SSK 602

Production Supervision & Shop-Floor Management

This comprehensive five-day practical-oriented program is designed to equip production supervisors, team leaders, and junior managers with the technical, managerial, and leadership skills required to effectively manage shop-floor operations in manufacturing and industrial environments.The course focuses on day-to-day production supervision, including workforce coordination, productivity control, quality assurance, safety enforcement, and performance monitoring. Participants will learn how to translate production plans into efficient shop-floor execution, manage people and machines, resolve operational issues, and drive continuous improvement while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Duration: 2 days

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of manufacturing or industrial operationsExperience working on a shop floor (operator, technician, or junior supervisor level)Ability to read basic production reports or work instructions

Course objectives

Understand the role and responsibilities of a production supervisor
Plan, organize, and control daily shop-floor activities
Coordinate workforce, machines, and materials effectively
Monitor production performance using KPIs and reports
Apply basic industrial engineering concepts to improve productivity
Enforce quality, safety, and discipline on the shop floor
Handle workforce issues, communication, and conflict professionally
Identify and resolve production problems quickly
Drive continuous improvement initiatives at shop-floor level

Course content

Module 1 Role of Production Supervisor & Shop-Floor Fundamentals

Overview of manufacturing operations and production systems
Role, authority, and accountability of a production supervisor
Supervisor vs manager: operational focus
Understanding production plans, schedules, and targets
Shop-floor organization and layout basics
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
Communication flow between management and workforce
Professional conduct and leadership basics

Module 2 Workforce Coordination & Supervisory Skills

Workforce planning and shift scheduling
Skill-based manpower allocation
Job assignments and task prioritization
Motivation and team engagement techniques
Communication skills for supervisors
Handling absenteeism, discipline, and attendance control
Conflict management and problem-solving on the shop floor
Cultural awareness and teamwork

Module 3 Production Control, KPIs & Performance Monitoring

Key production performance indicators (KPIs):
Output, efficiency, and productivity
Downtime and machine utilization
Scrap, rework, and yield
Daily production reporting and analysis
Line balancing and bottleneck identification
Basics of time study and work measurement
Introduction to Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Visual management and shop-floor dashboards

Module 4 Quality, Safety & Problem Solving on the Shop Floor

Quality concepts for supervisors:
Quality at source
Defect prevention vs detection
Basic quality tools:
Check sheets
Pareto analysis
Cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagrams
Safety responsibilities of supervisors
Hazard identification and risk control
Accident reporting and investigation basics
5S and workplace organization
Root cause problem-solving techniques

Module 5 Continuous Improvement, Leadership & Final Workshop

Introduction to continuous improvement concepts:
Lean manufacturing overview
Waste identification (7 wastes)
Kaizen and small improvement projects
Managing change and employee involvement
Basic cost awareness for supervisors
Coordination with maintenance, quality, and planning departments
Documentation, reporting, and supervisor best practices
Review of real-world shop-floor case studies