In manufacturing trades, supervisors play a key role in training and educating new employees and meeting goals for production, productivity and safety.

They are responsible for monitoring inventory, production efficiency, and productivity, and devise solutions to enhance these aspects. Supervisors serve as the liaison between managers and production workers, and provide comprehensive reports on production. FOCAL projects a substantial recruitment gap for supervisors within automotive manufacturing over the upcoming decade.

Where do Mechanical & Metal Supervisors work?

What do Mechanical & Metal Supervisors do?

Supervisors in Mechanical and Metal Products Manufacturing are in charge of an area of the production process. They collaborate with manufacturing managers to implement policy, teach proper processes, and ensure that quality standards are being met by employees. Their tasks include:

• Supervising, coordinating and scheduling activities of workers who assemble and inspect products such as aircraft, buses, heavy trucks, automobile engines and refrigeration and heating equipment
• Troubleshooting problems and recommending measures to improve productivity and quality
• Training staff in job duties, safety procedures and company policies
• Establishing methods to meet work schedules and coordinating work activities with other departments

Career pathways & potential earnings of Mechanical & Metal Supervisors

Mechanical and Metal Product Supervisors must have prior experience in manufacturing, and can progress into senior management and executive roles with adequate experience and knowledge:

Mechanical and Metal Product Supervisors can also apply their skills and expertise in other occupations such as the following:

• Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
• Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling

How do I become a Mechanical & Metal Product Supervisor?

There are several educational, licensing and training requirements to become a Mechanical and Metal Product Supervisor. Some requirements may vary by province or company. Below are the most commonly required qualifications to work as an Mechanical and Metal Product Supervisor:

• Minimum Education: Some roles may require completion of a bachelors degree in engineering or business administration.
• Certification and Licensing: Some sectors and positions may require licensure or certification in certain skills for employment.
• Training and other requirements: Usually requires 5 to 10 years of supervisory experience in manufacturing.

What are the most important skills to have as a Mech/Metal Supervisor?

Supervisors of Mechanical and Metal Product Manufacturing must be well-versed in their specialty trade, so that they can be effective mentors to employees. They must have strong communication skills in order to convey workplace policy, practices and goals to employees as established by senior-level management.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Personnel and Human Resources
• Production and Processing
• Supervising
• Systems Analysis
• Operations Monitoring
• Industrial Control Software

Soft Skills

• Oral Expression
• Communication
• Complex Problem Solving
• Social Perceptiveness
• Coordination
• Mentorship and Training

Future of Mech/Metal Supervisor jobs in Canada

The occupation of Mechanical and Metal Trades Supervisors in Canada has relatively low employment levels. As of 2021, there were over 2,600 individuals employed in various sectors and industries across the country. FOCAL predicts a significant demand for over 100 job openings for supervisors in Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector from 2021 to 2030. About 90 of these openings will need to be filled by new hires to address the projected recruitment gap, creating numerous opportunities for newcomers entering the sector.

Learn more about the job market for welders, as well as about many other developments and new technologies in Canada’s automotive manufacturing by visiting our website futureautolabourforce.ca. You can also check our social media by following these links: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.