Can someone help me please understand competency over supervision

We work in a factory, carrying out construction work. We build modular houses out of light gauge steel frames and also do all of the building elements such as rendering, plastering, plaster boarding ect.

Im trying to understand if work in the factory requires supervison at all times, if operatives have receivec the necessary training to carry out this work, does this mean they are competnt enough to work un supervised but have been given direction of the work that is to be carried out that day.

If the production mamager had set the tasks that morning before leaving site for the day. Would this have been ok if the staff had been trained on how to carry out these tasks 

Also what would supervision entail 

Edited by user 10 October 2023 11:03:10(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Its not really a black and white decision, more that if they are well trained, experinced etc then the level of supervison can be reduced if inexperienced etc then supervision increased

"Skilled" workers do not necessarily need hand holding. HOWEVER if you have down skilled (anyone that can swing a hammer has a job) then suitable supervision is a must.

Then you move in to a new area that as modular off-site you are creating a product intended to last for a considerable amount of time in a factory environment.

You will not have a "Clerk of Works" like a traditional construction site checking that if the drawing states "fit fire stop A" said fire stop has been installed so instead need significant Quality Control activity.

From experience the QC documents proving the correct activity occurred in the correct order become vital particularly when the mortgage to pay for the build is dependent upon them.

Rushing round ticking boxes after the event is a recipe for disaster especially in light of the recent changes under the Defective Premises Act which this absent manager and the board may like to read.

Hi

As has been said supervision and competence are not mutually exclusive. Understanding if your employees are competent is a key skill (perhaps THE key skill) of anyone claiming to be a manager. In particular is the  understanding that there are degrees of competence: someone can be left alone to  carry out a routine task but if anything untoward happens (for example a blockage in a piece of machinery) are the staff competent to deal with issue alone or do you need take over and supervise them?  Think about the Swiss Cheese model: the first slice is the SOP/SSOW/RAMS  level of control. The next slice is competence: do the people doing the job understand  the limits of their knowledge  and are they able to ask for help when they need to?