Footwear assembly supervisor

Description

Footwear assembly supervisors check and coordinate activities of operators in the lasting room. They are in charge of coordinating lasting room activity with the previous and following activities of the production chain. They examine uppers and soles to be lasted and give instructions to produce them. These supervisors are in charge of supplying the lasting room with uppers, lasts, shanks, counters and small handling tools, and they are also in charge of the quality control of the lasting.

Footwear assembly supervisors typically perform the following tasks:

  • Supervise and coordinate the activities of footwear assembly technicians, ensuring adherence to production schedules and quality standards
  • Monitor the progress of footwear assembly projects, track timelines, and adjust schedules as necessary to meet production goals
  • Train and mentor technicians on footwear assembly techniques, equipment operation, and quality control procedures
  • Collaborate with design and engineering teams to resolve assembly-related issues, provide input on process improvements, and ensure compliance with specifications
  • Conduct regular inspections of footwear assembly work to ensure compliance with quality standards, identify defects, and implement corrective measures
  • Coordinate with other departments, such as procurement and logistics, to ensure the availability of required materials, components, and tools for footwear assembly
  • Maintain documentation and records related to footwear assembly activities, including work orders, inspection reports, and assembly instructions
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues that arise during footwear assembly, working closely with technicians and engineering teams
  • Implement and enforce safety protocols to create a safe working environment for all employees involved in footwear assembly
  • Monitor and optimize the utilization of resources, including labor, equipment, and materials, to maximize productivity and minimize waste
  • Provide regular performance feedback and evaluations to technicians, recognizing achievements and identifying areas for improvement
  • Collaborate with quality control and testing teams to ensure that assembled footwear meets all required standards for fit, comfort, and durability
  • Stay updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory requirements in footwear assembly
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance assembly processes, productivity, and quality
  • Resolve any issues or conflicts that arise during the footwear assembly process, fostering a positive and cooperative work environment

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to footwear assembly supervisor:

assembling team leader
assembly line supervisor
assembly team leader
assembly room forewoman
assembly supervisor
assembly room supervisor
assembling room supervisor
footwear lasting supervisor
footwear assembling room supervisor
assembling room forewoman
assembly room foreman
assembling room foreman
lasting supervisor

Working conditions

Footwear assembly supervisors typically work in manufacturing facilities dedicated to footwear production. The role involves spending a significant amount of time on the production floor, overseeing operations, and interacting with technicians. They may be exposed to noise, fumes, and other occupational hazards associated with footwear assembly. The work schedule may vary depending on production demands and may include shifts, weekends, or overtime. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure are essential for success in this role.

Minimum qualifications

The educational requirements for a footwear assembly supervisor may vary, but a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. Some employers may prefer candidates with post-secondary education in a related field, such as industrial engineering or footwear technology. Previous experience in footwear assembly or a similar manufacturing environment is essential, including hands-on experience with assembly techniques, equipment, and quality control processes. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are necessary to effectively manage a team and coordinate assembly activities. Knowledge of footwear assembly processes, quality control standards, and safety regulations is essential. Proficiency in computer systems and software used for production planning, data analysis, and reporting is also beneficial.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Footwear assembly supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Footwear assembly supervisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to footwear assembly supervisor.

footwear quality control laboratory technician
footwear production technician
footwear quality technician
footwear production supervisor
leather goods quality control laboratory technician

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of footwear assembly supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of footwear assembly supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

footwear production manager
footwear quality manager
footwear designer
footwear product development manager
leather goods industrial engineer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of footwear assembly supervisor.

  • Footwear bottoms pre-assembly: The equipment and techniques used for the preparation of bottom components in the footwear industry, including soles, heels, insoles, etc.
  • Assembling processes and techniques for cemented footwear construction: Technology, equipment, machines and tools for lasting and soling in case of cemented footwear constructions.
  • Assembling processes and techniques for california footwear construction: Technology, equipment, machines and tools for assembling california footwear construction type.
  • Footwear equipments: Functionality of the wide range of equipments and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
  • Footwear materials: The characteristics, components, advantages and limitations of a wide range of materials used in footwear production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, plastic, rubber etc.
  • Footwear machinery: The functionality of the wide range of machines, and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
  • Assembling processes and techniques for goodyear footwear construction: Technology, equipment, machines and tools for assembling Goodyear footwear construction types.
  • Footwear manufacturing technology: Footwear processes technology and machinery involved. The footwear manufacturing starts in the cutting/clicking room , cutting the uppers and bottom components. The upper components are joined together in the closing room by following a precise order of specific operations: skiving, folding, sewing etc. The closed upper, the insole and other bottom components are brought together in the assembling room, where the main operations are lasting and soling. The process ends with finishing operations in the finishing and packing room.
  • Footwear uppers pre-assembly: The equipment and techniques used for pre-assembling operations of uppers in the footwear industry.
  • Footwear quality: Quality specifications of materials, processes and final products, the most common defects in footwear, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, adequate equipment for quality checks. Quality assurance of footwear production processes and fundamental concepts on quality including footwear quality framework and standards.
  • Footwear components: Footwear components both for uppers (vamps, quarters, linings, stiffeners, toe puffs etc.) and bottoms (soles, heels, insoles etc.). Ecological concerns and the importance of recycling. Selection of suitable materials and components based on their influence on the footwear style and characteristics, properties and manufacturability. Procedures and methods in chemical and mechanical processing of leather and non-leather materials.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of footwear assembly supervisor.

  • Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
  • Exert a goal-oriented leadership role towards colleagues: Embrace a leadership role in the organisation and with colleagues as to provide coaching and direction to subordinates aiming at the achievement of specific objectives.
  • Use communication techniques: Apply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.
  • Coordinate assembling room in footwear manufacturing: Coordinate the flow of materials and footwear components. Manage orders and organise the activity of the assembling room. Distribute machinery, operations and workers. Manage and optimise production and materials. Divide and organise pieces and components according to the footwear model or size and send them directly to the finishing room or to the warehouse. Organise in-process quality control.
  • Work in textile manufacturing teams: Work harmoniously with colleagues in teams in the textile and clothing manufacturing industries.
  • Use IT tools: Application of computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment to storing, retrieving, transmitting and manipulating data, in the context of a business or enterprise.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of footwear assembly supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery: Apply basic rules of maintenance and cleanliness on footwear and leather goods production equipment and machines that you operate.
  • Plan footwear manufacture: Design the manufacturing process for each footwear model. Plan the stages of footwear manufacturing and operations for production. Plan the usage of materials and footwear components. Select machines and equipment. Plan the workforce. Calculate direct and indirect costs associated with manufacturing. Plan the maintenance of machines and equipment.
  • Apply footwear bottoms pre-assembling techniques: Split, scour surfaces, reduce sole edges, rough, brush, apply primings, halogenate the soles, degrease etc. Use both manual dexterity and machinery. When using machines, adjust their working parameters.
  • Coordinate finishing room in footwear manufacturing: Coordinate the flow of materials and footwear components. Manage orders and organise the activity of the finishing room. Distribute machinery, operations and workers. Manage and optimise production and materials. Divide and organise pieces and components according to the footwear model or size and send them directly to the warehouse. Organise in-process quality control.
  • Reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing: Assess the environmental impact of footwear manufacture and minimise environmental risks. Reduce environmentally harmful work practices in different stages of the footwear manufacturing.
  • Communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages: Speak one or more foreign languages in order to communicate commercial and technical issues with various suppliers and clients.
  • Coordinate closing room in footwear manufacturing: Coordinate the flow of materials and footwear components. Manage orders and organise the activity of the closing room. Distribute machinery, operations and workers. Manage and optimise production and materials. Divide and organise pieces and components according to the footwear model or size and send them directly to the assembling room or to the warehouse. Organise in-process quality control.
  • Apply assembling techniques for cemented footwear construction: Be able to pull the uppers over the last and fix the lasting allowance on insole, manually or by special machines for forepart lasting, waist lasting, and seat lasting. Apart from the main group of lasting operations, the responsibilities of those assembling footwear cemented types may include the following: bottom cementing and sole cementing, heat setting, sole attaching and pressing, chilling, brushing and polishing, last slipping (before or after finishing operations) and heel attaching etc.
  • Prepare footwear samples: Create, test and verify prototypes or samples of footwear against a predefined set of criteria throughout all stages of the manufacturing process. Revise the initial design concepts and implement technical improvements.
  • Apply footwear uppers pre-assembling techniques: Prepare lasts and uppers, attach insole, insert stiffener and toe puffs, mould the upper on back part, and condition the uppers before lasting. Perform the above-mentioned operations both manually or by using machines. In case of using machines, adjust working parameters.
  • Coordinate cutting room in footwear manufacturing: Coordinate the flow of materials and footwear components. Manage orders and organise the activity of the cutting room. Distribute machinery, operations and workers. Manage and optimise production and materials. Divide and organise pieces and components according to the footwear model or size and send them directly to the closing room or to the warehouse. Organise in-process quality control.

ISCO group and title

3122 – Manufacturing supervisors


References
  1. Footwear assembly supervisor – ESCO
Last updated on May 26, 2023