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First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

Also called Assembly Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Production Manager, or Production Supervisor

What First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers do

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

Who tends to enjoy it

Leading

People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.

Organizing

People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.

Hands-on

People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.

What you'd actually do

  • Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
  • Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
  • Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
  • Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
  • Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
  • Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
  • Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
  • Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards.

A typical day involves

Wearing safety gear Face-to-face with people Part of a team Deadlines and time pressure Email Around hazardous equipment Indoors without climate control

Skills that matter most

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Time Management
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring

What you'll need to know

  • Production and Processing
  • Administration and Management
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics

Where to study for this

College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.

Related careers

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First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

Medium preparation

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Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

Medium preparation

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

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Office and Administrative Support

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

Medium preparation

Office and Administrative Support

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.

Little to some preparation

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 51-1011.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.