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.

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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: What was the problem of a worker in the past?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's ability to deal with problems. It also lets you see how they handle conflict. Asking them to tell you about a specific situation lets you see how they would handle a problem in the workplace.

    Sample Answer: The employee was having trouble following instructions and was consistently making mistakes. I had to talk to him about his performance and give him clear objectives.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to solve problems
    • - Willingness to work with others
    • - Desire to improve workplace environment

  • Question: What challenges do you see in the food industry?
  • Question Overview: This question gives you insight into the candidate's knowledge of the food industry. It also gives you a chance to see how they think about problems. Asking about challenges lets you see whether or not they are aware of the issues that can arise in food production.

    Sample Answer: The biggest challenge is making sure that we produce food that is safe for consumers. We have to follow HACCP guidelines and keep our equipment clean to avoid contamination.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Awareness of food industry challenges
    • - Ability to think critically
    • - Ability to identify and solve problems

  • Question: What was a time when your co-worker's criticism had a positive impact on you?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about how the candidate handles criticism. It is important for a production supervisor to be able to take criticism from employees and use it to improve their performance. This question lets you see how they respond to criticism and how they use it to improve their work.

    Sample Answer: I remember when my co-worker told me that I was spending too much time on my breaks and not enough time working. I realized that I was taking too many breaks and I started scheduling them better.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to take criticism
    • - Desire to improve
    • - Willingness to accept feedback

  • Question: What is your expected tenure with the company?
  • Question Overview: This question is important because it shows how committed the candidate is to the position. If they are only looking for a short-term job, they may not be as invested in the company's success. As a production supervisor, they will need to be dedicated to the company's goals and willing to work hard to achieve them.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a long-term position that will allow me to grow with the company.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to stay with the company for a long time
    • - Commitment to the position
    • - Willingness to work hard

  • Question: What are you looking for in your next job?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's career goals. It can help you decide whether or not they will be a good fit for your company. It also gives you insight into their personality and work style.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a company with a good reputation and competitive benefits. I also want to work for a company that offers opportunities for advancement.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to work for a company with a good reputation
    • - Interest in working for a company that offers opportunities for advancement
    • - Desire to work for a company that offers competitive benefits

  • Question: Are you willing to relocate?
  • Question Overview: If you are hiring a production supervisor for a position that requires travel, you need to know if they are willing to go. If they aren't, you can still hire them for a different position.

    Sample Answer: Yes, I am willing to relocate.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to relocate
    • - Desire to travel

  • Question: What do you bring to the table?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to see how the candidate thinks about their own skills and abilities. Asking them to tell you what they bring to the table gives you a chance to see how they think about their own strengths. It also gives you insight into their self-confidence and ability to sell themselves.

    Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in production and I'm also familiar with the software we use. I'm a hard worker and I'm very good at following directions.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence
    • - Ability to sell themselves
    • - Willingness to promote their own strengths

  • Question: How will you manage your team?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn about the candidate's management style. It allows you to see how they would handle a team of employees. Their response will also tell you whether they are willing to take the time to get to know their employees and understand their needs.

    Sample Answer: I would make sure that I understand each employee's strengths and weaknesses. I'd also make sure that I'm available to listen to their concerns and provide them with the support they need.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to get to know employees
    • - Willingness to listen to employee feedback
    • - Ability to manage a team of people

  • Question: Why do you want to be a Supervisor?
  • Question Overview: This question is important because it lets you know whether the candidate is interested in the position or just applying for a job. Their answer can tell you whether they are motivated by the chance to supervise others or if they are just looking for a promotion.

    Sample Answer: I want to be a supervisor because I enjoy working with people and I want to help people develop their skills.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to work with others
    • - Desire to be a leader
    • - Desire to learn new skills

  • Question: What is something you failed at recently?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to learn about the candidate's character. It shows you how they handle failure and how they respond to challenges. It also lets you see if they have the ability to learn from their mistakes and grow as a person.

    Sample Answer: I recently failed at a project because I didn't have enough time to complete it. I learned that I need to plan my time better so that I can meet deadlines.

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