Do you work in a factory or industrial setting? Are you interested in pursuing a supervisory role? A production manager role may be right for you. Here’s everything you need to know about this job.
Basic Facts About Production Managers
Responsibilities
Industrial production managers plan, coordinate and supervise the production of materials. This usually includes a wide variety of tasks. For example, one day a production manager may be optimizing production techniques to keep everything on schedule and under budget. Another day, they could be training and monitoring employees to make sure they are following safety protocols. And yet another, they will be working alongside quality control to address a defect in a new product.
Work Environment
Manufacturing organizations of all types need production managers. Potential industries include metal, automotive, chemical, electronic, food and more. Usually, production managers split their attention between the factory floor and a nearby office. They also may spend time in a lab especially if they are collaborating with quality control.
Schedule
Since many manufacturing plants run 24/7, production managers often need to work nights and/or weekends. They may report regularly for certain shifts or split shifts with other managers. For instance, they could cover a night shift once a week and a weekend shift twice a month. In addition, sometimes production managers must be on call. Even though they aren’t on location, they will be the primary contact if there is a problem.
Pay
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median pay for a production manager was $108,790 per year. This equals $52.30 per hour. Experience, education, industry and location all impact pay rates.
Necessary Skills
Successful production managers need a combination of technical and soft skills. First, they must have a thorough understanding of their industry and various manufacturing methods. Second, they need to be able to work well with other people. This requires leadership, interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills. Finally, since glitches are part of factory life, production managers should be flexible and creative as well as expert problem solvers.
Educational Requirements
Most production managers have at least a bachelor’s degree. In larger plants, employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree plus a Master of Business Administration or MBA. On-the-job experience is extremely helpful too. Many production managers start their careers as production workers or first-line supervisors. This gives them first-hand knowledge of production processes, company policies and safety regulations.
Are You Interested in Becoming a Production Manager?
Connectology is hiring production managers, production supervisors, engineering managers and more! Our recruiters place talented candidates with top manufacturing organizations throughout the upper Midwest. Browse our available openings and discover your next career-building opportunity today!
