© Operational Excellence Consulting. All rights reserved.
Knowledge of the Work
DEFINITION OF A SUPERVISOR
§ A supervisor is defined as anyone who is in a position
of supervision or who directs the work of others
§ In the TWI context, a supervisor, team leader, manager
or instructor/trainer is considered as a “supervisor”
§ Refers to the set of policies, regulations, rules,
agreements, schedules, and organizational structures
that govern the operations of a particular company
§ These responsibilities are unique to each company,
even those operating in the same industry, and are
crucial to understanding the role of a supervisor
within the organization
§ To be effective in their role, supervisors must have a
clear understanding of their authority and
responsibilities within the company's management
structure
§ These responsibilities are the foundation of a
supervisor’s work and must be understood and
implemented correctly to ensure effective direction
of employees and coordination with other areas of
the company
Knowledge of Responsibilities
§ Skill in instructing is a critical component of
developing a well-trained workforce that is capable
of meeting quality standards and performing work
efficiently
§ With strong instructing skills, supervisors can reduce
the number of defects, rejects, rework, accidents,
and tool/equipment damage within their team
§ No matter how much knowledge or skill a person has
about the work itself, without the ability to instruct
and communicate effectively, it is not possible to
pass on that knowledge and skill to others
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job
Instruction (JI) section of the TWI program
Skill in Instructing
§ Skill in improving methods involves analyzing each
operation to eliminate, combine, rearrange, and
simplify the details of the job, with the aim of
utilizing materials, machines, and manpower more
effectively
§ By improving methods, supervisors can optimize the
use of resources that are currently available,
resulting in greater production of high-quality
products and services
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job Methods
(JM) improvement section of the TWI program
Skill in Improving Methods Skill in Leading
Skill in
Leading
Skill in
Instructing
Skill in
Improving
Methods
Knowledge of
Responsibilities
Knowledge of
the Work
The Five Needs Model For Good Supervisors
describes the five needs that must be
satisfied before any supervisor can fulfill his
or her responsibilities on the job successfully.
§ Skill in leading is about improving a supervisor's
ability to work effectively with people, leading them
to achieve individual and team goals
§ The results of a supervisor's work depend heavily on
the cooperation and output of other people, and
without their support, work cannot be carried out
effectively
§ By developing strong leadership skills, supervisors
can gain the necessary cooperation from their team,
reduce the occurrence of problems, and improve
problem-solving capabilities when challenges arise
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job Relations
(JR) section of the TWI program
§ Refers to a deep understanding of the materials,
products, services, processes, equipment, and
operations that make up the unique characteristics
of a business
§ Even in routine jobs, individuals are required to
continuously expand their knowledge of the work;
when a new product or process is introduced, there
is a need to learn and adapt to the changes
§ The pursuit of knowledge in the work is a lifelong
process, and individuals who remain in a single job
or industry can continually gain new insights and
perspectives
§ When moving to another industry or job, individuals
must acquire new knowledge and skills relevant to
that work to succeed and contribute to the
organization effectively
5 Needs Model For Good Supervisors

© Operational Excellence Consulting. All rights reserved.
§ Refers to a deep understanding of the materials,
products, services, processes, equipment, and
operations that make up the unique characteristics
of a business
§ Even in routine jobs, individuals are required to
continuously expand their knowledge of the work;
when a new product or process is introduced, there
is a need to learn and adapt to the changes
§ The pursuit of knowledge in the work is a lifelong
process, and individuals who remain in a single job
or industry can continually gain new insights and
perspectives
§ When moving to another industry or job, individuals
must acquire new knowledge and skills relevant to
that work to succeed and contribute to the
organization effectively
Knowledge of the Work
DEFINITION OF A SUPERVISOR
§ A supervisor is defined as anyone who is in a position
of supervision or who directs the work of others
§ In the TWI context, a supervisor, team leader, manager
or instructor/trainer is considered as a “supervisor”
§ Refers to the set of policies, regulations, rules,
agreements, schedules, and organizational structures
that govern the operations of a particular company
§ These responsibilities are unique to each company,
even those operating in the same industry, and are
crucial to understanding the role of a supervisor
within the organization
§ To be effective in their role, supervisors must have a
clear understanding of their authority and
responsibilities within the company's management
structure
§ These responsibilities are the foundation of a
supervisor’s work and must be understood and
implemented correctly to ensure effective direction
of employees and coordination with other areas of
the company
Knowledge of Responsibilities
§ Skill in instructing is a critical component of
developing a well-trained workforce that is capable
of meeting quality standards and performing work
efficiently
§ With strong instructing skills, supervisors can reduce
the number of defects, rejects, rework, accidents,
and tool/equipment damage within their team
§ No matter how much knowledge or skill a person has
about the work itself, without the ability to instruct
and communicate effectively, it is not possible to
pass on that knowledge and skill to others
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job
Instruction (JI) section of the TWI program
Skill in Instructing
§ Skill in improving methods involves analyzing each
operation to eliminate, combine, rearrange, and
simplify the details of the job, with the aim of
utilizing materials, machines, and manpower more
effectively
§ By improving methods, supervisors can optimize the
use of resources that are currently available,
resulting in greater production of high-quality
products and services
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job Methods
(JM) improvement section of the TWI program
Skill in Improving Methods
§ Skill in leading is about improving a supervisor's
ability to work effectively with people, leading them
to achieve individual and team goals
§ The results of a supervisor's work depend heavily on
the cooperation and output of other people, and
without their support, work cannot be carried out
effectively
§ By developing strong leadership skills, supervisors
can gain the necessary cooperation from their team,
reduce the occurrence of problems, and improve
problem-solving capabilities when challenges arise
§ Supervisors will acquire this skill in the Job Relations
(JR) section of the TWI program
Skill in Leading
5 Needs Model For Good Supervisors
Skill in
Leading
Skill in
Instructing
Skill in
Improving
Methods
Knowledge of
Responsibilities
Knowledge of
the Work
The Five Needs Model For Good Supervisors
describes the five needs that must be
satisfied before any supervisor can fulfill his
or her responsibilities on the job successfully.

© Operational Excellence Consulting. All rights reserved. 3
Operational Excellence Consulting is a management training and consulting
firm that assists organizations in improving business performance and
effectiveness. Based in Singapore, the firm’s mission is to create business
value for organizations through innovative design and operational excellence
management training and consulting solutions. For more information, please
visit www.oeconsulting.com.sg