Production manager

Production managers make sure goods and services are produced safely, cost-effectively and on time and that they meet the required quality standards

You'll oversee the production process, coordinating all production activities and operations. 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.

You'll be involved in the pre-production (planning) stage as well as the production (control and supervision) stage. It's likely that you will be responsible for both human and material resources, so a large part of the job is dealing with people and resource management.

Key to the role is ensuring that productivity and quality targets are met or surpassed, while ensuring that staff remain motivated.

You may also be involved with product design and purchasing. In some larger firms, planners, controllers and production engineers and supervisors will assist you. In smaller companies, the role may be integrated with other functions, such as marketing, sales and finance.

The job may also be referred to as operations or manufacturing manager.

Responsibilities

As a production manager, you'll need to:

• plan and draw up a production schedule
• manage production resources, including equipment and facilities, decide on and order the required resources and ensure stock levels remain adequate
• liaise with the procurement department to ensure that the required components are available
• 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
• set and enforce the quality standards
• monitor productivity rates and product standards and implement quality control programmes
• take responsibility for the maintenance of equipment, conduct regular inspections and organise the repair of any damaged equipment
• ensure that health and safety guidelines are followed at all times and that any concerns are addressed immediately
• liaise across teams and departments to ensure a smooth and efficient production process, making sure everyone is aware of any process changes and improvements
• ensure customer orders are completed on time and to budget and that quality standards and targets are met
• identify opportunities to improve processes to increase productivity, for example through lean manufacturing, and reduce costs
• work with managers to ensure that production strategies align with the company's policies and goals
• collate and analyse data, putting together production and performance reports for both factory managers and customers
• supervise and motivate a team of workers
• set worker performance goals, evaluate and review performance, and identify training needs.

Salary

• Starting salaries in a trainee role are around £25,000.
• Production managers can earn in the region of £35,000 to £45,000.
• Salaries for experienced and senior production managers are typically between £40,000 and £65,000 depending on your experience.

Salaries vary according to the size and type of business you work for and your location. Hi-tech companies tend to pay higher salaries than those in more traditional industries. Other factors that affect your salary include your skills, experience and level of responsibility.

Additional benefits may include bonuses for productivity, as well as a pension, private health care and life assurance.

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 if production targets are not met by the shift, 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. 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. There may be some international travel required for some roles.

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
• industrial engineering
• materials science and technology
• mechanical engineering
• manufacturing engineering/management
• physics
• process engineering
• transport, distribution or logistics.

Some employers ask for a specific degree or background in their area of production, for example, food management, chemistry or engineering.

Some large companies have production, manufacturing 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 will also need to show that you have an interest in the industry and relevant skills.

Alternatively, you can get into the role by taking an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships combine paid work with study for a qualification, meaning that you can train on the job. Relevant apprenticeships include the:

• Level 4 (higher) Process Leader apprenticeship - involves directing production activities and operations
• Level 6 (degree) Manufacturing Management apprenticeship - involves managing manufacturing processes to ensure that performance output meets the customers' expectations.

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 the role of team leader or shift supervisor and then on 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.

You may also need a health and safety qualification, such as those offered by IOSH, or a food hygiene qualification (depending on the sector you work in).

Skills

You'll need to have:

• planning and organisation skills to plan, run and monitor the production process
• leadership skills and the ability to motivate others to meet deadlines
• the ability to develop relationships and to communicate clearly and persuasively with your team, managers and clients
• the ability to grasp complex concepts easily
• the confidence and ability to act decisively and solve staff or equipment-related problems
• analytical skills to collect and interpret data in order to improve production processes
• IT skills to deal with various technologies and production-related programs
• attention to detail to ensure high levels of quality
• strong negotiation skills for getting materials within budget and on time
• the ability to work under pressure and multitask
• 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 in the manufacturing sector and build up a network of contacts.

If you 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 relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). This provides access to useful resources, events and networking opportunities, and helps you to keep up to date with news in the industry.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most manufacturing companies have a production manager, although the actual job title may vary. In very small companies, the job may be combined with other functions.

Manufacturing companies can be found in many 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 - a set quantity of identical products that 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.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Engineering Jobs
• Engineering & Technology Jobs
• Foodmanjobs
• LinkedIn.

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 with support 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 organisations such as CILT(UK). They offer a range of operations management qualifications from entry level certificates through to advanced certificates and diplomas.

General and specific management and leadership qualifications are also offered by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Both CILT(UK) and the CMI provide the opportunity to work towards chartered status.

You could also study for a Masters degree in production and manufacturing management if you don't already have one.

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, staff management and purchasing management. You can then move on to become production supervisor or shift manager before becoming a production manager.

Progression depends on your personal motivation and interests, as well as your career choices. For example, you may start in a smaller company and then move to a larger, international company to get a different experience, or you may already work for a large firm and move to a new role to progress your career further. The role varies significantly among different sectors, meaning you may end up specialising in one sector.

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.

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.