Day in the Life: Machine Shop Supervisor at SMG

Scott Edgar has been with Suburban Manufacturing Group for a year and a half as the Machine Shop Supervisor. We recently sat down with Scott to discuss his role and experience at Suburban. In this role, he oversees the machining department as well as collaborates with engineering to create improvements and new processes.

Scott Edgar, Machine Shop Supervisor at Suburban Manufacturing Group

What brought you to Suburban Manufacturing Group?

I was looking for the next step in my career and Suburban had a lead machinist opening. After looking into the company and interviewing I couldn’t wait to start here. The people and the company seemed like the place everyone wants to work at: clean, friendly, and a team environment. Suburban has proven to be all of those.

What type of education or experience is necessary to be a Machine Shop Supervisor?   

I would say that a degree wouldn’t hurt but I don’t think any specific degree is necessary for this position. Leadership experience in some form is important. Leading people is one of the most important aspects of the position. It is a position that requires a lot of communication with my team and other teams every day so being able to interact effectively with lots of different people and departments is very important.

Past experience is another important thing. You need to have a solid understanding of the department that you are expected to lead. As the supervisor of a machine shop, having a solid background in machining is going to be a necessity as well.

What does your day to day job entail?

My day to day job entails being out on the shop floor talking with machinists and finding out what’s going well and what is not going well. I take notes on their ideas for processes we can improve and any shop supplies they need. I also work with the appropriate people to get them the things they need to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

Outside of that, I monitor the daily and weekly schedule to make sure deadlines will be met and to catch any potential scheduling issues in order to get ahead of them. I work with the engineering department as well on new parts and new processes to improve things out on the shop floor.

"One of the things I enjoy most about my role is that I’m able to affect change on the shop and floor and even sometimes company wide."

What do you enjoy most about your role?

One of the things I enjoy most about my role is that I’m able to affect change on the shop and floor and sometimes company wide. To have a machinist come up to me and say, "I was thinking we could try this and it will fix this problem or that problem," and I’m able to make it happen and bring their idea to life is amazing.

Lastly I can’t forget all the people that work here, all the different people that I get to talk to every day across the company is great, everyone here is super easy to talk to and more than willing to help or answer questions at any time, that really makes working here wonderful.

What do you enjoy about working at Suburban?

This is going to sound a little corny but the people. When I say that I really do mean that, I have never worked with such amazing and helpful people in my past. Everyone here is more than willing to help at any time and always do it in a friendly manner.

"I see my personal and professional life growing a lot and I hope to keep moving up within the organization."

How do you see yourself growing with Suburban?

I see myself growing quite a bit with Suburban. I see my personal and professional life growing a lot and I hope to keep moving up within the organization.

What golden piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking of becoming a Machine Shop Supervisor?

Actually listen to the people that you manage, you will be surprised at how much you learn by listening to others.

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