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.
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% |
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.
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Google Technical Writing
by Google
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AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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
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Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis