As a production manager, you'll make sure goods and services are produced safely, cost-effectively and on time and that they meet the required quality standards
The scope of the job depends on the nature of the production system. Many companies are involved in several types of production, adding to the complexity of the role. It's likely that you will be responsible for both human and material resources.
The job may also be referred to as operations manager.
Responsibilities
As a production manager, you'll oversee the production process, coordinating all production activities and operations. You'll need to:
- plan and draw up a production schedule
- decide on and order the resources that are required and ensure stock levels remain adequate
- select equipment and take responsibility for its maintenance
- set the quality standards
- ensure that the production will be cost effective by estimating costs and negotiating and agreeing budgets with both clients and managers
- monitor the production processes and adjust schedules as needed
- monitor productivity rates and product standards and implement quality control programmes
- organise the repair of any damaged equipment
- liaise with different departments, teams and companies, e.g. suppliers, managers, clients
- ensure that health and safety guidelines are followed at all times
- ensure customer orders are completed on time and to budget and that quality standards and targets are met
- work with managers to implement the company's policies and goals
- collate and analyse data, putting together production reports for both factory managers and customers
- supervise and motivate a team of workers
- review worker performance and identify training needs.
You'll be involved in the pre-production (planning) stage as well as the production (control and supervision) stage. A large part of the job is dealing with people and resource management.
You may also be involved with product design and purchasing. In some larger firms, planners, controllers and production engineers and supervisors will assist you. The role may be integrated with other functions, such as marketing, sales and finance.
Salary
- Starting salaries within a trainee role may be around £25,000.
- Experienced production managers can earn in the region of £35,000 to £45,000.
- In more senior roles, depending on the level of responsibility, salaries are in the region of £40,000 to in excess of £60,000.
Salaries vary according to the size of the organisation, the type of business and its geographical location. Hi-tech companies tend to pay higher salaries than those in more traditional industries.
Additional benefits may include bonuses for productivity, as well as a pension and private health care.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
You can expect to work around 40 hours per week. The role may involve shift work and unsocial hours to make sure there's cover throughout the production process. Extended hours may be required to meet deadlines or to introduce new systems. You could be on call at weekends or public holidays to deal with problems.
What to expect
- You may be based on one site but could also be responsible for operations in several locations, including sites abroad. In small enterprises you'll spend considerable amounts of time on the shop floor supervising staff.
- Opportunities for self-employment are limited, but if you have considerable expertise in production management you may be engaged as a consultant to help businesses implement new manufacturing and production systems.
- Dress code is usually business casual, but you'll need to dress more formally when meeting suppliers, managers or business people.
- You may need to travel between sites during the day and spend time away from home.
Qualifications
A foundation degree, HND or degree in the following subjects may increase your chances of securing a job:
- aerospace engineering
- business or management
- chemistry/chemical engineering
- electrical and electronic engineering
- food science and technology
- materials science and technology
- mechanical engineering
- manufacturing engineering
- physics
- process engineering
- transport, distribution or logistics.
Some employers may ask for a specific degree or background in, for example, food management, chemistry or engineering.
Some large companies have production or operations management graduate training schemes open to graduates with a range of degree subjects.
If you have an unrelated degree, it's still possible to become a production manager if you have sufficient motivation and a willingness to study for the relevant professional qualifications. You may also need to demonstrate that you have an interest and skills in the industry.
Entry without a degree or relevant qualification is possible in a more junior role, such as engineering technician or quality control officer. You may be able to work your way up to production manager by gaining experience and undertaking further training on the job.
A postgraduate degree isn't a requirement. However, postgraduate courses that include production and manufacturing management are offered at several universities. Search for postgraduate courses in manufacturing management.
Skills
You'll need to have:
- planning and organisation skills to be able run and monitor the production process
- the ability to act decisively and solve staff or equipment-related problems
- the capacity to grasp complex concepts easily
- ICT literacy to deal with various technologies and programmes
- attention to detail to ensure high levels of quality
- the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with your team, managers and clients
- strong negotiation skills for getting materials within budget at the right time
- the ability to work under pressure and multitask
- leadership skills and the ability to motivate others to meet deadlines
- a results-driven approach to work
- the ability to work in a logical, systematic manner.
Work experience
Relevant pre-entry experience, such as a work placement or summer internship in industry, is useful. Some courses provide the opportunity to take a year out in industry, which can provide the opportunity to gain practical experience and build up a network of contacts.
If you aren't can't find work experience, try to arrange to work shadow a production manager to gain an insight into the role.
You could also consider getting student membership with a related professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). This can provide useful resources and help you to keep up to date with news in the industry.
Find out more about the different kinds ofwork experience and internshipsthat are available.
Employers
Most manufacturing companies have a production manager, although the actual job title may vary. In very small companies, which are often privately owned, the job may be combined with other functions.
Manufacturing companies can be found in numerous and varied industries, including:
- aerospace and defence
- automobile
- chemical engineering
- electronics and electrical consumer goods
- food processing
- heavy engineering
- pharmaceuticals
- printing
- textiles.
Many companies are involved in several types of production, which may include:
- flow (mass) production - products are mass-produced on an assembly line and are identical and standardised
- batch production - groups of products are manufactured together and one batch is finished before the next one starts
- job production - items are made individually to the customer's specific requirements and are often unique or one-offs
- process production - usually involving chemical, rather than mechanical, processes.
Look for job vacancies at:
Recruitment agencies commonly handle vacancies.
Professional development
Some employers have a formal training scheme that will cover the production process, company policies and the job requirements. Large companies may offer graduate programmes which provide experience in different areas before you specialise. In smaller firms, you may learn on the job from more experienced colleagues.
You should keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD). One way to do this is to study for professional qualifications offered by a range of organisations, including CILT. They provide qualifications such as the:
- Level 3 Certificate in Operations Management - provides an introduction to production and operations management if you're new to the role or you need to better understand the context of the job
- Level 5 Certificate in Operations Management - suitable if you're working at a managerial or supervisory level and are involved with planning and implementation
- Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Operations Management - aimed at managers aspiring to move to a strategic role or if you already work at a high level within management.
A range of qualifications in management, including general and specific management and leadership qualifications, as well as the opportunity to achieve chartered management status, is offered by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Both CILT and the CMI offer advice on CPD.
Career prospects
As a graduate, you'll typically start off as a trainee and will gain experience in several different aspects of production management, such as materials management, inventory control, configuration analysis, production control and purchasing management. You can then move on to become production supervisor or shift manager before becoming a production manager.
You may decide to eventually pursue a more strategic role and become involved with long-term planning rather than day-to-day operations. There are also opportunities to move into general management.
In larger organisations you may be responsible for production on a number of sites, and opportunities to set up and manage operations overseas may arise with multinational firms.
Progression depends on your personal motivation and interest, as well as your career choices. The role varies significantly among different sectors, meaning you may end up specialising in one sector.
You may find that you're encouraged by your employer to complete a professional qualification, which can help with career prospects. You'll also need to continually update your knowledge and experience as new systems and processes become available.
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FAQs
What is the job profile of a production manager? ›
A Production Manager is a professional who oversees the production process and coordinates all activities to ensure enough resources on hand. They can plan workers' schedules, estimate costs and prepare budgets to ensure workflow meets required deadlines.
What does a production manager do UK? ›manage the production team. work with suppliers to get parts and raw materials. make sure performance targets are met and waste is kept to a minimum. oversee the training and development of staff.
What is the level of production manager? ›Middle management usually includes superintendents, Production Manager, General Foremen, Branch Managers etc.
What are the 5 P's of production management? ›The constituents of the 5P model are: 1) Plan, 2) Process, 3) People, 4) Possessions, and 5) Profits.
What are the 3 main functions of production management? ›- Selection of product and design.
- Production planning and control.
- Machine maintenance and replacement.
The average salary for Product Manager jobs is £57,500. Read on to find out how much Product Manager jobs pay across various UK locations and industries. We have 217 jobs paying higher than the average Product Manager salary!
Is product management a good career in UK? ›The demand for Product Management professionals is increasing in a huge way. A product manager graduate can expect to earn high salaries once they have completed their degree, and Glassdoor has ranked the position of Product Manager as the eighth-best job in America.
What is a Product Manager salary UK? ›The Average Product Manager salary in the UK is £56,940. 6. New jobs added in the last day. 1,041. Jobs in Reed.co.uk, ranging from £52,470 to £66,471.
What is KPI for production manager? ›How do you calculate production manager KPIs? KPIs are measured by assessing the cost of maintenance and production. First, the production costs are divided by the costs of the number of manufactured units. Then, it uses the maintenance cost and divides it by the number of produced units during a certain period.
How many hours a week do production managers work? ›Work Schedules
Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.
Is Production Manager higher than operations manager? ›
Production management refers to the management of activities related to the production of goods. On the other hand, operations management is a step ahead of production management, or it can be said that the production management is a part of the operations management.
Who is higher producer or Production Manager? ›Production managers are second-in-line to the line producer. While the line producer sets the limits on budgets and negotiates the key contracts, production managers carry out the decisions that have been made.
Is product manager a high position? ›Product managers are mid-level roles. While you don't necessarily have to have a direct product management background, you should have professional experience and demonstrable skills in communication, leadership, and strategy. Product managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and features of a product.
What are the 4 stages of product management? ›The four are introduction, growth, maturity, and then decline. Products and companies progress through these stages of development and the way that you know which stage they're in is how much revenue they're making over time.
What are the 3 P's of production? ›These elements are the famous “3 p's of manufacturing”: people, processes, and products.
What are the 5 M's of manufacturing? ›Lean is an all-encompassing philosophy that takes the 5 M's (Man, Material, Machines, Methods, and Money) and harmonizes or helps orchestrate them together for the best possible outcome in your manufacturing operations.
What are the four objectives of production management? ›The main objective of production management is to produce goods and services of the right quality, right quantity, at the right time and at minimum cost. It also tries to improve the efficiency.
Is product management in demand in UK? ›The demand for Product Managers has increased by 164% over the past year.
Is MBA worth it for product managers? ›Although you currently don't need an MBA to land a job as a product manager, an advanced degree can help get your foot in the door when applying to high-profile companies. An MBA in product management can also help you climb the corporate ladder faster than you would with only a bachelor's degree.
Is it stressful to be a Product Manager? ›Product management can be quite stressful due to the level of autonomy and responsibility given. Learning to balance the expectations of the role with the ambiguity that surrounds it is key to a successful and healthy career as a product manager.
Which country is best for product managers? ›
- Switzerland: 177,000 CHF (around €169,400). The national average salary in Switzerland is about 124,000 CHF.
- France: €66,900. ...
- Austria: €63,900. ...
- Germany: €62,569. ...
- Spain: €45,700. ...
- Italy: €42,392.
The demand for these professionals is high in the market and many companies pay handsome amounts for this role. That's the primary reason product manager salary in India is quite high. The ever increasing demand.
Are product managers in high demand? ›Platform Product Manager
They make high-impact product decisions that focus on the platform's scale, reliability, security and cost efficiencies. Given the importance of this role, this role will always be in demand no matter what happens in the future.
The average age of an employed product manager is 38 years old.
What is a product manager salary in London? ›Find Product Manager jobs on Hired. The salaries of candidates in this role range from a low of £61,852 to a high of £136,075, with a median salary of £98,964.
Who gets paid more product manager or project manager? ›Generally, product managers make more than project managers in the US. The average product manager's salary in the US is $111,755 a year, while a project manager in the US makes an average salary of $87,637, according to August 2021 data from Glassdoor.
What are the 4 main KPIs? ›- Customer Satisfaction,
- Internal Process Quality,
- Employee Satisfaction, and.
- Financial Performance Index.
- Revenue growth.
- Revenue per client.
- Profit margin.
- Client retention rate.
- Customer satisfaction.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is a performance measure commonly used by corporate units to evaluate employee performance. As a result, paying for performance means that the employer company will base the appropriate salary for its employees on the results of the measurement indicators achieved in each period.
Do production managers get overtime? ›Managers and supervisors who determine how work is performed, set and oversee the budget of the business, approve employee pay levels, and assist in hiring new employees are often exempt employees, too, which means they will not qualify for overtime pay.
Do production managers get bonuses? ›
Most product managers get bonus packages based on revenue, profit, or some other measurable result. The bonus is typically around 15% of their base salary.
Do product managers work weekends? ›Product managers work full time, usually more than 40 hours per week. They often work longer hours that extend into evenings and weekends, particularly when there are deadlines approaching. They spend time on computers, conducting research, and reading and writing reports.
What are three issues production managers focus on? ›...
The function of production management is to find the perfect balance:
- Right quality.
- Right quantity.
- Right time.
- Right cost.
Planning and control
The production manager must plan and control the process of production so that it moves smoothly at the required level of output while meeting cost and quality objectives.
Directors. The director's creative vision guides the film. Along with the producers, they are at the top of the crew hierarchy. They are creatively in charge and lead production from start to finish.
What is above a Production Manager? ›The line producer is, most often, the UPM's boss. The line producer, in theory, is responsible for higher levels of planning than the UPM. They're often the architect of a production's operational budget.
Is a Production Manager the same as a stage manager? ›A Stage Manager liaises with different departments throughout the day and make sure everything is running smoothly, whereas a Production Manager liaises with different departments to ensure decisions being made are within budgets and everything is working safely.
Who falls under production manager? ›A production manager—officially called a unit production manager by the Directors Guild of America—is responsible for budgets, shooting schedules, and managing the day-to-day business side of a production. The production manager also oversees what's known as “below-the-line” crew.
How long does it take to become a production manager? ›Most organizations require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and at least two to five years of industry-related experience to meet the qualifications of a Production Manager. Certifications can also support job seekers in securing Production Manager roles.
Is a production manager the same as a production supervisor? ›Unlike a Production Supervisor a Production Manager manages the work and the workers involved in completing projects. The key word here is manages. With a Production Manager on-staff employees working on the job should have the skills and or be trained to independently follow written work orders.
What is the next position after product manager? ›
Senior product manager. Director of product. VP of product. Chief product officer (CPO)
Do product managers get paid well? ›Product management is a well-paid job and has a high level of job satisfaction. The product manager's salary is primarily based on years of experience, job location and skills. The average annual salary for product managers can range from $61,000 to $200,000 per year.
What is the minimum salary of a product manager? ›Product Manager salary in India ranges between ₹ 5.0 Lakhs to ₹ 35.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 16.0 Lakhs.
What are the four functions of production management? ›Production Control, Quality and Cost Control, Inventory Control, and. Maintenance and Replacement of Machines.
What is production job description? ›What does a Production Worker do? Production Workers are skilled workers who keep production flowing by checking product quality through monitoring machinery. They clean and operate factory equipment and work on an assembly line, putting together products with great care to meet all safety guidelines.
What are the responsibilities of a Production Manager in manufacturing? ›Production Managers perform tasks such as taking inventory, making supply orders, handling disputes among team members and regularly assessing safety standards in all areas. Some of their other most common duties include: Motivating, supporting and providing guidance to production staff.
What are the 4 M's of production management? ›By implementing best practices that address the 4Ms of Machines, Manpower, Methods, and Material.
What is the main objective of production management? ›The main objective of production management is to produce goods and services of the right quality, right quantity, at the right time and at minimum cost. It also tries to improve the efficiency.
Is production a good career? ›Yes, production engineering is a good career.
A production engineer has a high level of career satisfaction and generally stays in the profession long-term. A production engineer evaluates the manufacturing process in a company, identifies potential improvements, and creates and implements solutions.
Production Team Leader supervises the daily activities of a production area to ensure that volume, cost, waste, and quality standards are achieved. Coordinates work schedules, staffing requirements, and production sequences to maximize productivity.
What are production skills? ›
According to an analysis by ZipRecruiter, the most important production skills to list on a resume include assembly line skills, attention to detail, communication, material handling skills, the ability to multitask and pallet jack operation.
What are 7 challenges managers face? ›- Leading former peers. ...
- Balancing the new workload. ...
- Driving team achievement. ...
- Navigating the organization. ...
- Motivating and inspiring. ...
- Holding people accountable. ...
- Coaching and developing others. ...
- Communicating more effectively.
Planning and control
The production manager must plan and control the process of production so that it moves smoothly at the required level of output while meeting cost and quality objectives.