First-Line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
- Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
- 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.
- Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
- Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
- Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
- Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards.
- Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
- Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the production or processing of goods, such as inspectors, machine setters, or fabricators.
- Evaluate employee performance.
- Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
- Conduct employee training in equipment operations or work and safety procedures, or assign employee training to experienced workers.
- Determine standards, budgets, production goals, and rates, based on company policies, equipment and labor availability, and workloads.
- Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas.
- Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
- Recommend or implement measures to motivate employees and to improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality, or efficiency.
- Requisition materials, supplies, equipment parts, or repair services.
- Set up and adjust machines and equipment.
- Recommend or execute personnel actions, such as hirings, evaluations, or promotions.
- Plan and develop new products and production processes.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
96%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
96%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
94%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
92%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
88%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
88%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
87%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
86%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
85%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
85%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
85%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
83%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
81%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
81%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
80%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
80%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
78%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
76%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
75%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
75%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
71%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
68%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
67%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
67%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
66%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
65%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
63%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
60%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
59%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
58%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
54%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
53%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
52%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
52%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
49%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
48%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
46%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
44%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
43%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
42%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
41%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
38%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
36%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
33%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
33%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
32%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
32%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
28%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
26%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
23%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
22%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
19%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
15%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
14%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
10%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
9%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
5%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Less than high school diploma
Interests
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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