| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Shift In-Charge |
| Direct reports | Line Leader, Assembly Line Operator, Machine Operator |
| Experience | 4 to 8 years on production lines, including 2+ years as a line leader or senior operator |
Line Supervisor job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Line Supervisor
Department: Production
Reports to: Shift In-Charge
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Line Supervisor is responsible for one production, assembly or sewing line through a shift. They plan manpower on the line, keep output on target, make sure quality checks and safety rules are followed, handle breakdown escalations and look after the discipline and welfare of the operators. They report to the shift in-charge or production manager. A good line supervisor meets the line target with little rework and a team that turns up every day.
Key responsibilities
- Plan the line's manpower at the start of each shift, placing operators by skill and arranging relievers for absentees.
- Brief the line on the day's target, product changeovers, quality alerts and safety points.
- Track hourly output against target and act on shortfalls such as bottleneck stations, late material or machine faults.
- Make sure first piece, in-process and end-of-line checks are done and recorded, and stop the line for serious defects.
- Call maintenance for breakdowns, note the response time and record the downtime reasons.
- Plan and carry out product or style changeovers with the least possible lost time.
- Keep the line's attendance, leave, overtime and shift records in order with the time office.
- Handle operator grievances, disputes and minor discipline issues, and escalate serious cases to the shift in-charge.
- Maintain 5S and housekeeping on the line, and check that guards, PPE and safety devices are in use.
- Submit the shift production report with output, rejections, downtime and manpower.
Requirements
- Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical or Production Engineering
- ITI with several years of line experience is accepted in many plants
- Graduates with supervisory experience are hired in garment and packing units
- 4 to 8 years on production lines, including 2+ years as a line leader or senior operator
KRAs and KPIs for a Line Supervisor
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Line output | Line output reaching 95 percent of the shift target or better, averaged over the month |
| Line quality | End-of-line rejection and rework within the daily limit |
| Changeover time | Average changeover time within the standard set by industrial engineering |
| Absenteeism impact | No line stoppage caused by unfilled operator positions |
| Safety and 5S | Zero lost time injuries and a 5S score at or above target on the line |
| Shift reporting | Shift production report submitted within 30 minutes of shift end, every shift |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Line efficiency board, Shift production report, Andon system, Skill matrix, Excel or ERP entries.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Production Supervisor, Shift In-Charge, Assistant Production Manager
Interview questions for a Line Supervisor
- Your line is 15 percent behind target at mid-shift. Walk me through your actions.
- How do you place operators when four are absent and one is new?
- What have you done to reduce changeover time on a line?
- An operator refuses to wear safety gloves. What do you do?
- How do you record and report downtime so that maintenance takes it seriously?
- Tell me about a dispute between two operators that you settled.
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What are the responsibilities of a line supervisor?
A line supervisor runs one production line through a shift. They plan manpower, brief the team, track hourly output, make sure quality checks and safety rules are followed, handle breakdowns and changeovers, keep attendance and overtime records and report the shift's results. They report to the shift in-charge or production manager.
What is the difference between a line supervisor and a production supervisor?
A line supervisor looks after a single line, such as an assembly, sewing or packing line, with the same group of operators every shift. A production supervisor usually covers a larger section with several machines or lines, such as a machine shop or process area, and coordinates more support functions. Titles vary between companies.
What qualification is required for a line supervisor?
Most plants hire line supervisors with a diploma in engineering or an ITI plus several years of line experience. Garment and packing units also promote graduates or experienced operators. What matters most is knowledge of the line's process, the ability to plan manpower and the confidence to manage 20 to 40 operators.