Online Supervisor Training With Shop-Floor Focus

Tooling U, a provider of online training for the manufacturing industry, has released a new series of classes for first-time supervisors. Titled “Supervisor Essentials,” the set of classes covers topics including effective communication, leadership principles, performance management, conflict resolution and basic cost accounting.

Unlike traditional “soft skills” training, these classes are tailored specifically for a manufacturing audience. “We knew that we had to make sure this training fit in the rest of our catalog, which is very technical and tailored to the shop floor,” says Chad Schron, vice president of Tooling U. “Any soft skills training out there was very ‘white collar,’ so we consciously included shop-specific visuals and examples in the content.”

Greg Herlevi, director of content, says many new supervisors are promoted from shop floor positions. They may have the requisite technical skills but often need a solid overview of “softer” skills. “We designed these classes with that dynamic in mind,” he explains.