Page 428 - Intro Predictive Maintenance

World-Class Maintenance 419

Disadvantages

• Exposes equipment to possible damage
• Makes failures in new parts more likely
• Uses more parts
• Increases initial costs
• Requires more frequent access to equipment

18.10 SUPERVISION

Supervision is the first, essential level of management in any organization. The super-
visor’s role is to encourage members of a work unit to contribute positively toward
accomplishing the organization’s goals and objectives. If you have ever attempted to
introduce change or continuous improvement in your plant without the universal
support of your first-line supervisors, you should understand the critical nature of this
function. As the most visible level of management in any plant, front-line supervisors
play a pivotal role in both existing plant performance and any attempt at change.

Although the definition is simple, the job of supervision is complex. The supervisor
must learn to make good decisions, communicate well with people, make proper work
assignments, delegate, plan, train people, motivate people, appraise performance, and
deal with various specialists in other departments. The varied work of the supervisor
is extremely difficult to master. Yet, mastery of supervision skills is vital to plant
success.

Most new supervisors are promoted from the ranks. They are the best mechanicals,
operators, or engineers within the organization. Employees with good technical skills
and good work records are normally selected by management for supervisory posi-
tions; however, good technical skills and a good work record do not necessarily make
a person a good supervisor. In fact, sometimes these attributes can act adversely to
productive supervisory practices. Other skills are also required to be an effective
supervisor. The complex work of supervision is often categorized into four areas,
called the functions of management or the functions of supervision. These functions
are planning, staffing, leading, and controlling.

18.10.1 Functions of Supervision
Planning involves determining the most effective means of achieving the work of the
unit. Generally, planning includes three steps:

1. Determining the present situation. Assess such things as the present con-
ditions of the equipment, the attitude of employees, and the availability of
materials.
2. Determining the objectives. Higher levels of management usually establish
the objectives for a work unit. Thus, this step is normally done for the
supervisor.