A production line leader is an important role in any manufacturing and production facility. Department managers rely on their line leaders to help them meet their goals and keep the department running safely, and line workers rely on their line leaders to give them a voice and address their day-to-day needs. But what exactly are employers looking for in a good line leader, and how do you know if you’re up to the job?
Communication
Communication is a key skill for anyone in a supervisory position, including line leaders. In this position, you will be expected to communicate with your department manager regarding production schedules, staffing and other administrative details. Similarly, you will need to talk to line workers about equipment performance and other front-line issues. So employers are looking for candidates with exceptional communication skills.
Organization
A key quality of a good line leader is organisation. You must be able to keep on top of your documentation, ensure things are filed correctly into the companies preferred document management solution. You would also be required to keep an organised schedule – not just for you, but for all of the production workers you supervise as well – allowing time for periodic inspection and maintenance.
A Facilitator And A Do’er
A production line leader’s job is to help both the production workers and the department managers meet their goals. This in itself requires 2 distinct skills – the ability to facilitate good work, and the ability to get stuck in and do it as well. Line leaders will make sure that production is supported with all of the necessary materials and breaks required during their shifts, and that mangers have the information they need on a day to day basis. You will also train new employees and help support them while they get up to speed. At the end of the day, their job is to facilitate the effective running of the production line, and keep an eye out for ways to improve or to reduce costs.
Integrity
A production line leader is, quite literally, at the front line of production quality and employee performance, so you need to be trustworthy. This position requires the individual to inspect production employee’s work and report back to upper management. So you need to be able to undertake these inspections accurately and fairly for each worker, and management needs to be able to trust the reports you give. Production line leaders are also responsible for quality and safety inspections. If the quality slips, a good line leader won’t cover up the drop-off, but instead report it to a department manager to be investigated. You must also promote safe work practices, orderly work environments and employee safety, and that starts by demonstrating them themselves. A good line leader will be able to perform all if these tasks with integrity, with the good of the company in mind.
Experience
Before anyone worries that this is one of those positions that won’t hire you unless you have experience in that position (making it almost impossible for new people to break in), don’t worry – it’s not. Instead, employers are looking for people who have experience in a leadership role (and aren’t just applying things you read in a book), and who have experience of working in a production facility. Those 2 things don’t necessarily have to be gained in the same position. Ideally, most employers are looking for someone with a history of working with HAACP, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) and other government regulations. Without this kind of experience, production line leaders will have a harder time doing their job, not to mention commanding respect from the more seasoned production line workers you would be leading.
At Rapier Employment we have a long history of placing production line workers and line leaders into the manufacturing sector. Our processes ensure we put forward the most qualified candidates with experience ideal for a line leader. If your company is looking for someone with strong experience, who can communicate effectively, stay organised and help those around them, please just get in touch with the team today. Or, if you’re looking for your next line leader position, get in touch and we can place you in your ideal role.