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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Assembly Supervisor

💰 $50,000 - $90,000

ManufacturingProductionOperationsSupervisionAssembly

🎯 Role Definition

The Assembly Supervisor leads hands-on assembly teams on the production floor to meet daily production targets while ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency. This role coordinates resources, enforces Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), coaches technicians and assemblers, troubleshoots operational issues, drives continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, and liaises with engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to optimize throughput. Ideal candidates combine technical assembly knowledge (mechanical and/or electrical), people leadership, and experience with production systems (ERP, MES, Kanban) to deliver consistent results in a high-mix, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Assembler / Lead Assembler
  • Manufacturing Technician
  • Production Team Lead

Advancement To:

  • Production Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Plant Manager
  • Continuous Improvement Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Supervisor / Quality Manager
  • Process Engineer / Manufacturing Engineer
  • Materials/Inventory Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise and coordinate daily assembly operations across multiple workstations to achieve production schedules and takt time targets while maintaining product quality and minimizing downtime.
  • Assign tasks, set priorities, and balance workload for assemblers and technicians; monitor real-time performance metrics (units per hour, yield, scrap) and take corrective action when targets fall short.
  • Lead daily shift start-up and line changeover activities, ensuring all tools, fixtures, and work instructions are in place and clearly communicated; sign off on shift checklists and handovers.
  • Train, mentor, and evaluate assembly staff on SOPs, assembly techniques, torque and fastening standards, proper use of hand and power tools, and first-tier troubleshooting to build a cross-trained, flexible team.
  • Enforce and continuously improve safety and compliance programs (OSHA, ISO, internal safety rules), conduct shift safety briefings, incident investigations, and ensure corrective actions are implemented and tracked.
  • Perform first-level root cause analysis for production issues using structured problem-solving methods (5 Whys, fishbone) and coordinate with engineering/quality to implement durable countermeasures.
  • Maintain production documentation including assembly travelers, work instructions, control plans, non-conformance reports, and daily production logs to ensure traceability and audit readiness.
  • Conduct in-process inspections and final checks, verify critical dimensions and test results, and partner with Quality Assurance to address defects, corrective actions, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Manage attendance, timekeeping, and performance issues for supervised staff; implement progressive discipline when necessary and work with HR on hiring, onboarding, and termination processes.
  • Optimize line layout, ergonomic setups, and workstation standards (5S) to reduce cycle time, lower operator strain, and increase consistency and throughput.
  • Utilize ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Kronos) to review work orders, track inventory consumption, release jobs, and report production metrics and scrap.
  • Coordinate materials availability and kitting with Purchasing and Warehouse to avoid line stoppages; escalate shortages and propose temporary workarounds when necessary.
  • Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as OEE, on-time delivery, first-pass yield, and scrap rate; produce daily and weekly reports for Plant/Operations leadership.
  • Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives, lead Kaizen events, and implement Lean manufacturing tools (Kanban, SMED, poka-yoke) to reduce waste and improve flow.
  • Supervise equipment preventative maintenance tasks, ensure calibration of assembly check fixtures and test equipment, and coordinate repairs with Maintenance to minimize mean time to repair (MTTR).
  • Support introduction of new products and assembly processes by validating work instructions, performing pilot runs, training operators, and providing feedback to engineering for design for manufacturability (DFM).
  • Control and manage production budget elements such as labor hours, overtime, consumables, and rework costs; recommend process changes that improve cost-efficiency.
  • Ensure correct use and documentation of torque values, fastening sequences, adhesive cures, and torque tools; maintain calibration logs and tool inventories.
  • Manage downtime reporting and root-cause tracking; lead cross-functional problem-solving sessions to eliminate recurring stoppages and improve equipment reliability.
  • Oversee environmental, health and safety programs on the line including PPE compliance, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and safe material handling to maintain a zero-harm culture.
  • Coach and develop future frontline leaders through on-the-job training, formal development plans, and regular performance feedback to build bench strength for supervisory roles.
  • Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams—engineering, quality, procurement, sales and shipping—to align priorities and ensure smooth flow from assembly to final inspection and shipment.
  • Ensure adherence to regulatory and customer-specific requirements (ISO, NADCAP, customer FAI) and support external audits with documentation and floor-level subject matter expertise.
  • Maintain spare parts, tooling, and fixture inventories for the assembly line, requesting replacements proactively and minimizing changeover time by pre-staging items.
  • Drive accurate and timely documentation of non-conformances, corrective/preventive actions (CAPA), and ensure closure of actions within assigned timelines.

Secondary Functions

  • Support production planning and forecasting by communicating capacity constraints, shift staffing needs, and process improvements to Production Planning and Plant Management.
  • Participate in product launch meetings and provide practical assembly input to new product introduction (NPI) timelines and resource plans.
  • Assist Quality in supplier failure analysis by providing assembly-level insights on component issues and contributing to supplier corrective action requests (SCAR).
  • Contribute to the facility’s continuous improvement roadmap by proposing and piloting process improvements, equipment upgrades, and automation opportunities.
  • Help develop and maintain training materials, SOPs, and visual work instructions (including photos and videos) to standardize best practices across shifts.
  • Participate in cross-functional safety and ergonomics assessments to reduce injury rates and support workplace accommodations.
  • Support inventory control efforts by conducting periodic cycle counts for assembly consumables and reporting discrepancies to Materials Management.
  • Act as point-of-contact for temporary staffing agencies and contractors used to support peak production periods; ensure contractors receive site-specific orientation and supervision.
  • Aid in implementing quality and traceability systems (barcoding, serialization) at the workstation to support product genealogy and warranty claims handling.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests for production metrics, generate custom reports, and provide operational context to interpret trends and anomalies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Production supervision and team leadership in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
  • Strong working knowledge of assembly processes: mechanical fastening, wiring/harness routing, soldering basics, adhesive application, and precision torqueing.
  • Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing methodologies: Kaizen, 5S, SMED, Kanban, value stream mapping.
  • Experience with ERP and MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Plex) for work order management, material issuance, and production reporting.
  • Quality systems and tools: understanding of ISO 9001, PPAP, FAI, SPC, Cpk/CP, inspection techniques, Gage R&R.
  • Root cause analysis and corrective action tools: 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa, FMEA.
  • Basic mechanical and electrical troubleshooting for assembly equipment and fixtures; familiarity with PLCs and simple control logic is a plus.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, assembly prints, and work instructions.
  • Experience with safety programs including lockout/tagout (LOTO), PPE, confined space awareness, and OSHA requirements.
  • Data literacy: ability to work with production metrics, generate reports in Excel, and use dashboards to drive decisions.
  • Tooling and calibration management: torque tool setup, fixture maintenance, and tool accountability.
  • Experience implementing or participating in New Product Introduction (NPI) and process validation activities.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills; proven ability to motivate frontline teams, coach performance, and build high-performing shifts.
  • Clear verbal and written communication skills; able to brief cross-functional teams and produce concise production reports.
  • Problem-solving mindset with persistence, attention to detail, and a bias for timely action.
  • Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills to manage performance issues and foster a collaborative floor culture.
  • Time management and organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Adaptability and resilience during changing schedules, fluctuating demand, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Coaching and training aptitude to develop operator competency and transfer tacit knowledge.
  • Customer-focused orientation with an appreciation for on-time delivery and product quality.
  • Data-driven decision making and ability to translate metrics into actionable plans.
  • Continuous improvement mindset and openness to experimenting with new processes and technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or certificate in Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical/Electrical Technology, or a related technical field.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred for larger or more technical operations.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Electronics Technology / Electrical Technology
  • Operations Management / Business Administration
  • Quality Engineering / Mechatronics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years in manufacturing assembly roles with at least 1–3 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of hands-on assembly experience and 2+ years supervising production teams in a high-mix or high-volume environment.
  • Experience with Lean/Six Sigma, ISO quality systems, ERP/MES, and new product introductions.

Certifications that strengthen candidacy: OSHA 10/30, Lean / Kaizen facilitator, Six Sigma Yellow/Green Belt, APICS/CPIM, and trade certifications relevant to electrical or mechanical assembly.

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