General production manager vs operation supervisor

The differences between general production managers 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 general production manager and an operation supervisor. Additionally, an operation supervisor has an average salary of $57,279, which is higher than the $32,434 average annual salary of a general production manager.

The top three skills for a general production manager include general production, food safety and hand tools. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.

General production manager vs operation supervisor overview

	General Production Manager	Operation Supervisor
Yearly salary	$32,434	$57,279
Hourly rate	$15.59	$27.54
Growth rate	-	6%
Number of jobs	183,687	94,116
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a general production manager do?

A general production manager is responsible for overseeing the overall production operations for the business, managing staff performance, and ensuring that the team performs with the highest productivity and efficiency. General production managers perform quality control procedures to monitor the stability and effectiveness of current processes and minimize downtimes. They also handle the budget and resource allocation across the department to support activities and enhance performance. A general production manager strategizes workforce policies, adhering to the company's guidelines and protocols, and resolves production discrepancies as soon as they arise.

What does an operation supervisor do?

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.

General production manager vs operation supervisor salary

General production managers and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	General Production Manager	Operation Supervisor
Average salary	$32,434	$57,279
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $37,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NY	Kansas City, KS
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Louisiana
Best paying company	Titan International	Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between general production manager and operation supervisor education

There are a few differences between a general production manager and an operation supervisor in terms of educational background:

	General Production Manager	Operation Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

General production manager vs operation supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between general production managers' and operation supervisors' demographics:

	General Production Manager	Operation Supervisor
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7%	Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.6% 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%

Differences between general production manager and operation supervisor duties and responsibilities

General production manager example responsibilities.

Demonstrate ability to manage multiple departments and improvement projects, prepare short and long term goals focusing on company KPI's.
Manage production control group and supply replenishment logistics for the manufacturing division.
Facilitate monthly safety meetings and ensure compliance with HACCP, SSOP and GMP.
Return work environment within OSHA standards.
Provide support for ISO 2001 plant accreditation.
Pack finished products manually or by using hoists.

Operation supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage labor and operating expenses to meet budget goals by utilizing KRONOS.
Manage the safety, quality, productivity, OEE, yields, & continuous improvement.
Manage the proper preparation of equipment for mechanical work as well as proper utilization of LOTO system.
Serve as member of HAZMAT team and manage all training, orientation and safety programs for entire facility.
Manage all inbound and outbound of product/inventory, and keep accurate counts in AS400 P.K.M.S warehouse management software.
Manage daily activities of up to 15 staff and up to 50 students at youth rehabilitation boarding facility.

General production manager vs operation supervisor skills

Common general production manager skills

General Production, 32%
Food Safety, 28%
Hand Tools, 12%
HR, 4%
Quality Standards, 3%
Production Floor, 2%

Common operation supervisor skills

Logistics, 7%
Safety Procedures, 7%
OSHA, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
General Production Manager
General Production Manager vs Operation Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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