How to become An Industrial Production Manager

When Industrial Production Managers succeed in making the best use of available resources to run plants and production facilities, they ensure their organisation remains sustainably competitive in an increasingly sophisticated global market.

• Industrial Production Supervisor
• General Production Manager
• Plant Managers
• Sub Plant Manager
• Manufacturing Coordinator
• Product Line Manager
• Production Control Manager

What do Industrial Production Managers do?

An Industrial Production Manager would typically need to:

• Plan, coordinate, and control the manufacturing processes of goods and services, so quality merchandise is produced within prescribed budget and time specifications
• Design a production schedule; order essential resources; ensure they are of acceptable quality and maintain an adequate stock
• Take responsibility for the selection and maintenance of requisite equipment; estimate costs, and ensure all stakeholders agree on budgets to make a cost-effective product
• Review the production process and alter the schedule if needed after conferring with technical or administrative staff
• Track productivity rates and product standards before executing necessary quality control measures
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders such as suppliers, managers and procurement departments; negotiate prices of raw materials with suppliers
• Guarantee the completion of customer orders on time and to budget without compromising on set quality, safety and health guidelines
• Work with managers to implement the company’s cross-training programs and policies & goals
• Review the work performance of and mentor subordinates to ensure safe and efficient production
• Draft and maintain objective personnel records; implement employee suggestion and involvement programs
• Put together production, quality, maintenance, and other operational reports to resolve any issues that may crop up; coordinate the repair of malfunctioning equipment
• Hold discussions with research and support staff to come up with new products, processes and initiatives
• Generate and approve annual budgets for material and human resources; ensure optimum use of all resources to meet production targets

Industrial Production Managers are employed in a range of manufacturing industries. They divide their time between the production area and their office.Their time in the office, often located near production areas, is spent in meetings with subordinates or other department managers.

With manufacturing locations often situated in areas away from residential areas, you will experience considerable travel during the workday. The post may frequently necessitate a temporary relocation to another city, region, or even country.

Most Industrial Production Managers work full-time for more than 40 hours/week, outside the regular schedule especially when they need to meet production deadlines or deal with emergencies in institutions that operate around the clock.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Industrial Production Managers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Opportunities may be more significant in private than in the public sector, the latter offering jobs in the infrastructural, energy, transport, and food industries.

Industrial Production Managers are generally employed by:

• Transportation Equipment Industry
• The Automobile Industry
• The Food Processing Industry
• The Heavy Engineering Industry
• The Pharmaceutical Industry
• Chemical Engineering Industry
• Aerospace & Defence Industries
• Electronics & Electrical Consumer Goods Industry
• The Printing Industry
• The Textile Industry

Professional associations and organisations, such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), are crucial for Industrial Production Managers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Stress from having to deliver the right product on time and within the prescribed budget
• Increased responsibilities due to corporate restructuring, which eliminates managers and support staff
• Keeping track of product, program, and project specifics while responding to a constant flow of new information
• The need to be on-call and prepared to deal with any kind of emergency
• Foster eco-friendly production, reduce waste and boost recycling even while aligning projects and components to minimise risk and time
• Lack of awareness of market needs and subsequent lack of organisational focus and strategy
• Mentoring and motivating colleagues who are unable to complete the work at hand in an efficient manner

Most employers prefer production managers with two to five years of industry-specific experience. Promising candidates usually begin their career as a trainee or production worker and work their way up to positions such as first-line/production supervisor or shift manager before being promoted as an Industrial Production Manager.

If your academic program does not provide for a year out in the industry, look for work placements or summer internships in both large and small manufacturing companies.

They provide valuable opportunities to gain practical experience while building a network of valuable contacts who can help you land your first job on the path to becoming a production manager.

If opportunities to gain work experience are not in the pipeline, any possibility of work shadowing a qualified professional should also help you learn more about the profession.

As in any career, reading as much as possible about the profession and interviewing those working in industrial production will offer proof of your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Employers prefer industrial production managers with at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, manufacturing management, industrial engineering, or supply chain management.

Typical courses in a four-year bachelor’s program include corporate finance, operations planning, quality management, contract & product liability, data analytics, and business law.

Candidates with a high school diploma accompanied by adequate training and experience can aim for entry-level positions such as engineering technician or quality control officer.

Industrial Production Managers do not generally need to be certified. 

However, voluntary certification from reputed and objective organisations in areas including business data & statistical analysis, non-traditional machining, computer integrated manufacturing, and manufacturing technologies will help them stand out in a competitive job market and increase their chances of advancement.

Advancement opportunities come in the wake of significant experience and consistently high levels of performance. Strategic roles focused on long-term planning may eventually lead to the post of General Manager.

Large-scale operations give you a chance to oversee multi-site production, while multinationals may offer the opportunity to set up and manage overseas operations.

Small-scale organisations may prefer to hire fresh graduates as Industrial Production Managers and have experienced colleagues train them on the job.

Some production managers may seek alternative careers as an Industrial Engineer or an Operations Research Analyst to use their skills in streamlining production processes for efficient use of resources.

Candidates with communication and leadership skills and significant experience should have the best job prospects.

Large organisations regularly implement formal training programs covering the production process, company policies, safety regulations, and job requirements to improve the performance of their Industrial Production Managers.

Graduate programs provide experience in various business units to facilitate specialisation. You may also gain essential work experience in other departments such as purchasing or accounting for a deeper insight into the business. The industry in which you choose to work will dictate the type of training given.

In larger plants with additional supervisory responsibilities, production managers who obtain a graduate degree in business administration or industrial management will aspire to higher positions and remuneration.

Invest time and energy in continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. By doing so, you keep yourself updated on relevant quality control, material inventory, technological advances, and statistical studies.

Accredited certifications in quality control and inventory and production management systems are essential tools in upskilling.

As new systems and processes become available, you will also need to keep your knowledge of plant operations and technological advances up to date.

In seeking an alternative career, a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering is typically necessary. Operations research analysts require a bachelor's degree in operations research or a related field such as computer science, mathematics, or engineering.

Tools of the Trade

Industrial Production Managers use enterprise resource planning (ERP) management software to integrate data from a company's purchases, sales, treasury, and accounting divisions. It facilitates analysis which helps streamline decision-making, saves money and offers an all-inclusive perspective of the organisation.

Economic Powerhouses

Manufacturing is solely responsible for the existence of hundreds of millions of jobs and creating economic powerhouses worldwide.

Larger Piece of the Pie

Employees in the manufacturing sector earn around eight per cent more than those in other fields; they also get prime healthcare benefits comparable to those of government employees.

Safety First

Compared to the entire private sector, manufacturing takes the lead in creating safer work environments through joint initiatives supported by employers and employees. Reduced costs, increased productivity, improved efficiency, and enhanced morale are the standard trademarks of an ideal manufacturing location.

The United States is the world’s largest manufacturer, followed by China, Germany, Japan, India, South Korea, Mexico, United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Canada.

True-blue Industrial Production Managers keep their eyes on the horizon rather than the bottom line, know employee growth is organisational growth, and seek ‘a continuum that runs from character to productivity.’

Every project brings together new people and personalities, necessitating an assessment and determining the most effective ways to deliver information. What worked on one job could be disastrous on another. Rather than laying down pre-determined edicts, assess your staff and ask questions.