Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jewelry Production Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Jewelry Production Supervisor is a hands-on manufacturing leader responsible for managing day-to-day bench and shop operations to produce high-quality finished jewelry on schedule and within cost targets. This role combines production planning, team leadership, technical bench expertise (casting, soldering, stone setting, polishing), quality assurance, and continuous process improvement. The supervisor enforces safety and standard operating procedures, coaches bench staff and apprentices, coordinates with CAD/CAM and QA teams, and drives productivity and yield improvements to meet customer and retail partner expectations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Bench Jeweler / Benchhand
Jewelry Production Associate / Assembler
Quality Inspector (Jewelry or Metals)

Advancement To:

Production Manager / Shop Manager
Operations Manager (Jewelry Manufacturing)
Director of Manufacturing or Plant Manager (Specialty Jewelry)

Lateral Moves:

Quality Control Supervisor (Jewelry)
CAD/CAM Specialist or Jewelry Designer (if technical CAD skills)
Inventory / Materials Manager (Precious Metals & Gems)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, coordinate and supervise all stages of jewelry production — casting, fabrication, soldering, stone setting, plating, polishing and final inspection — to ensure delivery of finished goods that meet design specifications and quality standards.
Create and maintain daily and weekly production schedules, balancing priority orders, lead times, and workforce capacity while minimizing bottlenecks and overtime.
Supervise, mentor and evaluate bench jewelers, polishers, setters and assemblers; assign tasks, set targets, conduct performance reviews and implement development plans to raise bench skills and throughput.
Establish and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for bench processes including casting preparation, annealing, pickling, soldering technique, prong setting and finishing to maintain consistency and repeatability.
Perform hands-on troubleshooting for complex benchwork issues (e.g., porosity in castings, metal distortion, stone security) and coach technicians on corrective techniques to reduce rework and scrap rates.
Lead quality assurance for in-process and final inspections using checklists, magnification, gauges and measurement tools; document nonconformances and implement corrective actions to meet AQL and customer specs.
Manage inventory of precious metals, alloys, castings, findings and gemstones; coordinate with purchasing to maintain appropriate stock levels while controlling waste, theft and obsolete items.
Collaborate with CAD/CAM designers and engineers to review tooling needs, production feasibility, tolerances and fixture designs to ensure manufacturability and minimize rework.
Implement and monitor process KPIs — yield, first-pass quality, throughput, cycle time, on-time delivery and labor hour per piece — and present regular production reports to senior management.
Coordinate with plating, stone procurement, and outsourced suppliers (casting houses, plating shops, stone cutting) to control lead times, quality expectations and vendor corrective actions.
Manage shift handovers and maintain accurate production logs, job tickets and traceability records for serial-numbered or customized jewelry lines.
Lead continuous improvement and lean initiatives — 5S shop floor organization, cellular layout, setup time reduction (SMED) and standard work — to increase productivity and reduce manufacturing cost per piece.
Oversee equipment maintenance and small tooling repairs (torches, flex shafts, ultrasonic cleaners, laser welders); schedule preventive maintenance and coordinate with vendors for complex repairs or calibrations.
Ensure compliance with workplace safety, chemical handling, and environmental controls (fume extraction, hazardous waste disposal) and maintain up-to-date MSDS and safety training for all staff.
Drive training and apprenticeship programs to build bench capabilities in soldering, stone setting, micro-pave, bezel work and finishing techniques; track competency sign-offs and certifications.
Approve work orders and changeovers, track job costing and timecards, and partner with finance to escalate unusual variances or cost overruns.
Review and interpret technical drawings, production bills of materials (BOMs), and customer specifications to plan material usage, fixtures and sequencing.
Lead root-cause investigations for recurring defects (e.g., lost stones, plating adhesion failures, porosity) and implement containment and long-term corrective actions.
Facilitate design-for-manufacturing (DFM) feedback to product development and design teams to improve assembly ease, setting security, and reduce hand-finishing labor.
Maintain confidentiality and quality control for high-value and custom pieces, including secure handling of gemstones and serialized items.
Manage seasonal and promotional production surges by reallocating resources, authorizing temporary labor, and coordinating overtime while controlling costs.

Secondary Functions

Prepare and deliver weekly production summary and KPI dashboards to operations leadership, merchandising and retail partners.
Support new product introductions by developing production routings, work instructions, tooling needs and initial build schedules.
Participate in supplier audits and qualify new casting, plating or gemstone vendors based on quality, lead time and ethical sourcing criteria.
Drive cross-functional problem solving with QA, design, purchasing and sales to expedite customer returns, repairs and rush orders.
Maintain and update job cost templates and contribute to pricing reviews by providing accurate labor and material consumption data.
Coordinate packing, labeling and documentation for finished goods shipment to retail or direct customers, ensuring compliance with export and insurance requirements.
Mentor and participate in recruitment and interview processes to hire bench and support staff with the right technical fit.
Manage small capital projects such as shop layout changes, equipment upgrades, and fixture fabrication projects from specification through implementation.
Administer bench-level training records, test kits and competency checklists to support continuous skills development.
Champion sustainability and waste-reduction programs such as metal reclamation, stone reuse, and eco-friendly chemical substitutions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Jewelry production supervision — scheduling, routing, work instruction creation and performance management.
Benchmaking expertise: soldering, brazing, annealing, chasing, forming and finishing techniques for gold, silver and plated metals.
Stone setting techniques — prong, bezel, channel, pavé and flush setting with emphasis on security and stone preservation.
Casting process knowledge — investment casting basics, de-flasking, sprueing, cleaning and porosity mitigation.
Proficiency with polishing, tumbling, ultrasonic cleaning, plating (Rhodium/Gold), and final finishing workflows.
Experience reading and interpreting technical drawings, BOMs, tolerances and dimensional specifications.
Familiarity with CAD/CAM jewelry software workflows and hands-on collaboration with designers (e.g., Matrix, Rhino, JewelCAD).
Quality control methods and inspection tools — loupe/microscope work, ring gauges, thickness gauges, and AQL procedures.
Inventory & materials management for precious metals and gemstones; experience with FIFO, lot tracking and vendor traceability.
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools: 5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis (5 Whys), and basic process mapping.
Basic machine and equipment maintenance knowledge (laser welders, casting machines, polishing motors, vacuum chambers).
Understanding of gemological principles — basic grading terminology and identification to communicate with gem buyers and setters.
Regulatory and safety compliance — OSHA basics, hazardous material handling, MSDS familiarity and fume extraction requirements.
ERP/MRP and production reporting experience (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Fishbowl, QuickBooks Commerce or custom shop systems).

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team development capabilities; ability to coach bench talent and manage cross-shift teams.
Clear verbal and written communication for work instructions, safety briefings and stakeholder reporting.
Problem-solving and analytical mindset for troubleshooting production issues and implementing durable corrective actions.
Time management and prioritization, especially under tight lead times and rush order pressure.
Attention to detail and commitment to craftsmanship and product quality.
Collaborative approach with design, QA, purchasing and sales to align production with business objectives.
Adaptability and resilience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing priorities.
Customer-focused orientation for dealing with retail partners and custom order expectations.
Strong ethical standards and confidentiality handling high-value jewelry and customer information.
Coaching and mentoring aptitude to run apprentice programs and skills assessments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; vocational training or certificate in jewelry manufacturing, metalsmithing, or a related trade preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical certificate in Jewelry Technology, Metal Arts, Manufacturing Technology, or Gemology.
Additional certifications from recognized bodies (GIA, bench jeweler apprenticeships, OSHA safety certificates) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Jewelry Design and Manufacturing
Metalsmithing / Silversmithing / Goldsmithing
Gemology and Stone Setting
Manufacturing or Industrial Technology
CAD/CAM and Computer-Aided Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–8 years of progressive experience in jewelry production; at least 1–2 years in a lead or supervisory role preferred.

Preferred:

5+ years of hands-on bench experience in fabrication, setting and finishing with 2+ years supervising a production team.
Demonstrated experience managing production schedules, QA processes, and vendor relationships in a jewelry or precision metal environment.
Experience with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement projects and measurable KPI ownership.
Prior work in retail or contract jewelry manufacturing supporting branded collections or high-value custom pieces.

Keywords: Jewelry Production Supervisor, bench jeweler, stone setting, casting, polishing, CAD/CAM, production scheduling, quality control, lean manufacturing, precious metals management.