Not everyone is cut out to be a CNC machine shop supervisor. You may have learned this the hard way by hiring or promoting someone into a supervisory role only to discover that they simply couldn’t handle the job. Fact is, the talents and skills that make a good machine operator or programmer may not be enough to enable a person to successfully supervise others. Being a supervisor requires the ability to juggle a number of responsibilities while leading, not just managing others.
So whether you plan to promote from within or hire outside, here are 5 key questions to ask yourself when filling a supervisory position:
- How well does the candidate know the jobs he or she will supervise? Do they understand your workflow? Are they familiar with the equipment? Could they trouble-shoot machine problems, or even step in to keep things running if necessary? Do they know how to get technical assistance when needed?
- Do they see and understand the bigger picture? As a supervisor, they must understand the goals of the organization, what, precisely, their own role is in the scheme of things, and what they should expect from the people they supervise.
- Can they lead? A manager may maintain the status quo, but leaders constantly look for opportunities to improve their processes, and can inspire the people who report to them to do the same.
- Do they communicate well? Communication is not simply telling people what to do. It’s also listening to what they have to say. The supervisor must be able to have meaningful conversations with their reports to insure that everyone is on the same page, that any concerns are followed up and that there are no misunderstandings.
- Can they learn and educate others? Are they capable of learning new technologies, systems and techniques and then passing on the knowledge to those who report to them?
Having the right people in the right jobs is critical to the success of a CNC shop. As is having the right machine tools and technical support, both of which are available from your Torrance Haas Factory Outlet. Learn more by calling (310) 381-0750, email: jphillips@haasfactoryoutlet.com, or visit www.haasfactoryoutlet.com.