First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

• Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the production or processing of goods, such as inspectors, machine setters, and fabricators.
• Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
• Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
• Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
• Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards.
• Conduct employee training in equipment operations or work and safety procedures, or assign employee training to experienced workers.
• Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
• Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
• Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
• Requisition materials, supplies, equipment parts, or repair services.
• Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
• Determine standards, budgets, production goals, and rates, based on company policies, equipment and labor availability, and workloads.
• Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
• Set up and adjust machines and equipment.
• Recommend or implement measures to motivate employees and to improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality, or efficiency.
• Recommend or execute personnel actions, such as hirings, evaluations, and promotions.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.