The role involves many aspects. Overseeing technicians. Ensuring regulatory compliance. Aligning efforts with company goals.
In this article, we'll discuss tips for a successful maintenance supervisor. You'll read about:
Key Responsibilities of a Maintenance Supervisor
Specific duties of maintenance supervisors vary depending on the nature of the business. Key responsibilities include:
Maintenance Management & Asset Oversight
This entails oversight of all assets, whether vehicles, structures, or equipment. They should understand the workings of machines and institute failure codes. They'll discuss with production line workers about preventive maintenance (PM). They'll accept suggestions and recommendations on the best ways to keep the equipment at optimal operation.
Inventory Control for Maintenance Efficiency
Since assets require parts and supplies, the supervisor needs to organize the stockroom. He'll know quantities of said parts, the proper purchasing process, and noting critical spares.
This person may oversee the distribution of parts through a stockroom supervisor and an issue/return policy. For further accuracy, he'll schedule a regular physical count of all inventory.
Work Order & Scheduling in Maintenance Management
Supervisors should understand the process of work requests and how to create work orders. They need to clarify scheduling and dispatching.
Maintenance Planning & Team Organization
As the leader of a team, the supervisor will plan maintenance activities and schedule them. This way the technicians understand the plan for the day/week/month/etc.
Work orders go on a calendar. The supervisor might do this himself or use a dedicated scheduler.
Workplace Safety & Compliance for Maintenance Teams
Everyone should take responsibility for safety in the workplace. Production workers take safety measures when operating machines. Through PMs, maintenance workers spot and resolve safety matters before they become serious problems.
The supervisor documents the PM's history. He posts safety regulations and protocols. He'll add documentation to work orders. Ensure strict health, safety, and regulatory guidelines adherence.
Preventative Maintenance (PM) Task Execution
The supervisor creates, manages, and maintains a PM system for smooth day-to-day operations. He'll assign which PMs go to which assets, the frequencies, and the priorities of each.
Discover how streamlined maintenance processes can elevate production. Learn more.
Leading a High-Performing Maintenance Team
You can also term this team leader. The supervisor oversees the technicians. He sets up training opportunities. He holds meetings to discuss goals. He provides motivational factors.
As part of leadership, he'll spot-check work for completion and quality. He'll also meet with each technician for feedback and comments to improve the job the next time.
Key Traits of a Successful Maintenance Manager
Successful maintenance supervisors typically possess the following key traits:
Communicator: This person clearly and concisely communicates strategies and goals. He needs to listen to feedback and suggestions from his team and other coworkers.
Organizational Acumen: Stays organized in facilities with robust preventive maintenance (PM) schedules and continuous work requests.
Effective Leadership: You exhibit and encourage efficiency and positivity. You understand the difference between critique and criticism.
Problem Solving: A supervisor should understand how to gather relevant information. He needs to listen to suggestions, know when to make a decision and follow up on it.
For further details on these and other leadership roles, read this article.
Types of Maintenance Supervisors & Their Roles
Again, this depends on the industry and individual company. Types of supervisors include:
Plant Maintenance Supervisor: Oversees the operations of plant systems and equipment.
Building Maintenance Supervisor: Manages daily upkeep and operations of a building.
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor: Handles minor maintenance and engineering tasks.
Public Works Maintenance Supervisor: Leads technicians in maintaining public fleet vehicles and conducting construction and maintenance activities.
Top Certifications for Maintenance Managers
When considering a possible supervisor for your company, of course, you will look for experience. The following are specific certifications that could be relevant to the position.
Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP): Tests preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance knowledge and skills.
Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT): Assesses competence in executing preventive and predictive maintenance tasks.
Certified Master Technician: Evaluates residential sector repair issues and managerial topics.
HVACR Certification: Offers knowledge in heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and radiation.
Essential Interview Questions for Hiring a Maintenance Manager
Shift your perspective to one of the hiring managers. You have a candidate for the position. What questions might you ask to ensure you'll have a successful maintenance supervisor?
Q: How do you improve working conditions for the team?
Q: How do you assign tasks to subordinates, considering their workload and coordination with other tasks?
Q: How do you ensure that others understand and follow your instructions, especially those related to OSHA or other regulations?
Q: Are you familiar with ISO standards, and how would you apply them in our organization?
Q: Can you explain preventive maintenance regulation and its significance in our industry?
Q: Describe how you coached a subordinate successfully, emphasizing people management skills.
Q: Share a maintenance problem and how you resolved it, illustrating your thought process in a challenging situation.
Q: Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within your team and the steps you took.
Q: How do you encourage continuous improvement within your team and operations?
Q: Can you outline your approach to emergency response planning and how you ensure preparedness?
Becoming a Successful Maintenance Supervisor
Again, these questions will relate to your company's operations. However, for a successful maintenance supervisor, consider the above tips. The more knowledge and communication skills you acquire and practice, the better the chances for effective and efficient operations.
For more insight into this subject, read an article from Indeed.
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