Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Manufacturing Supervisor

production supervisor working in factory

A Manufacturing Supervisor is a professional who plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the production process within a manufacturing setting. They are responsible for ensuring smooth operations, maintaining quality standards, and coordinating the efforts of the production team. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Manufacturing Supervisors.

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Main Responsibilities of a Manufacturing Supervisor

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Manufacturing Supervisor:

Accomplish

Accomplish manufacturing staff results by communicating job expectations.

Achieve

Achieve weekly production schedules and department goals.

Address

  • Address areas of concern with employees to promote excellent performance.

  • Address performance issue as necessary.

  • Address safety issues immediately with Manager.

Administer

Administer union collective bargaining agreement and site and Company policies.

Alleviate

Alleviate pain, restore health and extend life.

Analyze

  • Analyze operations, functions, finished products.

  • Analyze production data to identify trends and areas for improvement.

  • Analyze the current situation and propose ideas for improvement (DMAIC).

Assess

Assess the impact of proposed decisions and initiates appropriate actions.

Assign

  • Assign daily work assignments and responsibilities to the team and stakeholders as required.

  • Assign tasks and schedules priorities to achieve the greatest production with the best efficiency.

  • Assign work according to production schedule.

Assist with

Assist Manager with employee rating forms in their designated area.

Assume

Assume the lead on cross functional teams / projects.

Assure

Assure all team members are appropriately trained.

Attend

Attend and participate in staff meetings of manufacturing.

Carry out

Carry out basic quality and testing checks.

Change

Change working positions from standing, sitting, bending and lifting up to 30lbs of parts and boxes.

Coach

  • Coach new packaging employees on new equipment, procedures, regulations, etc..

  • Coach teams, provide guidance, direction, training, resources, and time.

  • Coach unsafe behaviors of production workers.

Collaborate

  • Collaborate with other departments to optimize production efficiency.

  • Collaborate with suppliers and vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials.

Communicate

  • Communicate daily performance of the shift and any issues to management team.

  • Communicate production goals, results, quality, and operation observation with employees daily.

  • Communicate to employees on a timely basis.

  • Communicate with Supervisor of next shift on current production issues.

  • Communicate work center / department objectives and results.

Complete

  • Complete Batch Production Records under cGMP, and documents in detail.

  • Complete job requisitions and submits for approval.

  • Complete proper production reporting for the area.

Conduct

  • Conduct performance reviews and recommend training or development opportunities.

  • Conduct regular inspections to ensure equipment functionality.

Confer

Confer with interdepartmental personnel to discuss production procedures and resolve problems.

Consolidate

Consolidate and optimize team skills, by motivating and coaching the staff.

Contribute to

Contribute to the definition and application of control and follow-up measures for his team.

Coordinate

  • Coordinate and manage material flow and accuracy, quality, and maintenance support requirements.

  • Coordinate and oversee the work of production staff.

  • Coordinate day to day activities.

  • Coordinate TM duties with necessary departments.

  • Coordinate with engineering teams for process optimization.

  • Coordinate with maintenance personnel for equipment repairs and maintenance.

Counsel

Counsel employee on attendance to improve performance.

Create

  • Create a climate of trust and respect within the group.

  • Create a realistic development plan.

  • Create, develop, or improve new or existing SOPs related to the department.

Define

Define and communicate clear and realistic expectations, deliverables, limitations and resources.

Demonstrate

Demonstrate and train team on proper manufacturing production processes, practices, and procedures.

Determine

Determine needs for additional training, overtime to meet production schedule.

Develop

  • Develop and implement safety protocols.

  • Develop and maintain production reports and records.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

  • Develop comprehensive operating plans and monitors achievement of business and financial goals.

  • Develop reporting procedures and systems.

  • Develop schedules and labor requirements for assigned areas.

  • Develop schedules and manpower requirements for assigned areas.

  • Develop World Class People.

Direct

Direct day-to-day activities of the warehouse.

Document

Document / Record cGMP data and information for processing steps and / or equipment activities.

Drive

  • Drive continuous improvement activities.

  • Drive positive results in operational Key Process Indicators.

Encourage

Encourage team to be involved in decisions, encourages talent development.

Enforce

  • Enforce plant rules, monitors attendance and provides corrective action as necessary.

  • Enforce policies, practices, procedures and tracking for production operations.

Ensure

  • Ensure alignment to the regulatory, corporate and customers' requirements.

  • Ensure all packaging procedures are being performed at the highest standard by leads.

  • Ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

  • Ensure compliance with safety program.

  • Ensure compliance with safety regulations and quality standards.

  • Ensure daily all electronic and paper-based logs are filled out accurately and on time.

  • Ensure operation of equipment by calling for repairs.

  • Ensure production boards are checked hourly for rate attainment, scrap, down time, down time reason.

  • Ensure regulatory compliance while promoting safe working methods and a safe environment.

  • Ensure replacement / upgrade of manufacturing equipment's.

  • Ensure team members have clear goals and performance expectations.

  • Ensure that the employees respect set work sequences.

  • Ensure the backup of operational supervision during week shift when needed.

  • Ensure the safe use of equipment and schedule regular maintenance.

  • Ensure timely and accurate staging and sterilization of supplies / equipment.

Establish

  • Establish or adjust work procedures to maintain production schedules.

  • Establish, set and maintain process standards and capacity, measuring performance to plan.

Evaluate

  • Evaluate departmental labor efficiencies and provides input into annual standard setting process.

  • Evaluate employee performance and provide feedback.

Facilitate

Facilitate corrections to malfunctions within process control points.

Focus on

Focus on achieving results.

Follow

Follow ISO14001 guidelines as they relate to specific job activities.

Follow-up with

Follow-up with each employee to discuss performances regarding HST, GMP\u0026rsquo.

Foster

  • Foster a positive work environment and promote teamwork.

  • Foster Collaboration and Teamwork.

Gather

Gather additional data from appropriate areas.

Handle

Handle general employee inquiries and solve problems.

Hire

Hire and retain a diverse, highly qualified staff and provides ongoing performance feedback.

Identify

  • Identify and eliminate potential hazards.

  • Identify and resolve production bottlenecks.

  • Identify appropriate functional groups for involvement.

  • Identify appropriate resources to resolve routine issues.

  • Identify personal career wants / needs and evaluate against the business needs.

Implement

  • Implement and enforce company policies and procedures.

  • Implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).

  • Implement and monitor lean manufacturing principles.

  • Implement continuous improvement processes and cost savings.

  • Implement cost reduction strategies.

  • Implement strategies to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Influence

Influence others to support a course of action.

Initiate

Initiate paper work maintaining discipline as needed.

Interact with

  • Interact directly with regulatory agencies and provides information as required.

  • Interact with clients during initial and subsequent manufacturing campaigns.

  • Interact with peers in operations and within other cross-functional groups.

Interface with

Interface with Micro and Quality Assurance on environmental issues, investigations & audits.

Interview

Interview candidates for positions on the direct staff.

Lead

  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives.

  • Lead investigations for production, quality, safety, and environmental incidents.

  • Lead with Integrity and Respect.

Maintain

  • Maintain all records relevant to equipment, cleaning and processes.

  • Maintain a safe and professional work environment.

  • Maintain equipment per manufactures' recommendations for preventive maintenance.

  • Maintain good housekeeping and keeps all equipment in good operating condition.

  • Maintain and improve 5-S principles.

  • Maintain inventory of all cleanroom garments.

  • Maintain orderly lab spaces.

  • Maintain plant policies and procedures.

  • Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops.

  • Maintain time and production records.

  • Maintain time and production records for direct reports.

  • Maintain workflow by monitoring steps of the process.

Make

Make budgetary recommendations on capital expenditures and direct / indirect labor.

Manage

  • Manage and control production budgets.

  • Manage and review production data with team members and resolve any manufacturing related issues.

  • Manage, coach and report on employee productivity.

  • Manage inventory of cellular products and laboratory supplies.

  • Manage manufacturing operations through SAP functions.

  • Manage set-up, adjustments, and removal of dies within stamping press.

  • Manage the releasing of material from internal and external vendors.

  • Manage training, attendance, safety awareness and performance evaluations for your team.

Mentor

Mentor and develop lower level supervisors.

Monitor

  • Monitor and manage inventory levels.

  • Monitor and report progress of safety objectives, performance against schedule and number of defects.

  • Monitor compliance to safety rules, work expectations and housekeeping standards.

  • Monitor employee productivity and provide constructive feedback.

  • Monitor employees' work levels and review work performance.

  • Monitor production processes to identify areas for improvement.

  • Monitor product quality, react to quality incidents, and coordinate corrective actions as necessary.

  • Monitor the production process.

Notify

Notify proper person and Supervisor when W.I.P. stock shortage exists.

Operate

Operate Filter integrity devices to confirm the integrity of filters pre and post use.

Organize

  • Organize and follow customer visits and audits.

  • Organize ideas, prepares A / V aids, keeps to time frame and present persuasively.

Oversee

  • Oversee Manufacturing Associates to assure they are working in a cGMP-compliant and safe manner.

  • Oversee safety of operations.

  • Oversee the 2nd shift Cleaning crew and Compounders.

Own

Own and deliver long term overtime management plan.

Participate

  • Participate in interviews for new hires.

  • Participate in proactive team efforts to achieve departmental and company goals.

  • Participate in process transfer activities from process development to manufacturing.

Perform

  • Perform audit of operators in their section twice per shift.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

  • Perform other related tasks as assigned.

  • Perform other responsibilities as directed / assigned by management.

  • Perform routine administrative tasks (SOP, CAPA, CC, Deviations).

  • Perform the set-up, operation, cleaning and break-down of process equipment.

Plan

  • Plan and administers procedures and budgets.

  • Plan and schedule production activities.

  • Plan, manage and monitor all manufacturing projects.

Prepare

Prepare and submit reports.

Prioritize

Prioritize workloads based on urgency or availability of inventory.

Provide

  • Provide annual budget recommendations and perform routine variance analysis.

  • Provide a pipeline of productivity ideas for future.

  • Provide assistance with Engineering Samples and tooling development tests.

  • Provide budget recommendations, perform cost reduction and variance analysis.

  • Provide day-to-day operations and logistics support for wafer Fab, DFAB / ASSM, and Test areas.

  • Provide direct supervision to production hourly employees.

  • Provide feedback to individuals on productivity and quality of workmanship.

  • Provide leadership and direction to an assigned manufacturing team.

  • Provide ongoing coaching and feedback consistent with employee needs.

  • Provide proper components, W.I.P. stock, and packaging to line as needed.

  • Provide support to maintenance or the die repair teams as needed.

  • Provide support to senior manufacturing staff as needed.

  • Provide technical leadership and training as needed.

Raise

Raise issues to the appropriate level for resolution.

Reach

Reach with hands and arms.

Read

Read drawings and Shop Orders.

Receive

  • Receive direction from Manager and implement initiatives with respect to overall objectives.

  • Receive instructions through oral and written communications accurately and quickly.

Recognize

Recognize accomplishments within department through reward and recognition programs.

Recommend

  • Recommend and requisition assemblers for temporary manufacturing staff.

  • Recommend measures to improve productivity and product quality.

  • Recommend personnel actions.

  • Recommend personnel actions, such as hires, promotions, transfers, or disciplinary measures.

  • Recommend process changes to improve productivity.

  • Recommend the hiring & termination of hourly employees as necessary.

Reconcile

Reconcile count discrepancies and input count data.

Report

Report environmental incidents immediately to supervisor of the affected area.

Reset

Reset equipment as needed.

Resolve

Resolve conflicts or issues that arise within the production team.

Review

  • Review and approves Master Manufacturing Work Orders.

  • Review and processing of work orders to production floor.

  • Review manufacturing documentation (batch records, etc.).

  • Review status of production schedules to identify and resolve problems.

  • Review, understanding, and compliance with ArcherDX HIPAA Security policies and procedures.

Select

  • Select, supervise, and trains employees, in compliance with company standards, and policies.

  • Select the country where you are applying for employment, and review.

Stay updated with

  • Stay informed about emerging technologies and their potential impact on manufacturing processes.

  • Stay updated with industry trends and advancements in manufacturing techniques.

Streamline

Streamline communication between 2nd shift employees and Plant Manager.

Supervise

  • Supervise 4-5 extrusion machine operators.

  • Supervise the packing teams and the packaging process.

  • Supervise TM personnel in day to day functions.

  • Supervise, train, lead and mentor employees.

Support

  • Support all development and technical transfer manufacturing projects.

  • Support Autonomous maintenance.

  • Support / backup of Manufacturing Manager.

  • Support new product development activities by delivering custom products upon request.

  • Support production staff in understanding company policies and practices.

  • Support the Manufacturing Manager on the annual budget building and follow-up, and CAPEX management.

  • Support the Manufacturing Manager on the mid and long-term deliverables of the department.

Train

  • Train and mentor new employees.

  • Train direct labor associates on job responsibilities and priorities.

Understand

Understand detailed area operations (function specific).

Update

Update and approve time sheets.

Use

Use various computer applications to enable efficient planning and scheduling.

Verify

Verify that master test parts verification was performed on jobs.

Work

  • Work on the production team, as needed, to deliver product in a timely manner.

  • Work toward continuous improvement within their area to meet company goals.

  • Work with compliance to ensure department is meeting and exceeding quality goals.

  • Work with employees to meet their development needs.

  • Work with Facilities and Validation to maintain manufacturing equipment.

  • Work with Operations and Shipping and Receiving to coordinate storage of materials.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Manufacturing Supervisor:

  1. Proficiency in production planning and scheduling software.

  2. Knowledge of quality management systems (e.g., ISO standards).

  3. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and equipment.

  4. Experience with lean manufacturing principles and methodologies.

  5. Proficiency in data analysis and statistical tools (e.g., Six Sigma).

  6. Knowledge of supply chain management and logistics.

  7. Familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) software.

  8. Proficiency in inventory management software.

  9. Technical expertise in the specific industry or manufacturing sector.

  10. Knowledge of safety regulations and compliance.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Manufacturing Supervisor:

  1. Strong leadership and managerial skills.

  2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

  3. Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

  4. Effective time management and organizational skills.

  5. Adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic work environment.

  6. Teamwork and collaboration skills.

  7. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

  8. Attention to detail and quality orientation.

  9. Ability to motivate and inspire the production team.

  10. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Conclusion

Being a Manufacturing Supervisor requires a diverse skill set that combines technical expertise, leadership abilities, and effective communication. By understanding the primary responsibilities and acquiring the most in-demand hard and soft skills, Manufacturing Supervisors can excel in their role and contribute to the success of the manufacturing process.

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