A production supervisor is in charge of overseeing operations in a factory or other industrial setting. He or she may be in charge of an entire plant or focus on managing a specific division within one. This individual may be in charge of keeping raw materials and supplies well stocked, as well as ensuring that all equipment is in safe and proper working order. To ensure that production deadlines are met, many supervisors communicate directly with workers. Individuals can also reach out to distributors and make arrangements to ensure that deliveries leave the factory on time.
Managing various divisions in a large manufacturing plant necessitates the skills and knowledge of several production supervisors. In a large company, a production supervisor might be assigned to the receiving department, ensuring that raw material shipments are accurate and that workers put them to use as soon as possible. A floor supervisor oversees various aspects of the manufacturing process, such as keeping assembly line workers on task and dealing with issues like broken machinery. In the quality control department, a supervisor supervises workers who are in charge of inspecting finished goods for safety and quality. The division that prepares and distributes certain quantities of products to smaller distributors, warehouses, and stores is led by a packaging and shipping supervisor.
To improve productivity and build interpersonal relationships, production supervisors usually keep in close contact with factory workers. Supervisors who are good at their jobs frequently make themselves available to workers for questions, comments, and suggestions. When a production manager is unable to directly assist workers with a problem, he or she will frequently bring the problem to the attention of other members of management or the factory owner in the hopes of finding a solution.
A production supervisor in a smaller factory may be in charge of the entire process, from obtaining materials to shipping finished products to distributors and warehouses. In a small plant, a supervisor frequently takes on administrative and human resources responsibilities as well. He or she may be in charge of hiring and training new employees, as well as managing payroll and budgeting.
A person who wants to work as a production supervisor must typically work their way up through the ranks of a production company. Many employers prefer to hire people with bachelor’s degrees in business administration for supervisory positions. In most cases, a new production supervisor receives on-the-job training from experienced managers to learn about various aspects of the job. To improve their credentials and increase their chances of landing lucrative jobs, many people choose to take certification exams offered by national organizations such as the Association for Operations Management.