How Do I Become a Process Supervisor?

A process supervisor is generally a management position that oversees a specific set of activities in a company. The label process can be very broad, meaning activities in production, accounting, marketing, or other setting in a business or other organization. While specific training may not exist to become a process supervisor, one may be able to get a college degree, learn soft skills for managers, and get applicable certification in specific management processes. All of these items combined can make an individual a better candidate for receiving promotion to a supervisor position than another worker. Not all companies or organizations have the same requirements in most cases.

College degrees are almost always a requirement to become a process supervisor, whether an individual receives promotion into the position or starts in it as a new job. Depending on the company, the degree can be in a number of different fields. For example, to become a process supervisor, one may need a four-year degree that has a concentration in management, business administration, industrial engineering, or industrial technology. In some cases, having a master’s degree in business administration can help an individual who has a four-year degree in a nonbusiness major. These degrees combined can give individuals both the technical and management skills necessary to succeed and become a process supervisor.

Soft skills are just as important as hard skills in most management positions. Most definitions of soft skills include communication, negotiation, and ethics along with time management and problem-solving abilities. In some cases, certain individuals may find these skills come more naturally to them, such as strong business ethics or good communication skills between workers and managers. Other times, to become a process supervisor, an individual may need to learn how to obtain these skills and the best way to use them in a business environment. One can learn these skills by attending seminars or other meetings where managers learn about how these skills can help one compete for managerial positions.

Certification almost always exists for different positions or industries within a given market. Companies may require professional certification to become a process supervisor or other manager for a given job or department. Common types of professional certification that may be applicable include Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, or certified management accountant, among others. Each one can give a process supervisor specific knowledge and additional skills that will help him or her succeed in a company. Most of these certifications force individuals to continue learning new skills to maintain the certification, a benefit for both the supervisor and the business.