Silvia Zubizar-Garcia, who has a master’s degree in engineering, has worked for electronics and automotive maquiladoras on both sides of the border. Her experience is in manufacturing covers, purchasing, quality, and environmental health and safety. A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Manufacturing Specialist with TMAC-UTPA, Zubizar-Garcia talked to VBR’s editor about training new supervisors.
Q The fastest machine operator in a department, for example, is sometimes promoted from the manufacturing floor to be the new supervisor. How does that work out?
A Mastery of the technical side of a job should be paired with leadership potential when looking for a new supervisor. Soft skills and the ability to manage people and resources are critical elements in a supervisor’s success. Supervisors often oversee jobs that they didn’t themselves do.
Q What new skills do supervisors need to develop?
A We usually divide supervisory skills into five areas. First, supervisors need to improve their communication skills, particularly their listening habits and providing feedback to subordinates. Second, they must learn how to manage people, which covers organizing and controlling the team and handing workplace conflicts. Third, they must learn to develop the skills of their staff and build a team that works toward specific goals. They also must learn to manage and motivate their department’s performance through planning and assigning tasks with fixed time frames. Lastly they have to be both an ethical role model and a respected coach, guiding their people and removing obstacles.
Q What surprises new supervisors?
A They are suddenly looking at the business from a new perspective and seeing a different picture. They hadn’t realized that they need to know how other departments function and how to work with them to get things accomplished on time. They are surprised they have to learn about their company’s financials and often interact with planners and buyers. Overall, they have become responsible for the health and safety of each person as well as their productivity.
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