-file employees assigned to them because they’re line managers.
In some places, they are even responsible for training, evaluating, hiring, and terminating employees’ job.
The production supervisor must be specifically skilled at resolving everyday personnel grievances that occurs among the employees from time to time.
Also, he/she must be able to staff his/her production areas correctly and ensure the employees in those areas work efficiently.
Production Supervisor Job Description Sample/Example/Template
Below is sample of the production supervisor job description consisting of specific duties, tasks, and responsibilities that makes up the work activities of individuals who work in that role.
Accomplish manufacturing staff results by planning, monitoring, communicating job expectations and appraising job results; counseling, disciplining and coaching employees; coordinating, initiating and enforcing systems, procedures and policies
Maintain staff by recruiting, orienting, selecting and training employees; and developing personal growth opportunities in them
Maintain work flow by setting process variables, monitoring steps of the process; observing equipment and control points; monitoring resources and personnel; developing reporting systems and procedures, studying methods; facilitating corrections to malfunctions, implementing cost reductions; initiating and developing a spirit of cooperation between and within departments
Ensure operation of equipment by evaluating new equipment and calling for repairs of old ones
Provide manufacturing information by sorting, initiating, compiling, and analyzing production performance data and records
Educate and direct employees on the use of equipment, all control points and resources
Contribute to team effort
Production Supervisor Job Description for Resume
To prepare a good resume for the post of supervisor in a production firm, you will need to complete all sections of the resume with the right information. The job description example given above for the position can be used in making the professional experience section of the resume.
Production Supervisor Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Career Success
To be effective as production supervisor, individuals vying for the position are expected to possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which made up the minimum requirements for the position for most employers:
2+ years experience of managing and leading people in a production environment
English Communications Skills
Computer literacy essential
Proficiency in MS-Office suites
A team player
Ability to work on own initiative
Strong understanding of the expectations associated with leading a production team
Production Supervisor Salary
The average production supervisor salary is $60,696 per year.
The top paying cities are Fremont, CA, $67,921; Houston, TX, $62,045; Indianapolis, IN, $59,956; and Evansville, IN, $53,849 per year.
In the United States, there are currently over 89,833 production supervisors employed.
Women make up 15.3% of all production supervisors, while men make up 84.7%.
An employed production supervisor is 46 years old on average.
White (65.2%) is the most common ethnicity among production supervisors, followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.5%), Black or African American (11.8%), and Asian (5.3%).
Women are expected to earn 90% of what men would earn in 2021.
With a production supervisor career, you can work in various rewarding positions, such as director of operations, production manager, and regional director of operations.
Production Supervisor Career Opportunities
A production supervisor can advance into different roles as they grow their career. Some of these roles include:
Director of Operations
A director of operations is a position that usually has a lot of responsibility.
They oversee the production and sales departments, along with any other departments that may be present, in order to ensure that all customers are satisfied with the company’s products.
They will make sure that the orders are being fulfilled properly and shipped on time.
2. Production Manager
A production manager is typically in charge of the day-to-day operations and activities at a production facility.
They oversee all production employees, maintain, and budget their department’s budget, and ensure that all products are being produced to company standards.
3. Regional Director of Operations
A regional director of operations oversees multiple branches/departments in a region within a company.
This person is also responsible for ensuring that each branch/department within their region is operating smoothly, efficiently and effectively.
In many companies, the regional director of operations will also make sure that each branch/department is meeting the standards set by the overall company.
4. Plant Manager
A plant manager oversees all operations within a plant. This person is in charge of all employees, including production department employees and other employees who may be present within the plant’s building.
They manage the budget of the company and ensure that all products being produced are up to standard and will sell well.
This person is also responsible for ensuring that each branch/department within their region is operating smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.
In many companies, the regional manager of operations will also make sure that each branch/department is meeting the standards set by the overall company.
6. Area Director of Operations
An area director of operations oversees multiple branches within an area (usually state-wide or nationwide).
The area director of operations reports to the regional director of operations, and is responsible for ensuring that all branches within their area are producing products according to the company standards.
This person also manages a large budget and oversees a large amount of employees.
7. Director of Sales and Marketing
A director of sales and marketing is a person who has been promoted from within the organization.
A director of sales and marketing is responsible for ensuring that all customers are satisfied with all products.
They can also coordinate their activities with marketing departments in order to ensure that new products will sell well both internally and externally.
A director of sales and marketing usually reports to the regional manager or the area director of operations.
8. Project Manager
A project manager oversees multiple projects within an organization.
A project manager is typically in charge of a certain project, or multiple projects, that they coordinate/oversee.
A project manager will also need to ensure that all tasks needed for a project are completed by a set deadline (timeframe), so that the project can continue smoothly.
This person also manages a large budget and works with many employees clocking in to meet deadlines.
Challenges faced by Production Supervisor on the Job
Here are some of the challenges that production supervisors face daily in their job:
Manage Performance
A production supervisor is essentially in charge of a department within a company.
This person manages all employees and ensures that the department is operating smoothly, efficiently and effectively.
A production supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that all products being produced meet the company’s standards and sell well.
2. Dealing with Conflict
Conflict is something that is not only present in the workplace, but in any social environment.
Production supervisors deal with conflict quite often, especially if they have employees who are not always willing to accept criticism or instructions because they don’t feel that they are being treated fairly at work.
It is the production supervisor’s job to make sure that conflict is resolved quickly and remains at a minimum.
3. Working with Strict Deadlines
Deadlines are a part of almost everyone’s everyday life. There is an overall company deadline, a departmental deadline, personal deadlines and even deadlines set by other people we work with.
Production supervisors must make sure that they are managing their time effectively so that they can meet all of these deadlines.
How to Become a Production Supervisor
If you are interested in becoming a production supervisor, here are steps you can take:
Get a degree.
Most production supervisor job postings will require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, such as mechanical engineering.
This demonstrates to a prospective employer that you have learned some advanced techniques to assist you in succeeding in the position.
2. Accumulate professional experience.
You can gain relevant professional experience both during and after your education.
Consider part-time jobs or internships that allow you to work in your desired industry alongside or under the supervision of a production supervisor while you are studying.
This experience can help you understand how the role works and may give you the opportunity to practice skills relevant to that position.
Following your education, look for entry-level positions in your desired industry that will allow you to further practice your skills, gain hands-on training, and become familiar with the necessary regulations.
3. Think about certification.
When applying for a competitive position, it is critical to find elements that will set you apart from other applicants.
Certifications demonstrate your willingness to improve your qualifications as well as your in-depth knowledge of the field.
4. Make a resume.
A production supervisor’s resume should always emphasize job-related skills and responsibilities, with special emphasis on any of the skills discussed above that you possess, as well as roles at previous companies that required similar skills.
Consider including your relevant professional experience and the skills you have developed that qualify you as a candidate.
Major Benefits of a Production Supervisor Career
Here are some of the most important benefits of the production supervisor\s job:
Good starting salary
A production supervisor is responsible for managing a department within a company.
This person is responsible for ensuring that the department is operating effectively and efficiently.
A production supervisor typically has people working under them and enjoys good starting salary.
2. Pay increase over time
A production supervisor works closely with the operations manager to ensure that all gets done on time.
This can often mean that they have some influence on pay increases.
Production supervisors will often be in charge of other employees, so they can find ways to ensure that those people work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
3. Growth opportunities
Within a company, it is not uncommon for a production supervisor to move onto another position or even to branch out on their own.
A production supervisor may want to open up their own business or they may decide that they would like to go into management.
Career advancement opportunities
Many companies will provide training for production supervisors so that they can learn about new technologies and different certifications that are available to them.
This can help the production supervisor have a great career and many different growth opportunities.
Employee benefits, including bonus, insurance, and pension
Production supervisors have access to many great employee benefits.
The exact type of benefit that they will receive is largely dependent on the type of company they work for.
Some companies do offer bonuses to certain employees based on their performance and the performance of those individuals under them in a department.
The opportunity to work closely with excellent people
Production supervisors will be working with other team members in a department on a regular basis throughout their career.
This means that they get to work closely with excellent people every day.
The production supervisor will be able to help guide these individuals when they are having problems and to ensure that they are doing a good job.
The ability to make a direct contribution to the growth and development of your organization
Production supervisors are in charge of overseeing operations in their department.
This means that they get the opportunity to see how their role can contribute directly to the growth and development of the organization as a whole.
Production Supervisor Employment
The number of production supervisors in employment presently in the United States is 117,222.
This is according to survey data on Zippia, which also shows that employed male production supervisors are higher than female at 83.4% to 16.6% respectively.
However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the number of employed first-line supervisors of production and operating workers as 671,160.
Employment by Industries
Also, by the Zippia report, the industries with the highest number of employed production supervisors in the U.S. include:
Manufacturing: 35,167
Fortune 500: 22,272
Automotive: 9,378
Technology: 7,033
Transportation: 5,861
Employment by States
The Zippia survey data also shows that the States with the highest number of employed production supervisors include California and Texas, with 3,612 and 2,151 employments respectively.
Production Supervisor Salary
The production supervisor salary in the United States, according to data on Zippia, is averagely $63,391 per year.
On the other hand, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the salary of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers as $71,730.
Salary by Industries
According to the U.S. BLS report, the industries that pay the highest salaries to first-line supervisors of production and operating workers in the U.S. include:
Oil and Gas Extraction: $138,440
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution: $134,210
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil: $126,380
Natural Gas Distribution: $121,990
Other Pipeline Transportation: $119,370
Salary by States
The BLS data also shows that District of Columbia and Wyoming are among the States that pay the highest salaries to first-line supervisors of production and operating workers, with average salary of $93,840 and $92,240 per year.
Conclusion
The production supervisor job is an entry-level career that has the potential to be very rewarding.
As a production supervisor, you may have the opportunity to move into management positions or even start up your own business.
The position can be very challenging and it is important for someone in this position to stay on top of deadlines and ensure the flow of production.
This post is useful to individuals interested in the production supervisor career; they can learn all they need to know about the duties and responsibilities that make up the production supervisor’s role.
It is also helpful to recruiters/employers looking to find and hire the best candidates for the production supervisor position in their companies.
They can apply the sample production supervisor job description provided above in making one for the role, for use in the hiring process.
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