Manufacturing production supervisor vs production manager

The differences between manufacturing production supervisors and production managers 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 production supervisor and a production manager. Additionally, a production manager has an average salary of $78,064, which is higher than the $32,337 average annual salary of a manufacturing production supervisor.

The top three skills for a manufacturing production supervisor include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and production schedules. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.

Manufacturing production supervisor vs production manager overview

	Manufacturing Production Supervisor	Production Manager
Yearly salary	$32,337	$78,064
Hourly rate	$15.55	$37.53
Growth rate	-	3%
Number of jobs	122,939	95,561
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a manufacturing production supervisor do?

Manufacturing production supervisors are professionals who are responsible for overseeing the production activities of a manufacturing firm. These supervisors are required to implement process improvement initiatives that focus on cost reduction, quality improvement, and business growth. They must maintain a sufficient inventory of materials so that they can meet production schedules and ensure on-time delivery to customers. Manufacturing production supervisors also need to monitor the progress and performance level of the manufacturing team and implement disciplinary actions regarding safety behavior and attendance.

What does a production manager do?

Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.

Manufacturing production supervisor vs production manager salary

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

	Manufacturing Production Supervisor	Production Manager
Average salary	$32,337	$78,064
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $49,000	Between $50,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City	Aurora, IL	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Baker Hughes	Cheniere Energy
Best paying industry	Automotive	Technology

Differences between manufacturing production supervisor and production manager education

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

	Manufacturing Production Supervisor	Production Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Manufacturing production supervisor vs production manager demographics

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

	Manufacturing Production Supervisor	Production Manager
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%	Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between manufacturing production supervisor and production manager duties and responsibilities

Manufacturing production supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage numerous lean Kaizen events, resulting in a more productive department.
Serve as main production floor support to enforce GMP to achieve SQF and HACCP plant certifications.
Lead targeted decision-making across fast-pace production operations for this growth-orient USDA food factory producing quality meat products.
Certify that GMP's and company safety procedures are adhere to.
Incorporate Kaizen principles to identify, address and follow up on any production problems.
Provide compliance training in the relevant areas of FDA, DEA and OSHA regulation, company policies and procedures.

Production manager example responsibilities.

Lead a KAIZEN that save 220k in damages.
Manage lean sigma techniques and Kaizen events to reduce raw material and scrap costs.
Hire and manage crew and locations along with renting necessary film equipment and organizing shoot logistics.
Team member in setting up TPM method of measuring production (OEE), helping to achieve record production results.
Manage data reports, analyze and provide data to improve operational performance to include OEE, process reliability and labor optimization.
Manage production control group and supply replenishment logistics for the manufacturing division.

Manufacturing production supervisor vs production manager skills

Common manufacturing production supervisor skills

Continuous Improvement, 12%
Lean Manufacturing, 11%
Production Schedules, 7%
Sigma, 4%
Production Lines, 4%
Equipment Performance, 3%

Common production manager skills

Continuous Improvement, 8%
Customer Service, 7%
Quality Standards, 6%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Lean Manufacturing, 6%
Production Supervisors, 6%

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Manufacturing Production Supervisor
Manufacturing Production Supervisor vs Production Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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