What does a manufacturing supervisor do?

A manufacturing supervisor is a management-level employee who takes responsibility for the daily operations of the production processes in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing supervisors execute different roles as sponsors, coaches, directors, counselors, and educators. They supervise staff, organize the production team, and monitor the overall workflow. There are necessary skills for this position, including adaptability, cooperation, verbal and written communication, and conflict resolution. The supervisors are also expected to be skilled in mentorship and in making a sound decision.
Manufacturing supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real manufacturing supervisor resumes:
- Conduct all safety meeting and manage the employee's time keeping (Kronos).
- Review and correct documentation and batch records while managing RODAC testing and leading CAPA investigations.
- Lead, develop, and implement the KANBAN system by providing better flows of raw material and production.
- Manage a team of 16-35 to insure packaging lines are running to standards as far as USDA guidelines and company productivity.
- Lead sigma program driving quality, productivity and delivery improvements.
- Manage a team of QC inspectors for inspecting automotive components from manufacturing line
- Develop production schedules and supervise day-to-day manufacturing operations, GMP, and safety issues.
- Monitor employee attendance and punctuality using KRONOS.
- Communicate with sales dept., support groups, mfg.
- Perform CIP/SIP tasks on equipment used in all stages of production.
- Educate each employee on BOM (building of material) list and quality.
- Work with programmers, engineering, and tool room to develop and troubleshoot processes.
- Used pH meters, conductivity meters, spectrophotometers, microscopes, incubators, and autoclaves.
- Assure full compliance with DEA and internal policies on the manufacturing / packaging of control substance.
- Audit departments to ensure compliance with ISO standards, coach employees on maintaining conformance to specifications.
Manufacturing supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Manufacturing Supervisors are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and Safety Regulations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Manufacturing Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 10%
Praised for commitment to continuous improvement, predicting assembly problems and suggesting solutions to reduce waste and errors and increase productivity.
- Lean Manufacturing, 9%
Led manufacturing team in developing Copper Barrier lean manufacturing techniques resulting in a 33% overall increase in productivity improvement.
- Safety Regulations, 5%
Partnered with Safety Team to meet company standards and enforced safety regulations to prevent and eliminate injuries.
- Quality Standards, 5%
Provided information to facilitate continuous quality improvement of the process and product, maintaining high quality standards in the manufacturing environment.
- GMP, 5%
Developed production schedules and supervised day-to-day manufacturing operations, GMP, and safety issues.
- Production Schedules, 5%
Established and maintained daily production schedules and created an environment conducive to increasing teamwork, raising morale and improving efficiency.
Most manufacturing supervisors use their skills in "continuous improvement," "lean manufacturing," and "safety regulations" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential manufacturing supervisor responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a manufacturing supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, a manufacturing supervisor resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "applied interpersonal and team building skills to ensure communication across departments allowing on-time delivery of cylinders. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform manufacturing supervisor duties is leadership skills. Manufacturing supervisors responsibilities require that "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Manufacturing supervisors also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "enforced a culture of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement while providing operational leadership skills. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for manufacturing supervisors to perform their duties. For an example of how manufacturing supervisor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a manufacturing supervisor: "resolved worker grievances and submitted unsettled grievances to hr for action. ".
The three companies that hire the most manufacturing supervisors are:
- B. Braun Medical22 manufacturing supervisors jobs
- Thermo Fisher Scientific21 manufacturing supervisors jobs
- Lockheed Martin16 manufacturing supervisors jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable manufacturing supervisor resume templates
Build a professional manufacturing supervisor resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manufacturing supervisor resume.Compare different manufacturing supervisors
Manufacturing supervisor vs. Assembly supervisor
Assembly Supervisors oversee and coordinate employees' work on assembly-lines. The supervisors assign personnel to stations or tasks and prepare their work schedules. They monitor processes to make sure that the employees are carrying out their tasks correctly. It is their responsibility to monitor the whole assembly process for delay prevention. They also contribute to developing procedures and processes to boost the overall operation of the assembly lines.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between manufacturing supervisors and assembly supervisor. For instance, manufacturing supervisor responsibilities require skills such as "gmp," "direct supervision," "fda," and "lean six sigma." Whereas a assembly supervisor is skilled in "assembly operations," "delivery dates," "assembly procedures," and "assembly production." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Assembly supervisors really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $79,821. Comparatively, manufacturing supervisors tend to make the most money in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $85,664.On average, assembly supervisors reach similar levels of education than manufacturing supervisors. Assembly supervisors are 4.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing supervisor vs. Shop supervisor
A shop supervisor is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a store, delegating tasks to the shop personnel, and ensuring the highest quality service to the customers for their satisfaction. Shop supervisors handle the sales inventory and process bank transactions every closing. They also negotiate contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors, receive proof of shipments, maintain an organized record of deliveries, and implement marketing strategies to boost brand awareness and generate more revenues to increase profitability.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, manufacturing supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "continuous improvement," "lean manufacturing," "gmp," and "process improvement." Meanwhile, a shop supervisor has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "parts inventory," "basic math," and "hudson." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, shop supervisors earn a lower salary than manufacturing supervisors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, shop supervisors earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $63,390. Whereas manufacturing supervisors have higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $85,664.shop supervisors earn lower levels of education than manufacturing supervisors in general. They're 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for manufacturing supervisors in the next 3-5 years?
Manufacturing supervisor vs. Supervisor
Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the daily functions of employees in a specific team, department, or even a work shift. They create work schedules, organize work processes and workflows, train new hires, provide necessary reports related to the team function and the employees, monitor and evaluate employee performance, and ensure that goals of the specific team or department are met. When needed, supervisors also provide guidance to employees in terms of their career or even personal challenges. They also help in fostering harmonious work relationships by resolving interpersonal conflicts at work. To be successful in their role, they must have leadership skills, time management skills, decision-making capabilities, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a manufacturing supervisor is likely to be skilled in "continuous improvement," "lean manufacturing," "gmp," and "process improvement," while a typical supervisor is skilled in "customer service," "sales floor," "pos," and "payroll."
Supervisors earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $60,088. Manufacturing supervisors earn the highest pay from the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $85,664.Most supervisors achieve a similar degree level compared to manufacturing supervisors. For example, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing supervisor vs. Night supervisor
A night supervisor is responsible for managing the hotel's operation during night shift hours, attending to guests' inquiries and requests, and monitoring the staff's performance. Night supervisors maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, as well as inspecting the efficiency of hotel tools and equipment, and ensuring the adequacy of hotel stock inventories. They review sales reports, process guests' reservations, and strategize on procedures to boost the company's brand in the market. A night supervisor must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on resolving guests' complaints and maximizing the productivity of staff.
Types of manufacturing supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025











