Experience Is Extremely Important
Previous industrial, manufacturing, or plant maintenance experience is extremely important for this position. The supervisor needs to understand how production equipment operates and be capable of helping mechanics troubleshoot equipment failures and determine effective repair solutions.
A strong candidate should have hands-on experience with industrial maintenance and preferably a multi-craft background, including mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, conveyor, production, and other manufacturing equipment. Experience supervising maintenance employees is also highly valuable.
This is not simply an administrative supervisor position. The ideal candidate should have enough technical knowledge and maintenance experience to make sound decisions when equipment breaks down, guide mechanics through troubleshooting, and identify long-term solutions that improve equipment reliability.
OSHA & Safety
Safety is a major responsibility of the Plant Maintenance Supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for enforcing company safety policies and procedures and ensuring maintenance employees work safely and follow applicable OSHA requirements. The position also involves supervising equipment inspections and addressing potential hazards.
The ideal candidate should understand:
- OSHA regulations and workplace safety requirements
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
- Machine guarding
- Electrical safety
- Proper PPE
- Hazard identification and corrective action
- Safe maintenance procedures
- Safe use of tools and equipment
- Accident and incident prevention
- Employee safety training
The supervisor should lead by example and ensure safety is considered before maintenance work begins.
