Plant Superintendent Job Description

Safety and Compensation for Industrial Production Supts

Production Supts spend some time in an office environment where they plan production goals and communicate with outside parties. Proper safety precautions can keep them safe, even though they can be exposed to the same dangerous conditions that other workers are exposed to. In 2008, one third of industrial production managers worked 50 hours or more.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the need for industrial production managers will decline by eight percent between 2008 and 2018. Production workers will not lose as much work as manufacturing workers will because of technological advances. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the median earnings for production workers were $83k in 2008.

Plant Supervisors: A Career in Manufacturing

Plant supervisors are responsible for overseeing all operations of a plant, including managing employees, meeting projections and ensuring quality. If you enjoy the plant environment and have a good mind for business management, you could be a plant supervisor. The plant supervisor role earns more generous pay than other positions in the manufacturing industry.

Plant supervisors need to be problem solvers with good problem-solving skills. Time-management skills help ensure that the most pressing needs are handled in a timely fashion in a bustling plant environment. Plant supervisors can keep up production numbers with healthy leadership skills.

A bachelor's degree in engineering, business or a related field is a requirement for supervisor job qualifications. Employers give preference to applicants with a master's degree in business when they are looking to hire new employees. Many plant supervisors have experience working in the field.

Working in a production role can give supervisors a first-hand look at what it's like to work on the line. A first-line supervisor who manages a small crew is the first step into management that leads to higher level management positions and eventually to a plant supervisor. Plant supervisors work in both plant and office environments.

Many employees work some evenings and weekends in order to be accessible to all and meet deadlines, even though some employees enjoy daytime hours. It is common for plant supervisors to be on call in order to help or help out. Income projection can be different depending on the industry and plant size.

Plant Managers

You are expected to deal with a lot of finances as a plant manager. Financial management is one of the top skills a plant manager should have. They should be able to allocate the funds in a way that will allow them to use them as effectively as possible.

Being able to monitor their team's performance on a day-to-day basis one of the skills plant managers need to be successful. It will be possible to make necessary adjustments so that performance and productivity can continue to improve. Plant managers should take the time to ensure that their workers are doing the essential work, rather than allowing staff members to waste their time on less important things.

Sometimes a plant manager's team needs some extra motivation to get things done. A plant manager should help the team by lifting their spirits and making them feel better. Plant managers are faced with difficult decisions.

A plant manager needs to be able to assess a situation and come up with the best course of action. Plant managers need a system in place to review production processes. They should be familiar with the daily workings in their field.

Quality control checks are important to ensure the plant's success. Conflict can arise and come in many forms. A successful plant manager should be able to take control of any situation and find a solution to any conflict before serious issues arise.