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Lead person vs production supervisor

The differences between lead people and production 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 lead person and a production supervisor. Additionally, a lead person has an average salary of $105,432, which is higher than the $63,391 average annual salary of a production supervisor.

The top three skills for a lead person include safety rules, ISO and safety regulations. The most important skills for a production supervisor are lean manufacturing, safety procedures, and production schedules.

Lead person vs production supervisor overview

Lead PersonProduction Supervisor
Yearly salary$105,432$63,391
Hourly rate$50.69$30.48
Growth rate--
Number of jobs87,61983,529
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4646
Years of experience22

What does a lead person do?

A lead person or lead worker is an employee who provides leadership and instructions to others in a group to complete tasks quickly and effectively. Lead workers plan and organize meetings with supervisors and the management to discuss a particular project's progress and development. Lead persons would often participate in the training of new employees about their job duties. As the group leader, lead persons must also ensure that employees are following company policies and adhere to all standards and guidelines.

What does a production supervisor do?

Production supervisors are employees who oversee the production process, usually handling activities directly related to people management. They manage employees by ensuring that the production floor employees are doing their work well and are motivated. Production supervisors guide employees and ensure that everyone is working towards company goals. They properly communicate these goals as well as the strategies to meet the set goals. Production supervisors have a direct hand in the hiring and subsequent training of employees. They should have good communication skills, decision-making skills, and leadership skills.

Lead person vs production supervisor salary

Lead people and production supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead PersonProduction Supervisor
Average salary$105,432$63,391
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $171,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAFremont, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryConstructionAutomotive

Differences between lead person and production supervisor education

There are a few differences between a lead person and a production supervisor in terms of educational background:

Lead PersonProduction Supervisor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Lead person vs production supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between lead people' and production supervisors' demographics:

Lead PersonProduction Supervisor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 84.4% Female, 15.6%Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between lead person and production supervisor duties and responsibilities

Lead person example responsibilities.

  • Manage the POS system to process sales/returns/exchanges.
  • Manage job crew, operate industrial vac-truck, obtain CDL
  • Attain permits and ensure workers used proper PPE prior to entering confine spaces.
  • Train and achieve USG certification for stainless steel, common steel MIG, aluminum MIG, and TIG common.
  • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
  • Conduct hourly quality and production inspections, while following all FDA, SQF and GMP guide lines.
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Production supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage an run extruders an injection molds.
  • Utilize MRP system to monitor and manage raw material and finish goods inventory.
  • Manage employee's schedules, time off requests, vacation and payroll with the KRONOS time management software.
  • Manage departments responsible for beginning raw material production process using automate CNC control plasma cutting machines.
  • Lead targeted decision-making across fast-pace production operations for this growth-orient USDA food factory producing quality meat products.
  • Manage manufacturing department operations to ensure compliance with establish quality specifications, production levels, and FDA regulations.
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Lead person vs production supervisor skills

Common lead person skills
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • ISO, 7%
  • Safety Regulations, 7%
  • CNC, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Production Floor, 5%
Common production supervisor skills
  • Lean Manufacturing, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Production Schedules, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • ISO, 4%

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