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The differences between manufacturing 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 manufacturing leader and an operation supervisor. Additionally, a manufacturing leader has an average salary of $89,761, which is higher than the $57,279 average annual salary of an operation supervisor.
The top three skills for a manufacturing leader include lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and GMP. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.
| Manufacturing Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $89,761 | $57,279 |
| Hourly rate | $43.15 | $27.54 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 87,299 | 94,116 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A manufacturing leader or production leader is someone who takes charge of the manufacturer's production process. Manufacturing leaders plan, organize, and establish a recommendation for manufacturing strategies. They make sure that products are successfully developed based on the specifications. They supervise the teams working in product development and operations. It is part of their job to ensure great production management. They study successes and failures and emphasize growth. Also, they inspire and engage staff at every level of the manufacturing process.
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.
Manufacturing leaders and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $89,761 | $57,279 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $37,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Kansas City, KS |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing leader and an operation supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing leaders' and operation supervisors' demographics:
| Manufacturing Leader | Operation Supervisor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.3% 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% |