Businesses need production supervisors to optimize their operations, drive the efficiency of their production processes and ensure their workers’ safety.  

Individuals interested in pursuing a leadership role as a production supervisor, particularly in a technology-heavy industry, may want to consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in applied technology or technology management, or a graduate degree in technology management. They should also have a clear understanding of the production supervisor job description, salary and job outlook.  

Production Supervisor Job Description 

Production supervisors oversee the daily production processes for an organization. They set production goals, develop strategies to accomplish those goals, troubleshoot and improve processes, assign tasks to production team members, monitor and report on production performance and maintain compliance with federal, state and local regulations.  

Production supervisors are also responsible for the overall safety of the production processes, equipment and workers. Their safety-related duties include enforcing safety procedures, leading employee safety training, identifying and correcting unsafe environments and investigating accidents that occur during any of the production processes. 

Production supervisors generally work in manufacturing and industrial environments across various industries, including in the electronics, food and beverage, transportation, agriculture and heavy machinery industries. They may spend their days checking equipment or monitoring processes on the production floor, writing reports in an office or meeting with other company leaders or team members in a conference room. 

How to Become a Production Supervisor 

Production supervisors play a critical role in any company seeking to maintain the efficiency of their production processes, which ultimately leads to enhanced safety and improved profitability for the company.  

Those interested in pursuing the role should understand the typical career path to become a production supervisor.  

Get an Education 

While a few production supervisor positions may be accessible to those with a high school diploma, employers typically set a bachelor’s degree as an educational benchmark for this leadership role.  

Typical degree programs for aspiring production supervisors are often associated with business operations, mechanical engineering or business technology. A degree in technology management, for instance, can prepare an individual to pursue a career in this field. Some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree, and an advanced degree may help professionals stand out when competing for sought-after positions. 

Gain Work Experience 

Professionals need to have prior work experience to sufficiently prepare for the production supervisor role, which is a management-level position. Entry-level jobs or those associated with the production supervisor job can be good places to start. Those roles, which include machine operator, production lead and manufacturing supervisor, can help an individual develop and refine the skills necessary to excel in a supervisory role. 

Develop Key Skills 

Production supervisors should possess strong leadership skills, since the role often involves overseeing processes and guiding employees toward meeting goals. They should also possess broad technical knowledge, which enables them to understand an organization’s production processes and use tools to optimize those processes.  

Other areas in which professionals must be skilled for success as a production supervisor include:  

• Analysis 

• Critical thinking 

• Problem-solving 

• Interpersonal communication 

• Planning 

• Quality assurance 

• Project management 

Consider Certification 

Obtaining a certification isn’t required to become a production supervisor. However, it can provide further validation of a professional’s knowledge and skills, which may catch the attention of some potential employers.  

certification can be general in nature or geared toward a specific industry. Certification options include Lean Six Sigma (process improvement), certified quality engineer (product and service quality) and certified food safety manager (food safety). 

Production Supervisor Salary and Job Outlook 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for industrial production managers, which includes production supervisors, was $121,440 as of May 2024.  

Multiple factors affect an individual production supervisor’s salary, including their education level, years of experience, job location and industry. Industrial production managers in the chemical manufacturing industry, for example, have a median annual salary of $133,650, while for those in the food manufacturing industry it is $107,500. 

Employment of industrial production managers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to BLS data, which is about the same rate as the average for all occupations. 

Focus on Safety and Efficiency as a Production Supervisor 

An effective production supervisor can help their organization establish and maintain safe and efficient production processes. These roles require leadership, technical expertise, project management skills and an understanding of compliance standards.  

Individuals seeking to position themselves for success in this field should consider enrolling in one of several relevant degree programs offered by SEMO Online: the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Technology program, the Bachelor of Science in Technology Management program or the Master of Science in Technology Management program. Each of these flexible, online programs are designed to help individuals strengthen the knowledge and skills they need to succeed at various stages of their career.  

Learn how one of SEMO Online’s programs can prepare you for a management-level role in production supervision. 

Recommended Readings 
How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online? 
How to Build Technology Skills For Your Resume 
What Is Applied Technology? 
 
Sources: 
Indeed, “How to Become a Production Supervisor (With Salary and Skills)” 
Indeed, “Learn About Being a Production Supervisor” 
Indeed, “Production Supervisor Certifications to Consider (With FAQs)” 
Investopedia, “What Is Production Efficiency, and How Is It Measured?” 
Jobtrees, Production Supervisor Career Path 
National Institutes of Health Division of Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Responsibilities for Supervisors 
Randstad, “Production Supervisor” 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industrial Production Managers 
Zippia, Production Supervisor Best Companies 
Zippia, Best Production Supervisor Certifications