Top Production Supervisor Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Production Supervisor interview by going through these most asked Production Supervisor interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

Interview Practice

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  • Question: What are some things you want to improve about yourself as an employee?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to find out if the candidate has the drive to succeed in the workplace. Asking them to tell you about their goals lets you see how they think about their own career development. It also lets you see how they will handle challenges in the workplace.

    Sample Answer: I want to improve my ability to work with others. I know that I can be a little too direct sometimes, and I want to make sure that I'm always respectful of my coworkers.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to improve
    • - Willingness to take on new challenges
    • - Ability to learn from mistakes

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had an employee get angry and loud at work.
  • Question Overview: This question is an important test of a person's ability to supervise. As a production supervisor, they will need to have the diplomacy to navigate a lot of workplace politics and deal with strong personalities. How they reply to this question can tell you whether they have the firmness and confidence needed to lead a team of employees. Their response also gives insight into their ability to solve problems.

    Sample Answer: I had an employee get angry and start yelling at me. I was able to calm them down by listening to their concerns and offering solutions.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to keep the peace
    • - Tactful handling of conflict
    • - Desire to improve workplace environment

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem on your own.
  • Question Overview: This question gives you insight into the candidate's problem-solving skills. It also shows you how they handle stress and pressure. As a production supervisor, they will need to deal with a lot of problems and pressure from employees, managers and customers. Their response to this question will let you know if they are able to handle these situations well.

    Sample Answer: I had to deal with a production issue that was causing a lot of problems for my team. I was able to resolve the issue by working with my team and getting them to understand the problem.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to solve problems
    • - Confidence in their own abilities
    • - Willingness to take responsibility for mistakes

  • Question: What is the most recent skill you have learned?
  • Question Overview: This question gives you insight into the candidate's desire to learn new things. It also lets you know if they are willing to take the initiative to improve their skills. As a production supervisor, they will need to be able to learn new skills quickly. This question helps you find out if they have the ability to do so.

    Sample Answer: I learned how to use Microsoft StaffHub for scheduling employees. It was a little tricky at first, but I was able to get the hang of it after a few days.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to learn new things
    • - Willingness to take initiative
    • - Ability to learn quickly

  • Question: Why are you the best candidate for this job?
  • Question Overview: This is a classic interview question. It is a way for you to learn more about the candidate's self-confidence and self-awareness. Asking them to explain why they are the best person for the job shows you whether or not they are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. It also gives you insight into their level of self-confidence.

    Sample Answer: I have the skills and experience needed to do this job well. I've worked in a similar position before and I know how to manage production and supervise employees.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their own abilities
    • - Awareness of their own limitations
    • - Willingness to admit shortcomings

  • Question: Tell me about a time you failed.
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how the candidate handles failure. It also helps you learn how they respond to challenges. Asking about a time they failed lets you see how they handle the situation and whether they have learned from it. It also lets you see if they are willing to admit their mistakes.

    Sample Answer: I once failed an exam in college. I didn't study enough for it and didn't know the material well enough. I learned from this experience and studied harder for the next test.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to admit failure
    • - Ability to learn from mistakes
    • - Ability to move on from failure

  • Question: What are your strengths?
  • Question Overview: This is a standard interview question that helps you learn about the candidate's personality. Asking them to tell you about their strengths instead of their weaknesses lets you see how they view themselves. It also lets you learn more about their professional experience.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who is always willing to learn new skills. I'm also very good at working with others to achieve common goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to be honest
    • - Confidence in their abilities
    • - Desire to improve

  • Question: How did you lead change of culture at your previous employer?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to see how the candidate will lead your team. As a production supervisor, they will need to be able to change the way your employees work. This question lets you see how they handle change and how they motivate others to follow their lead.

    Sample Answer: I started by identifying the problems with our current culture and then brainstormed ways to improve it. I then presented my ideas to management and got their feedback. I used this feedback to create a plan that we all agreed on.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to lead change
    • - Ability to motivate others
    • - Desire to improve workplace culture

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's conflict resolution skills. It is important because they will need to resolve disputes between employees. Asking about a time when they had to resolve a conflict lets you see how they handle these situations. It also lets you see how they handle pressure and whether or not they are able to think quickly on their feet.

    Sample Answer: I had a situation where two employees were arguing over who was responsible for a mistake. I stepped in and made sure that they both understood that the mistake was the responsibility of both of them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to resolve conflicts
    • - Ability to think quickly
    • - Willingness to compromise

  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to find out if the candidate is really interested in the position. Asking them to tell you about why they want to work for your company lets you see if they are really interested in the job or just trying to get a paycheck. It also lets you learn about their motivations and goals.

    Sample Answer: I've always been interested in working in the manufacturing industry. Your company has a great reputation and I would love to be a part of it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to work for your company
    • - Willingness to work hard
    • - Desire to learn new skills

  • Question: How would you motivate someone that did not want to work or was not keeping up with productivity?
  • Question Overview: As a production supervisor, you will need to motivate employees to work harder. This question helps you to see how the candidate would handle this situation. It is also a good way to find out if they are willing to be firm when necessary.

    Sample Answer: I would first try to identify the problem and then offer solutions for improvement. If that didn't work, I'd have a private meeting with the employee and give them clear objectives for their performance.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to improve employee performance
    • - Willingness to be firm when necessary
    • - Ability to find the root cause of the problem

  • Question: What will you bring to this company?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to find out what the candidate's goals are. It is also a good way to learn about their personality. Asking this question in an interview gives you a chance to learn about their strengths and weaknesses. You can also learn about their career goals and whether they are a good fit for your company.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who is willing to put in the time and effort to make sure we meet production goals. I'm also willing to take on any new challenges that come up.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to work for your company
    • - Desire to improve their skills
    • - Desire to learn new things

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you were in charge of something.
  • Question Overview: This question is a way to find out if the candidate has experience in a supervisory position. It is also a way to see if they are comfortable with being in charge. The answer will tell you whether or not they are ready for the job.

    Sample Answer: I was in charge of my high school's robotics team. We had a lot of challenges, but we were able to overcome them and win awards.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to take charge
    • - Confidence in their ability to lead
    • - Willingness to take on responsibility

  • Question: What is more important, safety or quality?
  • Question Overview: This question is a test of the candidate's ability to make decisions. It is important that they are able to prioritize safety, but they also need to know that quality is more important. This question lets you see how the candidate will handle a situation where they have to choose between the two.

    Sample Answer: Quality is more important than safety because it ensures that we produce a product that meets our customers' needs.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Recognition of the importance of safety
    • - Understanding of quality's role in safety
    • - Ability to balance the two

  • Question: How do you resolve conflicts?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's interpersonal skills. It is important to ask because it can help you find out if they are able to work well with others. If they are able to resolve conflicts in a positive way, they are more likely to be a good fit for the position.

    Sample Answer: I always try to find out what the root of the conflict is and work towards a solution that makes everyone happy.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to resolve conflicts in a positive way
    • - Willingness to listen to both sides
    • - Desire to make sure everyone is happy

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to get someone back on track.
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to see how the candidate will handle a difficult situation. Asking about a time when they had to get someone back on track lets you see how they would handle an employee who is not performing well. This question also gives you insight into how the candidate would handle a situation that is not going well.

    Sample Answer: I had an employee who was not meeting their production goals. I met with them and explained that they needed to improve their performance or they would be fired. After that, they were able to meet their goals and I was able to keep them on the team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to get employees to work together
    • - Willingness to confront employees
    • - Ability to solve problems

  • Question: How do you motivate your team?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's leadership style. It is also a good way to see if they are aware of the different ways to motivate employees. You can use their answer to see if they will be able to motivate your employees and keep them happy.

    Sample Answer: I make sure that my team knows that I appreciate their hard work and always give them credit for a job well done. I also make sure that they know that I'm there for them if they need help.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to make employees feel valued
    • - Willingness to praise good work
    • - Ability to motivate without micromanaging

  • Question: What would you change about your previous job?
  • Question Overview: This question is important because it gives you insight into the candidate's work history. If they are willing to admit that they made mistakes, it shows that they are self-aware and have the ability to learn from their experiences. It also shows that they are willing to take responsibility for their actions.

    Sample Answer: I would have been more organized with my time. I often felt like I was working too much overtime and not getting enough done.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to admit mistakes
    • - Ability to learn from previous jobs
    • - Desire to improve

  • Question: What is the best thing about yourself that will benefit pilgrims the most if you are hired?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to learn about the candidate's personality. Asking them to tell you about their best qualities lets you see how they present themselves. It also gives you insight into how they will fit into your workplace culture.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who always does their best to meet production goals. I'm also a quick learner who can adapt to new technology and processes.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive attitude
    • - Willingness to work hard
    • - Desire to learn new skills

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team, and how did you contribute as the leader.
  • Question Overview: Asking this question lets you learn about the candidate's leadership skills. It is important to find out how they lead because it will give you an idea of how they will lead your employees. Their answer will also tell you about their ability to work with others and their ability to motivate people.

    Sample Answer: I've led a team of volunteers for a local charity. I was able to motivate them by showing them how their efforts would help the community.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to lead a team
    • - Ability to motivate others
    • - Ability to work with others