Occupation · SOC 51-1011
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.
Median wage
$71,190
$45,790–$106,960
Projected growth
+1.2%
Slower than average
Annual openings
830
per year
Employed (US)
685,140
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
175 mapped
Core skills
Time ManagementSpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionWritingSystems AnalysisOperations MonitoringLearning StrategiesComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSystems EvaluationService OrientationQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationInstructingOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlMathematicsTroubleshootingRepairingManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceTechnology DesignScienceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementPersonnel and Human ResourcesEnglish LanguageMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsAdministrativeMechanicalEducation and TrainingEngineering and TechnologyPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceDesignPsychologyBuilding and ConstructionTransportationSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaChemistrySociology and AnthropologyPhysicsLaw and GovernmentPhilosophy and TheologyFood ProductionTherapy and CounselingTelecommunicationsGeographyForeign LanguageMedicine and DentistryBiologyHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Apple SafariApple iWork PagesAptean Made2ManageAutodesk AutoCADBowen & Groves M1 ERPCapterra Enterprise Resource PlanningComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareDatabase softwareDelphi TechnologyEmail softwareEncompix ERPEpicor Vantage ERPEpicor Vista ERPExact MAXExtensible markup language XMLGHG ClockwiseGiraffe Production Systems Giraffe Schedule SystemGoogle ChromeHCSS HeavyJobIBM NotesIntacct ERPIntegrated materials management systemsInventory management softwareKronos Workforce TimekeeperMaterials management softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft AxaptaMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft Total Quality Control ManagementMicrosoft WordMinitabMozilla Firefox
Representative tasks
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkTraining and Teaching OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesScheduling Work and ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleWorking with ComputersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAnalyzing Data or InformationThinking CreativelyDocumenting/Recording InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationSelling or Influencing OthersAssisting and Caring for Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety and sanitation regulations — identify and communicate basic requirements to production workers under the direct guidance of a senior supervisor on a manufacturing floor.Employee attendance records — record and maintain daily logs using time-tracking software under supervisor review in a production facility.Materials, products, and equipment — perform visual inspections to detect obvious defects or malfunctions using a checklist provided by a lead supervisor on an assembly line.Work orders and production schedules — read and summarize basic information from written records with assistance from a supervisor in a manufacturing environment.Work assignments — support scheduling activities by distributing pre-established task lists to crew members under direct supervision in a production setting.Departmental operations — observe cross-department coordination meetings and document key action items under the guidance of an experienced supervisor.Job orders and company policies — relay written instructions and standard operating procedures to line workers with support from a senior supervisor on the production floor.Production gauges and dials — monitor basic indicators and report deviations from standard operating ranges to a supervising manager during routine shifts.Word processing and email software — draft simple shift reports and internal communications following templates provided by department leadership.Operator performance — observe worker activities during production runs and flag non-conforming behaviors to a senior supervisor for corrective guidance.
developing
Safety and sanitation regulations — enforce compliance independently by conducting regular walkthroughs and issuing corrective instructions to workers on a mid-size production floor.Attendance and hours records — maintain accurate employee timekeeping data using HRIS or ERP software and resolve routine discrepancies without supervisor intervention in a manufacturing operation.Materials and finished products — conduct systematic quality inspections against specification sheets and document defect trends using standardized reporting forms on a production line.Charts, work orders, and production reports — analyze scheduling data and output metrics to assess whether current production rates align with established goals in a manufacturing department.Work schedules and production sequences — develop and adjust shift assignments and task sequences to meet routine production targets with minimal oversight in a plant environment.Cross-departmental coordination — participate in supervisor meetings and negotiate resource sharing or schedule adjustments to maintain workflow continuity across production units.Blueprints and job orders — interpret technical specifications and translate them into clear task instructions for production workers operating standard equipment.Gauges, dials, and process indicators — monitor equipment and process readings throughout a shift and initiate corrective operator actions when outputs drift from processing standards.ERP and database software — enter and query production data to track inventory, material usage, and output performance in support of daily operational decisions.Complex problem solving — identify recurring production bottlenecks and implement tested procedural adjustments to restore normal throughput in a manufacturing cell.
proficient
Safety and sanitation programs — autonomously enforce regulatory compliance, investigate incidents, and implement corrective measures across an entire production shift in a regulated manufacturing facility.Workforce attendance and performance records — manage comprehensive employee data, identify attendance patterns, and apply progressive disciplinary procedures in accordance with company HR policy.Defect and malfunction analysis — lead systematic inspections of materials, products, and equipment, applying root-cause analysis techniques to resolve quality issues before they affect downstream operations.Production schedules and performance data — read, analyze, and reconcile multi-source reports to forecast output shortfalls and recommend data-driven adjustments to department leadership.Production planning — design and optimize work schedules, assignment rotations, and sequencing strategies that balance throughput targets, labor availability, and equipment capacity across multiple product lines.Inter-departmental operations — independently coordinate with peer supervisors in maintenance, quality, and logistics to align priorities and resolve operational conflicts across functional boundaries in a plant.Technical specifications and company policy — interpret detailed blueprints, CAD drawings, and regulatory requirements and translate them accurately into worker-level job instructions across diverse production tasks.Process monitoring and deviation response — continuously monitor gauges, automated indicators, and operator outputs, applying sound judgment to halt, adjust, or escalate production processes when standards are not met.Personnel development — evaluate individual worker skill gaps, design on-the-job training sequences, and deliver coaching that improves team capability and reduces error rates on the production floor.Systems analysis — assess interdependencies among people, equipment, and processes to identify inefficiencies and recommend structural improvements that enhance overall production system performance.
advanced
Safety culture and compliance frameworks — establish and champion plant-wide safety and sanitation standards, driving behavioral change and achieving measurable reductions in incident rates across multiple production departments.Workforce strategy and personnel resources — design staffing models, succession plans, and labor allocation strategies that align human capital with long-term production capacity goals across the facility.Quality systems leadership — lead the design and implementation of inspection protocols and defect-prevention programs that elevate product quality benchmarks across all production lines.Operational intelligence and reporting — integrate data from ERP, CAM, and financial analysis platforms to produce executive-level production performance analyses that inform strategic decisions at the plant or division level.Production planning architecture — architect facility-wide scheduling and sequencing systems that optimize throughput, minimize downtime, and enable rapid response to demand fluctuations across multiple product families.Cross-functional coordination and influence — lead inter-departmental and inter-site collaboration initiatives, aligning engineering, logistics, and HR functions to support unified operational outcomes at organizational scale.Policy and standards development — author and institutionalize operating procedures, job specifications, and compliance standards that govern how work is interpreted and executed across all supervisory levels of the facility.Organizational monitoring systems — design and deploy performance monitoring frameworks using operations dashboards and automated alerting tools that enable proactive management of production standards facility-wide.Supervisor development and coaching — mentor and evaluate first-line supervisors, designing learning strategies and feedback systems that build leadership bench strength throughout the production organization.Strategic systems improvement — lead enterprise-scale process redesign initiatives by applying advanced systems analysis and engineering principles to eliminate chronic inefficiencies and elevate competitive performance across the production operation.
Also known as
677 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Abattoir SupervisorAbrasive and Polished Products SupervisorAcid SupervisorAerosol SupervisorAging Department SupervisorAgricultural Chemicals Shift SuperintendentAlteration Workroom SupervisorAlum Plant SupervisorAlumina Plant SupervisorAluminum Boat Assembly SupervisorAluminum Fabrication SupervisorAmmunition SupervisorAnhydrous Ammonia Production SupervisorAnode Crew SupervisorArt Objects SupervisorArtificial Flowers SupervisorAsbestos Pipe SupervisorAsbestos Textile SupervisorAsbestos-Cement Sheet SupervisorAssembly and Packing SupervisorAssembly Department SupervisorAssembly Line SupervisorAssembly Room SupervisorAssembly SupervisorAutomatic Machines SupervisorAutomobile Assembly SupervisorAutomotive Tire-Testing SupervisorBakery SupervisorBeam Department SupervisorBeater BossBeater Room SupervisorBeehive Kiln SupervisorBeet End SupervisorBelt and Link Assembly SupervisorBindery SupervisorBit and Shank Department SupervisorBlast Furnace Auxiliaries SupervisorBlast Furnace SupervisorBleach SupervisorBlending Supervisor