What does a materials supervisor do?

Production control supervisors assist with production and workflow scheduling procedures. They recognize quantitative indicators for effective measurements and possess a penchant for the planning, directing, supervising, and evaluating employee work. Additional tasks of this position include completion of production plans, accomplishing work results, establishing priorities, monitoring of progress, revising schedules, resolving issues, and reporting results of that processing flow on shift production summaries.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a materials supervisor are more likely to require skills like "logistics," "osha," "purchase orders," and "material movement." On the other hand, a job as a production control supervisor requires skills like "logistical support," "maintenance operations," "production orders," and "support equipment." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

An inventory control supervisor is responsible for overseeing and coordinating various administrative and clerical activities and functions of an organization. In this role, you will be responsible for training the staff and supervising their work to ensure that policies, procedures, deadlines, and quality standards are complied with. Other tasks that you will perform include training staff on payroll processes, overseeing the work of inventory control staff, and working closely with the inventory control manager. As an inventory control supervisor, you will also be responsible for managing inventory transactions and providing feedback to the team.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that materials supervisor responsibilities requires skills like "safety procedures," "inventory control," "lean manufacturing," and "osha." But an inventory control supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "pallets," "outbound shipments," and "wms."

A shift production supervisor is in charge of overseeing business operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach production standards and production targets, supervising and assessing staff performance, delegating tasks, managing schedules, and prioritizing customer satisfaction. They may also produce progress reports and presentations, address and resolve any issues or concerns, and train new workforce members. Furthermore, as a supervisor, it is essential to lead and encourage team members, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, materials supervisors are more likely to have skills like "logistics," "mrp," "material flow," and "cycle counts." But a shift production supervisor is more likely to have skills like "lean six sigma," "gmp," "excellent interpersonal," and "develop team."

A 2nd shift supervisor is responsible for supporting the operations of a department, managing the staff's performance, and assisting the team in achieving maximum productivity. They provide high-quality services for the customers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and resolving complaints. They also implement strategic procedures to achieve production goals, as well as identifying business opportunities that would drive more revenue resources and profits for the company. A 2nd shift supervisor also assists in handling the department's budget, ensuring adequate allocation to support operations.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between materials supervisors and 2nd shift supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a materials supervisor might have more use for skills like "logistics," "mrp," "material flow," and "iso." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of 2nd shift supervisors require skills like "customer service," "basic math," "pallets," and "work ethic. "