Description
Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisors manage and coordinate the activities of personnel involved in plastic or rubber products manufacturing, making sure the production is efficiently, safely and cost-effectively processed. They are responsible for the installation of new production lines and for the provision of trainings.
Duties
Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisors typically perform the following tasks:
- Supervise and coordinate the activities of workers involved in plastic and rubber product manufacturing, including machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors
- Ensure compliance with production schedules, quality standards, and safety regulations
- Train and mentor workers on manufacturing processes, equipment operation, and safety procedures
- Monitor production processes to ensure efficient and smooth operations, identifying and addressing any bottlenecks or issues that may arise
- Collaborate with engineering and design teams to optimize product designs for manufacturability and efficiency
- Monitor and control inventory levels of raw materials, ensuring their availability for production
- Conduct regular inspections of production lines to ensure adherence to quality standards and identify any defects or deviations
- Implement and enforce safety protocols to create a safe working environment for all employees
- Collaborate with maintenance personnel to ensure proper functioning of equipment and troubleshoot any mechanical issues
- Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes, identifying opportunities for increased efficiency, cost savings, and waste reduction
- Monitor and analyze production data, such as output rates, scrap rates, and quality metrics, and take corrective actions as needed
- Communicate with other departments, such as procurement, logistics, and quality control, to ensure smooth production flow and timely delivery of finished products
- Maintain accurate production records, including work orders, inspection reports, and inventory documentation
- Provide regular performance feedback and evaluations to workers, recognizing accomplishments and identifying areas for improvement
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor:
plastics and rubber products manufacturing manager
rubber goods manufacturing supervisor
plastics and rubber goods manufacturing coordinator
plastics and rubber goods manufacturing supervisor
rubber goods production supervisor
plastics and rubber goods production supervisor
plastic products manufacturing supervisor
rubber products manufacturing supervisor
plastics and rubber products manufacturing coordinator
plastic goods manufacturing supervisor
plastics and rubber goods manufacturing manager
plastic and rubber goods production supervisor
plastics products manufacturing supervisor
plastic goods production supervisor
plastics and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
Working conditions
Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisors work in manufacturing facilities, which can involve exposure to noise, fumes, and other occupational hazards associated with production processes. The role requires spending a significant amount of time on the production floor, overseeing operations and interacting with workers. Work schedules 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 plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor may vary, but a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. Some employers may prefer candidates with post-secondary education in manufacturing, engineering, or a related field. Previous experience in plastic and rubber product manufacturing or a similar manufacturing environment is essential, including hands-on experience with manufacturing processes and equipment. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are necessary to effectively manage a team and coordinate manufacturing activities. Knowledge of plastic and rubber manufacturing 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.
Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor.
chemical plant control room operator
automated assembly line operator
crane crew supervisor
dredging supervisor
dismantling supervisor
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
chemical plant manager
maintenance and repair engineer
manufacturing engineer
synthetic materials engineer
metallurgical manager
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor.
- Composite materials: The properties of different materials developped in a laboratory, their usage per type of products, and how to create them.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor.
- Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
- Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
- Schedule production: Schedule the production aiming maximum profitability while still maintaining the company KPIs in cost, quality, service and innovation.
- Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
- Ensure health and safety in manufacturing: Ensure health and safety of personnel during manufacturing process.
- Plan resource allocation: Plan future needs of various resources such as time, money and specific process resources.
- Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
- Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
- Monitor processing environment conditions: Verify that the overall conditions of the room where the process will take place, such as temperature or air humidity, meet the requirements, and adjust if necessary.
- Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
- Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
- Monitor plant production: Monitor the plant processes set-up and efficiency to ensure the maximum output production levels.
- Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
- Control temperature: Measure and adjust temperature of a given space or object.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Good manufacturing practices: Regulatory requirements and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) applied in the relevant manufacturing sector.
- Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
- Plastic resins: The process of heating hydrocarbons, forming and combining polymers to create plastic resins which are used to make different kinds of products.
- Adhesives: The categories, production and the chemical components of adhesives such as non-reactice adhesives (drying adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, contact adhesives and hot adhesives) and reactive adhesives (multi-part adhesives, one-part adhesives).
- Coating substances: Have knowledge of various types of coating, providing a workpiece with one or more finishing layers of resins, sugars, powders, inactive and insoluble fillers, waxes, gums, plasticisers, colouring materials, lacquer, and others.
- Synthetic resins: The types and characteristics of synthetic resins which are viscous liquids used for permanently hardening.
- Polymerisation: Polymerisation is a chemical process which has as output the creation of polymers or polymeric compounds by combining smaller molecules called monomers.
- Basic chemicals: The production and characteristisc of organic basic chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, benzene and inorganic basic chemicals such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
- Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
- Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
- Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
- Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
- Control production flow remotely: Control remotely the flow of production from the start-up operations to the shutdown of the equipments and systems, using the control panel.
- Manage waste: Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.
- Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
- Measure materials: Measure the raw materials prior to their loading in the mixer or in machines, ensuring they conform with the specifications.
ISCO group and title
3122 – Manufacturing supervisors
References
- Plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor – ESCO
- Plastic and Rubber Products Manufacturing Supervisors | Gouvernement du Québec
- Featured image: By UTD MOTORS – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0