An overview of the job of a Production Manager:

Production Managers are professionals who work in large industries and are involved with the planning, coordination and controlling the manufacturing processes of the production activities which produce thousands of goods every day. Production Managers are also sometimes referred to as operation managers. These professionals are appointed to ensure that the production proceeds smoothly with the goods and services being produced efficiently. They make sure that all the activities are taken place within the specified budget. According to the size of the industry, Production Managers may supervise the working of the entire plant or just one area of production.

The primary responsibility of this professional is to perform the production activities effectively by reducing on costs wherever necessary and making sure that the products are produced in time and with high quality. They are involved in analyzing the resources and capital which will enable them to meet production goals. Production Managers play the key role in deciding on the machines that will be used for production operations and whether new machines should be purchased or not. These professionals should monitor the production process to make sure that it goes on as per the schedule correcting problems which may arise in the process.

They are also involved in setting standards for the company by implementing quality control programs. They ensure that the finished products meet the level of quality set by the organization. A Production Manager may work with a team in order to run training programs and also to improve the quality of raw materials. A key part of their role is to coordinate with professionals from other departments which will help to set the company’s goals and policies and also to prepare a budget plan by gathering information about the sales, logistics and procurement details for other departments. Production schedules will be affected if there is a breakdown in the communication between the Production Managers and the other department professionals. The scope of this job depends on the production system which includes the process of production or batch production, jobbing production etc. The employment opportunities for this job are high considering the number of industries that are coming up every year.

What does a production manager really do?

A Production Manager plays a key role in both the pre-production stage and also in the production stage. This means that this professional performs planning activities as part of the pre-production process and controlling and supervision as part of the production process. However, it is seen that the duties and responsibilities of a Production Manager vary greatly with the nature of the production system. Following are some of the typical work duties of a Production Manager:

Duties:

• The primary responsibility of these professionals is to plan, regulate and coordinate all the manufacturing and maintenance activities to ensure the most effective process is used to obtain returns on the available assets.
• An important duty of a Production Manager is to initiate procedures and policies that will minimize the costs by opting effective utilization of resources such as equipment, materials, manpower and capital. They design these policies and procedures within the standards of the organization and the customer’s expectations.
• It forms the duty of this professional to oversee the production operations and adjust the schedules as and when required.
• They are involved in monitoring the product standards and implement programs in order to increase the quality of the products.
• It is the Production Manager to prepare financial budget plans and to control the spending costs in relation to the alterations of the production activities.
• It is their duty to select and maintain the production equipments and supervise all the production activities by enforcing quality-control programs initiated by the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Production Managers are responsible to take decisions regarding the production operating unit’s which includes the size, layout and to design the arrangement of work activities.
• They are responsible for ensuring maintenance of cost effective programs with high-standards of production operations.
• The primary responsibility of Production Managers is to supervise the work of the team members and review their work performance.
• They are responsible for working with the managers of other departments to design and execute policies and objectives of the organization.
• It is the responsibility of the Production Manager to draft out production schedules for his subordinates and ensure that their activities are running as per the schedule.
• They are responsible for working with professionals and material resource heads.

Educational Requirements of a production manager

The job of a Production Manager requires a certain set of educational qualifications in order to be eligible for the post. As he operates mainly in the production sector dealing with manufacturing activities, knowledge about technical aspects of the equipment is mandatory. Following are the educational qualifications required to be a Production Manager:

• To become a Production Manager, a college degree in the field of industrial technology, industrial engineering, management or even business administration is recommended. Applicants with an undergraduate degree combined with a master’s degree in the field if business administration or industrial management has the best employment prospects in this field.
• Candidates who do not have a graduate degree in the field of production management can also take up courses such related to science and statistics which will maximize and improve the efficiency as a Production Manager. Many a time, Production Managers are former production0line supervisors who have been promoted to the take the position of a Production Manager.
• Internship programs and additional training taken up at the college level will prove useful after the completion of bachelor’s education. Students may attend trade shows wherein new equipment is showcased and also industry conventions and conferences prove beneficial.
• Apart from formal training, companies often look for a candidate who is informed about the latest production and management technologies. Even interpersonal skills play a vital role to complete to candidate to be a Production Manager.

What is the certification and licensure given to a production manager?

• Certification and licensure is not mandatory to become a Production Manager but it may prove helpful for further job prospects.
• Candidates are given certification known ad Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) which is offered by the Association for Operations Management (APICS).
• Certification is obtained after passing an examination which covers aspects related to supply chain management, scheduling, production operations, resource development and strategic planning. Those applied for certifications must also complete a set of professional activities every three years in order to maintain the certification.

          What is the remuneration package of a production manager?

• The salary of a Production Manager is high considering his position and scope of activities performed by him in the organization. However, his salary depends on a number of factors which include experience in the industry, educational qualifications, and area of employment and also geographical location of employment.
• The average median salary of a Production Manager is calculated to be $95,829 for a year. The top ten percentile of the professional receive salary more than $108,986 and on the other hand the lowest ten percentile of Production Managers earn salary up to $61,055 annually. They are also given bonus for their extra amount of work which ranges around $711 – $12,278 annually.
• Experience plays a crucial role in determining the salary for a Production Manager. It is observed that a professional with experience of less than one year in the industry gets a salary ranging around $29,470 – $63,023 annually. Whereas on the other hand, a professional with experience of one to five years earns a salary ranging around $35,589 – $75,506 per year.
• It is seen that a Production Manager who works in the automobile industry gets paid salary ranging around $46,408 – $94,557 per annum. Conversely, the same professional employed in the food manufacturing industry receives an income ranging between $42,297 and $91,782 per annum.
• Geographical location also acts as a factor in determining the salary of a Production Manager. A Production Manager who is employed in the state of New York earns salary ranging around $39,881 – $92,753 annually and on the other hand California pays its Production Managers a salary that ranges around $42,264 – $98,831 per year.

What are the skills needed for a production manager?

Apart from the educational qualifications, Production Managers should have a set of abilities and skills in order to perform the tasks given to them and which will help them to excel in the profession allowing them to climb the ladders of success. Following are some of the skills that a Production Manager is expected to have:

Skill Set:

• Leadership Skills: A Production Manager is the head of the manufacturing and production unit and as such he works with a number or subordinates. He must develop the quality of being the leader working in a team while maintaining the friendliness with colleagues at the same time maintaining the authority of the position.
• Planning Skills: The primary duty of a Production Manager is to plan operations for his department. As such, he must develop the ability to plan activities within the specified time and resources available at hand. Planning must be done in a way that it is cost effective with maximum utilization of materials. They must have the ability to work in a systematic and logical manner.
• Ability to manage industrial equipment: This professional must have a considerate amount of knowledge on how to operate the various equipments related to production operations. He must be updated with the latest technology and must also be prepared to repair and come up with solutions for the problems the workers may be facing regarding the equipment.
• Communication Skills: A Production Manager coordinates activities between the production and other departments. He forms the face of the production department and as such, he communicates the working procedures to other professionals. For this purpose, excellent communication skills are required which will help the manager to communicate his thoughts and understandings to the other departments and also the organization as a whole.

Other Skills:

• Ability to motivate co-workers and other staff members.
• Good and unbiased judgment.
• Ability to pay attention to minute details.
• Quick decision making skills.
• Ability to grasp complex concepts.