Production Line Leader Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a production line leader. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a production line leader.
Who is a Production Line Leader?
Production line leaders are responsible for the supervision of a product or service’s production. They make sure that every stage of the process is carried out accurately and on time, and they also watch out for the safety and protocol compliance of the workers.
Production Line Leader Job Description
Below are the production line leader job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following tasks are carried out by production line leaders:
- Make sure workers abide by safety rules and procedures by keeping the workplace safe.
- Make sure production targets are met by keeping an eye on worker output and equipment performance.
- Ensure that a group of employees is being managed effectively so that their tasks can be completed.
- Make sure that all materials are accessible for production through the management of raw materials and finished goods inventories.
- Provide new hires with training on the organization’s safety, quality assurance, and productivity policies and procedures.
- Ensure that production equipment is operating effectively and efficiently by coordinating with the engineering team.
- Help process improvement efforts by pointing out inefficiencies and making recommendations.
- Manage employee performance and deal with problems like employee injuries or absenteeism.
- Keep an eye on inventory levels and modify production schedules to meet demand.
- Make work schedules and assign production line tasks to the workforce.
- Set up the production line after evaluating the incoming orders.
- Increase production line efficiency by keeping an eye on output and quality.
- Find issues with the production line quickly and fix them.
- Perform bookkeeping duties, such as order tracking and inventory management.
- Educate and oversee new production line employees.
- Work with other departments to ensure the timely completion of orders.
- Maintain a fully functional, secure, and orderly workplace.
- Ensure adherence to corporate guidelines and industry standards.
Qualifications
The following credentials are expected of a production line leader:
Education: Although a production line leader position does not have any specific educational requirements, many employers favor applicants who have a high school diploma or GED and some college or technical school experience. A candidate with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field may be preferred by some employers.
Experience and training: On-the-job training is typically provided to production line leaders, who may also learn about safety procedures, company policies, and the particular machinery and methods employed in the facility. Leaders of the production line may also receive training in motivational techniques, delegation, and communication.
Licenses and certificates: A professional’s credentials can be verified by certifications for both current and potential employers. Production line leaders can obtain certifications to improve their practical understanding of their everyday duties, assess their professional abilities, and advance their careers.
Essential Skills
The following abilities are necessary for production line leaders to succeed at work.
- Good ability to communicate: For leaders of production lines, effective communication is essential. These abilities help you communicate with your team, respond to inquiries, and solve problems. Communication abilities can aid in team collaboration and productive task completion.
- Technical ability: A leader of a production line needs to have a fundamental understanding of how production works and the equipment involved. They can use this to train their team members and spot any potential problems. To ensure that their team is working safely, they might also need to have a basic understanding of safety protocols and procedures.
- Strong leadership abilities: The foundation of your capacity to lead a production line is your leadership skills. You can inspire your team, assign tasks, and resolve issues using your leadership abilities. Effective team leaders can motivate their members to collaborate to accomplish shared objectives.
- Decent problem-solving abilities: You might be in charge of spotting and fixing production problems as a production line leader. You can find the root of a problem and create a solution using your problem-solving abilities. You can assist your team members in resolving any problems they might be having by using your problem-solving abilities.
- Team Spirit: You can lead a production team by using your teamwork skills. You can use your teamwork abilities to encourage your group to cooperate to meet production targets, sort out problems, and finish projects. Your team can become more cohesive with the aid of your teamwork abilities.
- Visual Inspection: Finding flaws in products or materials before they are used in subsequent processes or sent to a customer is a crucial component of manufacturing. It is one of the most established and reliable ways to conduct quality control inspections.
- Ability to operate a forklift: An automated tool used in manufacturing to stock, pack, load, and unload materials is the forklift. Construction, shipping, and production all use forklifts to increase productivity. Operators of forklifts need good coordination, driving skills, and an understanding of safety procedures.
- Inventory Control Skills: The efficient operation of businesses is guaranteed by inventory control. Factory workers with knowledge of inventory control assist in keeping track of the materials in a factory. They help reconcile stock counts and receive, label, and approve payment invoices for materials received.
- Excellent hand-eye coordination: A fundamental skill needed to succeed as an industrial worker is hand-eye coordination. Employers value employees who can efficiently view and interpret materials while also using tools or robots to assemble parts while adhering to safety protocols. Engines, aircraft, toys, and other items are a few examples of products that effectively use hand-eye coordination. Exercises that help with hand-eye coordination include swimming and bouncing a ball off a wall and catching it.
- Reliability: The majority of daily tasks performed in the manufacturing industry are autonomous. Employers seek candidates they can train and have confidence in to carry out these duties with little to no supervision.
- People Skills: Responsibility, persistence, adaptability, conflict resolution, and leadership are all components of interpersonal skills. Interpersonally skilled factory workers can forge lasting bonds with others. Active listening and empathy exercise aid in fostering a positive work environment. Attending workshops, networking, and observing other relationships can all help you develop your interpersonal skills.
- Keen focus on detail: Manufacturing has one of the highest rates of occupational hazards. Employees must maintain longer periods of sustained attention and be detail-oriented when operating heavy machinery. Accidents are decreased, productivity is increased, and quality control inspections are improved with attention to detail.
- Understanding of computer-assisted technology: Understanding and employing computer-aided technologies, such as computer-aided design, or comparable software, is a requirement for many productions and manufacturing roles. You can become known as a top candidate for the job with some training and professional development in this field.
- The capacity to make wise decisions: When necessary, a production line leader must be able to act quickly. They frequently manage several projects at once, so they must be able to prioritize their time and resources appropriately. Leaders of production lines must also decide how to ensure the security of their workers, tools, and goods. A production line manager might have to choose between keeping the assembly line running and sending an injured worker home for treatment, for instance, if they are both necessary in the event of an on-the-job injury.
- Flexibility: Being flexible means having the capacity to change course when necessary. Production line leaders must be adaptable because their working environment is constantly changing. Production line leaders must be able to adapt their plans, for instance, if a machine fails or an employee calls in sick. This calls for adaptability so they can make prompt choices that advance production.
- Ability to operate the equipment: Leaders of production lines need to be familiar with the machinery employed in their operations. This includes being aware of how each piece of equipment functions, as well as its drawbacks and potential improvements. Leaders of production lines should be able to operate the equipment themselves so they can resolve any potential problems.
- Product Knowledge: Leaders of production lines must have a comprehensive understanding of the goods they are responsible for. This covers everything from how each product is made to the materials employed and any production-related laws. With this information, you can choose equipment wisely and schedule other aspects of your job knowledgeably. Additionally, it makes it easier for you to inform staff members clearly about their tasks and responsibilities.
- Quality Control: A product’s ability to meet customer expectations and be correctly manufactured is known as quality control. When monitoring production procedures, inspecting finished goods, and rating employee performance, production line leaders use quality control skills. A company’s ability to produce high-quality goods that satisfy customers is ensured by quality control.
- Understanding of safety protocols: The policies and guidelines a business adheres to protect its employees’ safety are known as safety procedures. These protocols must be understood by production line leaders so that they can implement them in the workplace. For instance, a production line leader with knowledge of safety procedures would know how to handle a workplace injury by alerting emergency services and recording the incident.
How to Become a Production Line Leader
- Get a bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field: The minimal educational requirement for a production line leader position is a bachelor’s degree. You can acquire the technical skills and understanding of manufacturing processes required for this position with the aid of a business or engineering degree.
If you decide to pursue an engineering degree, consider specializing in mechanical engineering so you can gain a deeper understanding of how machines operate. Consider taking courses in supply chain management and operations research if you decide to pursue a business degree to better your comprehension of how businesses function.
- Amass work experience in manufacturing or production: Most people who run production lines have at least some background in manufacturing or production. You can learn about the industry and develop the necessary skills through an internship, a volunteer position, or an entry-level job. Basic tasks like assembling products or packaging them for shipping are frequently involved in entry-level positions.
Being a production line leader is similar to being a manager, so you can learn how to manage people and their workloads from this experience. Additionally, it provides you with first-hand knowledge of the difficulties your team faces and helps you comprehend what it’s like to work on the front lines of a company.
- Establish a solid leadership foundation: Your job as a production line leader will involve managing and supervising staff members. To inspire your team members and support them in fulfilling their responsibilities, you must possess strong leadership qualities. Effective task delegation and smooth project execution are other traits of strong leaders.
For current employees to keep improving their skills, you may need to provide ongoing training for them as well as training for new hires on the company’s policies and procedures.
- Recognize Six Sigma and lean manufacturing principles: Lean manufacturing is a business strategy that aims to reduce waste and increase productivity in the manufacturing process. Lean manufacturing principles can assist businesses in cost reduction, customer satisfaction improvement, and employee morale boost.
Six Sigma, a collection of instruments and methods for locating and getting rid of flaws in products or processes, is also incorporated into lean manufacturing. Understanding these ideas will enable you to create more effective team management plans and high-quality product assurance plans.
- Possess computer-aided design (CAD) software knowledge: Designing and modifying products using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Production line supervisors must be proficient in using CAD software to discuss product specifications with engineers, review blueprints, and make changes as necessary.
Additionally, many businesses employ computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems, which let production line leaders keep track of the progress of every stage of the manufacturing process. They can use this to make sure that every step is carried out promptly and follows the plan.
- Have effective problem-solving abilities: Production line leaders need to be able to recognize and fix issues that crop up during production. They must have a thorough understanding of how each step in the production process affects the finished product to spot issues when they arise.
Production line leaders must also be able to talk to their team members clearly about any problems they encounter or suggestions for improvement. This makes sure that everyone on the team is aware of what must occur next and why it is crucial.
- Keep abreast of industry advancements and changes in technology: The manufacturing sector may be impacted by recent advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and other manufacturing techniques. Following these developments can keep you up to date on the best ways to manage your team.
Additionally, you ought to be informed of any fresh goods or services that your business may be introducing. By keeping up with the latest developments, you can ensure that your staff is giving customers the best service possible.
Where to Work as a Production Line Leader
Workers in factories and other industrial settings are known as production line leaders. They frequently work full-time and occasionally put in extra hours to meet production deadlines. Production line leaders may be exposed to noise, dust, and fumes, and the work may be physically taxing. Additionally, they might have to work in chilly or warm conditions. Production line leaders must adhere to safety protocols and put on safety gear, such as gloves, safety glasses, and earplugs, to protect themselves from harm.
Production Line Leader Salary Scale
In the USA, a production line leader makes an average salary of $37,050 annually or $17.81 per hour. Most experienced workers earn up to $43,382 per year, while entry-level positions start at $33,072 annually.
In the UK, a production line leader makes an average salary of £23,167 annually or £11.88 per hour. The starting salary for entry-level jobs is £21,236 per year, while the average yearly salary for experienced workers is £28,500.
In Canada, a production line leader makes an average salary of $37,050 annually or $19 per hour. Most experienced workers earn up to $43,169 per year, while entry-level positions start at $35,100.
In Ireland, the average production line leader earns €35000 annually or €17.95 per hour. Most experienced workers can earn up to € 75,000 per year, while entry-level positions start at € 31,643.
Australian production line leaders make an average of $82,500 annually or $42.31 per hour. Most experienced workers earn up to $96,323 per year, while entry-level positions start at $69,225.
In Germany, a production line leader makes an average of €60,332 annually and €29 per hour. A Production Team Leader can expect to make between €42,474 and €73,183 annually.
In Nigeria, the average monthly salary for a production line leader is about 231,000 NGN.
