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The differences between continuous improvement leaders and operation supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a continuous improvement leader and an operation supervisor. Additionally, a continuous improvement leader has an average salary of $85,851, which is higher than the $57,279 average annual salary of an operation supervisor.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement leader include lean six sigma, sigma and process improvement. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $85,851 | $57,279 |
| Hourly rate | $41.27 | $27.54 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 35,627 | 94,116 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A continuous improvement leader is an individual who is responsible for measuring and testing procedures to improve production efficiency in a company. Continuous improvement leaders must work closely with human resources employees or trainers so that they can develop a curriculum to bring hires to their peak efficiency quickly. They are required to improve processes and systems in the company as well as implement programs that have continuing long-term benefits. Continuous improvement leaders must also supervise and direct the work of staff members of the CI department.
Operations supervisors manage a specific operations-related team or department. They ensure that all the agreed-upon key performance indicators are being met. They also address any performance challenges and strategize on how to improve different areas in the team. They communicate team goals and balance the organization's requirements with the team's profile. Operations supervisors also manage the employees under their department. They hire for vacancies and train new employees. They also ensure that employees are properly coached for improvement. Operations supervisors are expected to be strategic, personable, and good communicators.
Continuous improvement leaders and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $85,851 | $57,279 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $115,000 | Between $37,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | Kansas City, KS |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement leader and an operation supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement leaders' and operation supervisors' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |