A supervisor of operating and production workers, also referred to by the name of a supervisor in first line, typically supervises 20 or more front-line workers. The employees under the control of the primary supervisor are likely to be laborers who complete their work on site. The supervisor in the first line must supervise over the employees and ensure that high quality and speed of production is maintained. Sometimes, they may need to recruit new employees and also train new employees. Another crucial aspect of the work of a supervisor in the first line is safety of employees. The supervisor must ensure that all safety rules are adhered to, and create plans and strategies that create an environment that is safe for employees, and identifying hazards at the work location.
A first-line supervisor should have previous experience as a supervisor in a production or manufacturing field. Typically between three and five years of experience is recommended. Additionally, a bachelor's degree in engineering, management or business, or a related field might be required. First-line supervisors also require an excellent ability to communicate and has familiarity with the use of spreadsheets as well as data. Production is a fast-paced environment and a first-line supervisor must be able to maintain a high level of productivity and communicate with employees effectively.