LevelUp Plant Supervisory Skills Training – July 2024 (Class #6)

The LevelUp Plant Supervisory Skills Training program is TRSA’s dedicated course focused on developing individuals who are new to their supervisory role or are seeking to enhance their supervisory skills in a commercial laundry plant operation. The course covers the essential skills needed for successful supervision, including effective communication, problem solving, decision making, team building, and conflict resolution. Participants will learn how to motivate and engage their team, set goals and expectations, and provide constructive feedback. The course will also address the importance of safety, quality, and productivity in a manufacturing environment, and will help familiarize supervisors with each station in the operation. Through ten 45-minute modules (released weekly and available around the trainees’ schedule), and interactive exercises and case studies, LevelUp participants will develop practical strategies and techniques for supervisors to make a positive impact on employees and the plant operation.

  • Enrollment in this course closed on 05/02/2023.

Module 1: Introduction – Your New Role as Plant Supervisor

LevelUp Program Introduction and Welcome
Supervision vs. Leadership
Challenges of Moving from “Buddy” to “Boss”
Clarifying Your Role, Responsibilities, and Expectations 
Expert Interview: J.R. Garcia – Industry Expert (Optional)
Action Assignment #1: Clarifying Roles & Responsibilities

Module 2: The Foundation for Supervisory Success

Introduction: The Foundation for Supervisory Success
Top Secret: The System Concept
The Eight Supervisory Behaviors
Expert Interview: Billy Wagg – President of Wagg’s Linen & Uniform (Optional)
Action Assignment #2: Supervisor Time Utilization Self-Survey

Module 3: Effective Communication

Introduction: Leaders as Communicators
The Barriers to Effective Communication
The Essential Skill of Active Listening
Seven Ways to Improve Plant Communication
Expert Interview: Mike Lang – Process Analyst at Unitex Textiles (Optional)
Action Assignment #3: Mapping the Plant & People

Module 4: Creating a Motivational Work Environment

Introduction: Creating a Motivational Work Environment 
The Root of Motivation 
Six Steps to Inspire Motivation in Your Plant
Team Building 101: Making Motivation Matter
The Top Five Ways to Build Teams
(Optional) Bonus Lesson: Team Building Exercises: To use or not to use?
Expert Interview || Sport Psychologist & Author, Dr. Nate Zinsser
Action Assignment #4: The Fives

Module 5: Employee Performance Management

Introduction to Employee Performance Management
The System Concept & Lost Time
Introduction to SMART Goals
Providing Feedback to Boost Employee Effectiveness
Handling Difficult Conversations 
Action Assignment #5: Fives & Tens

Module 6: Coaching for Peak Performance

Introduction: The Supervisor as Coach
Situational Leadership
Performance Contracting
The One Minute Manager
Coaching to Develop Skills and Enhance Performance
Action Assignment #6: The One’s (Part A)
Action Assignment #6: The One’s (Part B)

Module 7: Workload Organization and Delegation

Introduction to Workload Organization
The Critical Path to Performance (CPM)
Overview to the Workload Control Theory (WCT)
The Staffing-to-Workload Method 
How Reducing Workload Can Improve Performance 
Action Assignment #7: Diagramming the Plant Process

Module 8: Improving Plant Performance

Expert Interview:  Richard LeBlanc (Globally-recognized Operations Analyst)
Action Assignment #8: Forcing the Variance

Module 9: Problem Solving in the Plant

Introduction to Problem Solving in the Plant
The ABCDE Method to Problem Solving
Uncovering the Root Cause: The “Fishbone” Diagram 
Action Assignment #9: Using the Lean A3 Method & Tool 

Module 10: Managing and Resolving Conflicts

Introduction to Managing Employee Conflicts
The CUDSA Framework for Handling Conflicts
Expert Interview: Brian Varner – Supervisors and Safety in the Plant

Final Assignment | The Ultimate Action Project (UAP)

The Boost | Ultimate Action Project Introduction & Instructions