First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators.
AI Impact Summary
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 35/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 67% of all analyzed occupations. Of 20 analyzed tasks, 8 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Google Technical Writing
by Google
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
20 tasks analyzed
Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the production or processing of goods, such as inspectors, machine setters, or fabricators.
Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards.
Conduct employee training in equipment operations or work and safety procedures, or assign employee training to experienced workers.
Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
Requisition materials, supplies, equipment parts, or repair services.
Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
Determine standards, budgets, production goals, and rates, based on company policies, equipment and labor availability, and workloads.
Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
Set up and adjust machines and equipment.
Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas.
Recommend or implement measures to motivate employees and to improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality, or efficiency.
Plan and develop new products and production processes.
Recommend or execute personnel actions, such as hirings, evaluations, or promotions.
Evaluate employee performance.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enforce safety and sanitation regulations. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 6% | |
| Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the production or processing of goods, such as inspectors, machine setters, or fabricators. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 12% | |
| Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 6% | |
| Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 6% | |
| Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 8% | |
| Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 8% | |
| Conduct employee training in equipment operations or work and safety procedures, or assign employee training to experienced workers. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 4% | |
| Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 3% | |
| Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 5% | |
| Requisition materials, supplies, equipment parts, or repair services. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 5% | |
| Determine standards, budgets, production goals, and rates, based on company policies, equipment and labor availability, and workloads. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Set up and adjust machines and equipment. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 3% | |
| Recommend or implement measures to motivate employees and to improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality, or efficiency. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Plan and develop new products and production processes. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Recommend or execute personnel actions, such as hirings, evaluations, or promotions. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Evaluate employee performance. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 31.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$71,190
per year
Mean Wage
$74,540
per year
Employment
685K
workers
Wage Range
$45,790 - $106,960
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
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First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
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Industrial Production Managers
30%Median salary: $121,440
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
30%Higher risk than 41% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Logging Workers
33%Median salary: $59,330
Higher risk than 54% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Workers
33%Median salary: $59,330
Higher risk than 59% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
34%Higher risk than 62% of other occupations
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
36%Higher risk than 68% of other occupations
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
37%Median salary: $77,390
Higher risk than 71% of other occupations
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
42%Median salary: $46,890
Higher risk than 85% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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