Production supervisor
Also known as: consumer goods production supervisor, manufacturing supervisor, food quality control operator, production plant supervisor, food production supervisor, quality control operator
About this occupation
Production supervisors coordinate, plan and direct manufacturing and production processes. They are responsible for reviewing production schedules or orders as well as dealing with staff in these production areas.
Essential skills and knowledge
- meet deadlines
- analyse staff capacity
- set production facilities standards
- supervise staff
- control production
- follow production schedule
- coordinate communication within a team
- communicate schedules to the people concerned
- monitor production developments
- follow company standards
- report on production results
- analyse production processes for improvement
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (O*NET 51-1011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Realistic
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Critical Thinking, Monitoring
US median pay: US$74,450 a year (2025), 673,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.1)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Specialisations
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- electronics production supervisor
- footwear production supervisor
- green coffee coordinator
- leather goods production supervisor
- machine operator supervisor
- malt house supervisor
- metal production supervisor
- optical instrument production supervisor
- paper mill supervisor
- plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
- precision mechanics supervisor
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- textile operations manager
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