Jobs › Generac

Production Supervisor - First Shift

Generac · Sussex, WI · Full time

Posted Jun 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Generac

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a day where the production schedule was in jeopardy. What happened and what did you do to get back on track?

What they are checking: whether the candidate can prioritize and drive daily order execution under pressure

Tell me about a time you had to discipline or hold an employee accountable for not following procedures. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?

What they are checking: comfort with progressive discipline and following through on accountability

Describe a time you onboarded or trained a new hire in a production environment. What did you do to get them productive quickly?

What they are checking: practical approach to onboarding and building workforce flexibility

Tell me about a continuous improvement or lean initiative you led or contributed to on the floor. What was the problem and what changed?

What they are checking: genuine lean manufacturing experience versus buzzword familiarity

Tell me about a time you had to push back on Planning, Purchasing, or Quality because their request didn't fit what was happening on your floor.

What they are checking: ability to manage cross-functional relationships without just deferring or stonewalling

Describe someone you've coached who struggled at first but improved under your leadership. What specifically did you do?

What they are checking: actual coaching skill versus generic claims of being a people leader

What would you do

Say you come in for first shift and second shift left you a mess - a machine down, a mis-sequenced order, and a materials shortage. What do you tackle first and why?

What they are checking: ability to triage competing operational fires and communicate across shifts

How would you approach a safety incident that just happened on your line? Walk me through your first hour.

What they are checking: safety-first instinct and incident response process

Two employees on your line are in conflict and it's slowing down the cell. How do you step in?

What they are checking: conflict resolution skill and whether they avoid or address friction directly

If capacity plans call for more output than your current headcount can realistically hit, what do you do?

What they are checking: workforce planning judgment and willingness to escalate with solutions, not just problems

How do you decide when to escalate an issue to your leadership versus handle it yourself on the floor?

What they are checking: judgment about ownership boundaries and keeping leadership informed appropriately

About the work

Have you used SAP or a similar ERP system like Oracle or JD Edwards to manage production data or scheduling? Give me an example of how you used it.

What they are checking: real hands-on familiarity with ERP tools versus surface-level exposure

What data or reports would you pull to figure out why a shift's efficiency dropped compared to the day before?

What they are checking: understanding of production metrics and how to diagnose performance issues

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Generac from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Production Supervisor leads the daily operation of a production shift with responsibility for interacting with Planning, Purchasing, Materials, Ops Engineering, Quality, Facilities and other departments to achieve maximum quality and cost effectiveness in an on-time and efficient manner. The scope of ownership includes various manufacturing processes (ie. vertical integration, multiple product lines, etc). Success in this role is defined by daily order execution, workforce flexibility, employee onboarding, productivity/efficiency, sequencing, process adherence, and training/development in production. This will be measured by ongoing improvements in driving quality, schedule attainment, Safety, and productivity/efficiency. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Direct the department to ensure safe, timely, and efficient completion of manufacturing schedules and communicate daily activities between shifts. • Supervise and coordinate activities of assigned production employees. • Provides manufacturing information by compiling, initiating, sorting and analyzing production, performance records and data; answering questions and responding to requests. • Assuring all department personnel are adhering to company policies and procedures. Completes safety, productivity, and policy reports regularly. • Selects, coaches and develops staff. Sets clear expectations to inspire and motivate the team. Manages performance—recognizing achievement, providing feedback and administering progressive discipline when necessary. • Key member and driver of a lean manufacturing environment driving continuous improvement activities relating to safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and inventory. • Interviewing, selecting, and coordinating orientation activities for all new employees. • Ability to maintain a clean and orderly work environment and maintain compliance with established policies and procedures. • Developing and maintaining a workforce to meet capacity plans. Work with other departments to manage parts flow. • Effective communication skills and ability to resolve conflict on the shop floor. Minimum Qualifications: • Associate’s degree or equivalent experience. • 2 years of experience leading teams, developing people or organizing tasks. Preferred Qualifications: • Previous experience using SAP or equivalent ERP system (Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Office. • Experience as a team lead or leading project teams in an operational environment. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: • Relationship Building and Earning Trust – Consistently follows through on team commitments, communicates, and demonstrates accountability. Builds trust and sets the example for the team by being inclusive and fair. • Accountability – Remains outcome focused, holding the team accountable while removing barriers to success. Plays to win by defining team objectives/scope and clear milestones. Keeps leadership apprised of progress and brings options/solutions for issues when elevated. • Ask, Listen, and Follow Up – Actively listens, questions to help others understand, shows care/concern, and closes loop. Drives action and alignment using coaching techniques, reinforces team's progress/development. • Inspire, Motivate and Recognize – Teaches others new tasks and is self- aware of strengths/developmental opportunities. Celebrates individual successes. • Conflict Management and Resolution – Influences employees to collaborate and achieve goals as a group. Asks questions, remains unbiased and encourages unconventional suggestions. Diffuses conflict as it arises rather than avoiding it and focuses on solving the problem. • Identify, Engage and Retain – Creates an open and honest work environment, providing others an opportunity to develop and grow. • Change Agent – Consistently optimistic about the ability to change in order to improve a product/service. Uses the voice of customer (VOC) to validate ideas. Works well autonomously and in a team, leads change by promoting the value of transformation. Great Reasons to work for Generac: • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more • Many employee activities • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days. • Every day is Jeans Day! Dress for your day. • Product loan and discount programs Physical Demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

Apply at Generac

More production supervisor roles