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Production Supervisor

Responsible for reporting to members of management, production supervisors are often found working alongside laborers on the production floor.  They are accountable for a small group of employees that may include an entire shift, or a specific department.  Supervisors are not necessarily more skilled than other associates, but they must have the ability to work well with others, quickly and effectively resolve any issues that may arise, and work with fellow associates to ensure goals are met.  While these professionals are similar to production managers, they do not have the authority to hire or terminate associates.  However, production supervisors may sit in on interviews and make recommendations for new hires, or conduct performance reviews and suggest further actions.  For deserving subordinates, supervisors may make promotion or increased compensation suggestions to a higher authority, as well as handle any disciplinary actions that are needed.  A production supervisor job focuses on motivating and managing employees in order to increase company profitability, product quality, and associate performance.

Production supervisor jobs require work on the production floor, so associates are required to comply with all company policies and procedures.  Although work environments are becoming more tolerable, associates must continue to utilize protective eye/ear wear, steel toe work boots, gloves, or other garment requirements in order to increase and maintain safety.  Associates commonly work 40 hours per week, and may be utilized on daytime, evening, or late night shifts.  Overtime schedules are not uncommon, especially when deadlines must be met.

Professionals employed as production supervisors are often promoted to those positions from general labor positions, so training requirements are relatively lax.  Employers prefer associates with a high school diploma or equivalent certification, along with an adequate knowledge of industrial processes.  After gaining a thorough knowledge of company policies, procedures, and methods, laborers may then be promoted into a supervisory position.  Due to the amount of interaction supervisors have with other associates, good oral communication skills are necessary.  Professionals are required to solve daily issues in a short amount of time; therefore they must be capable of deducing effective solutions quickly. 

As with the majority of other occupations in the manufacturing industry, jobs for production supervisors are expected to grow slower than average.  While the demand for manufactured goods will continue to increase, technology has increased worker efficiency, and decreased the number of associates that are needed to complete required tasks.  However, associates will be needed to replace a number of baby boomers reaching retirement age through 2014.  Professionals with mechanical aptitude, basic mathematic knowledge, interpersonal skills, and prior manufacturing experience are expected to have the best opportunities for production supervisor careers. 

For more information on a career as a production supervisor, please visit the following sites:

• Center for Management & Organization Effectiveness
• Lakin Associates
• Peacemaker Training
• Sasha Corporation
• Successful Supervisor

If you are searching for a career as a production supervisor, or are looking to hire production professionals, please visit iHireManufacturing.  We are a niche job board focusing only in candidates and positions within the manufacturing industry.