How to Become a Production Supervisor

Working as a production supervisor requires managing multiple responsibilities during the week, which include:

• Oversee and train employees
• Organize workflow and assign different tasks to employees
• Create objectives each day, week, and month
• Create reports that detail the performance of the team
• Train employees to learn how to use the machinery and tools in the facility
• Enforce safety protocols and guidelines to reduce the risk of injuries
• Improve the efficiency of the workplace and identify where issues are present
• Monitor the operation of the machinery and schedule repairs
• Schedule routine maintenance of the machinery
• Maintain a clean area where the employees are working

Production supervisors use customized spreadsheets to generate reports that are submitted to upper management and executives within the corporation. Spreadsheets are also useful for managing the inventory, gathering data, and reporting data. Calculators are available at your desk for performing addition and long division. Some supervisors communicate with the people on their teams with the use of walkie-talkies, making it easier to relay messages faster. They spend time on the computer as they generate reports, communicate with other employees within the organization, and review applications for interviewing new people to add to the team.

Production supervisors work in facilities and factories as they oversee the production operations. You spend your day in different work environments, like production floors where you can monitor your teams and view the machinery as it's in use to ensure everything is working correctly. You will continuously look for areas that can be improved to increase the production of the facility. Production supervisors also work in an office setting performing clerical work and creating reports. They create the operations agenda, schedule interviews, and send emails. This type of role also requires spending time in meetings with executives and upper management to discuss the state of the production process and where improvements are needed. You will spend time brainstorming new ideas to boost production or implement new safety measures.

As a production supervisor, you will work closely with various members of the production team, including assemblers, fabricators, engineers, designers, mechanics, and architects. You will also work with HR managers to hire the best candidates for your team, production managers that keep the team on track for their required tasks, and administrative assistants that keep the paperwork in order. Production supervisors need good people skills because you will be the point of contact for your team when questions or problems arise.

If you work as a production supervisor, you'll be scheduled to work 40 hours a week. Some production supervisors in larger corporations work more than 40 hours a week, but all production supervisors work full-time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. This position requires being on call if issues or emergencies develop outside of business hours and on the weekends. Those who work as industrial production managers are also known to work on the weekends and evenings when the factory is operating at different times of the day and night.

As a leading staffing agency, Spherion is successful in pairing different types of professionals with reputable companies in all types of industries. The experienced team at Spherion connects production assistants with various networking opportunities to make it easy to quickly find production supervisor positions that are available in the local area. If you're interested in working closely with a team of employees in a fast-paced environment, the team at Spherion has the necessary resources to assist you in your job search and help you find the right fit when you want to work for a reputable corporation. Many different opportunities are available through Spherion. Additional benefits available to professionals include:

• Multiple scheduling options
• A quick and simple interview process
• Working closely with a Spherion employee who will help you find new job opportunities
• Receiving weekly pay
• Flexibility
• Many job opportunities in the area
• Multiple training opportunities to develop your skills as a production assistant
• Getting paired with a team member to answer your questions

If you want to work as a production supervisor, you need to obtain a bachelor's degree in a related field of study. Many professionals in this field studied mechanical engineering. It's also necessary to gain professional experience after earning your education. Many different internships are available to help you understand the purpose of the role and the different responsibilities you will manage. You can also become more competitive and stand out to recruiters by obtaining additional certifications that increase your skillset. When you obtain certifications, it shows you're willing to become more qualified to succeed in this type of position.

A production supervisor schedules and monitors the operations of production while assigning personnel. They establish priorities and revise the schedules. Production supervisors report to upper management and executives to troubleshoot problems and find new ways to increase the efficiency of the department.

Production managers have a strategic role in the corporation and set goals and make key decisions that impact the efficiency of the production process. They're responsible for overseeing the team's success and productivity. Production supervisors administer different tasks and monitor employees to ensure they're completed on time.

If you want to become a production supervisor, you need to earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a similar field. Most corporations require at least four years of experience working in the industry, as well as having excellent time management skills while multi-tasking different responsibilities. Knowledge of health and safety regulations is also required to ensure employees can work in a safe environment where proper protocols are followed.

If you want to succeed as a production supervisor, you'll need leadership skills and the ability to solve problems quickly. It's important to work well under pressure and have excellent organizational skills with tasks that are related to the manufacturing process. You should have the ability to be creative with finding new ways to improve the production process without compromising the safety of the environment or of the employees on the team.

Applying for a job as a production supervisor is easy with Spherion. You can search for production supervisor jobs on Spherion.com by job title and location. If you don’t see the perfect role, you can submit an open application. Once you submit your contact information and resume through Spherion’s open application, a recruiter from the office closest to you will reach out with details about potential production supervisor roles that fit your skill set and professional goals.