Production Manager Job Description & Roles and Responsibilities

Production Manager Job Description

A production manager plans, coordinates, and controls production activities to ensure the efficient and effective production of goods and services. These professionals monitor workforce performance to identify areas of improvement. A production manager is also responsible for adopting new production techniques that increase manufacturing efficiency. The production manager job description includes organising staff meetings to ensure effective communication within the company and discussing production goals and ways to coordinate them with organisational goals.

What are the Production Manager Roles and Responsibilities?

A manager works on maintaining the standard quality of products and services produced and keeps a check on timely delivery. Here are some of the production manager roles and responsibilities:

1. Production Planning and Scheduling:

Develop and implement production schedules to satisfy customer requirements and simultaneously minimise costs. Also coordinate with procurement and logistics to ensure the timely availability of materials.

2. Resource Management:

A production manager coordinates with other departments to effectively allocate resources for maximum productivity and to minimise wastage. He or she is responsible for managing inventory levels, conducting worker meetings, and determining the inventory size to be maintained to avoid the situation of understocking or overstocking.

3. Quality Control and Assurance:

Maintain quality standards to guarantee products meet specifications and conduct regular inspections to identify and rectify defects.

4. Method Analysis:

A production manager has to determine the method of production to be used while producing goods and services. Some methods are cost-efficient while others need in detailed analysis to consider them as a path of working. This also helps in identifying inefficient methods and developing strategies to overcome such problems.

5. Budget Management:

A production manager job duties include not only looking after the availability of inventory and the proper functioning of workers and equipment, but also ensuring that all the activities adhere to the budget of the production. He or she monitors that the budget is properly allocated to all the divisions of the manufacturing department, and there are minimal chances of wastage.

6. Quality Control:

A production manager duties include being responsible for maintaining the best quality of the product. Some pre-set quality standards have to be adhered to during the production of goods and services. The production manager has to be on his or her toes to evaluate the product outcomes and work on the deviations or errors found.

Career Progression of Production Managers

The career as a production manager progresses from entry-level positions to senior roles like plant manager or Director of Production. This depends on various factors like industry, experience, and skills. Below is a list of positions in the career progression of a production manager:

1. Entry-Level Production Manager: An entry-level production manager works on gaining hands-on experience in various skills required to become a production manager. Most prior roles involve assisting in production planning, inventory management, scheduling tasks, and learning the production process of the organisation. Entry-level positions include production coordinator and assistant production manager.

2. Production Supervisor: A production supervisor manages a team of workers and assigns them roles and responsibilities. He or she makes sure that the production process runs efficiently and high-quality products are manufactured. The production supervisor ensures that the output meets the desired specifications.

3. Plant Manager: A plant manager oversees the responsibilities of the entire plant. He or she ensures that all the production processes are taking place according to the planned strategies and that all the rules and regulations are adhered to. The plant manager plans, organises, directs, and runs the optimum day-to-day operations of the plant.

4. Operations Director: A Production Manager responsibilities can include succeeding in becoming an Operations Director of the company after possessing high knowledge of different company processes. The roles and responsibilities of the director of operations range from overseeing the operations of the entire organisation to evaluating the company's performance through analysis and interpreting data.

Qualifications Required to Become a Production Manager

A production manager must hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field. However, industry-relevant experiences and skills also prove to be helpful and attract recruiters.

Here is the list of some bachelor's degrees that can be pursued after 10+2 to become a production manager:

• Bachelor's in Business Administration

• B.Tech in Industrial Engineering

• Bachelor of Business Management

Skills Needed to Be a Production Manager?

A successful production manager possesses various skills, ranging from good leadership, sharp analysis for performance evaluation, and adaptability to market trends. Good communication skills are very important for a smooth connection between seniors and the workforce. Here are some of the important skills that must be included in the Production Manager position description:

• Leadership skills

• Communication skills

• Good technical knowledge

• Problem-solving skills

• Cost control and budgeting

• Decision-making skills

Best Recruiters For Production Managers

Recruiting production managers requires considering their knowledge, skills, industry experience, and location. Companies across sectors, including manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and even textiles, actively hire talented professionals for production management roles.

Here is the list of some top recruiters for production managers:

• TATA Consultancy Services

• Larsen & Turbo

• Lupin

• ITC

• Britannia Industries Limited

• Hindustan Unilever

Salary for Production Managers

The salary structure of production managers varies depending on several factors, including experience, industry, designation, and skills. On average, the annual earnings of a production manager range from Rs. 3.6 Lakhs - 28.6 Lakhs, with top recruiters offering higher salaries. Here is a list of the average salary of a production manager in top companies:

Source: AmbitionBox

Conclusion

A production manager work description includes managing the manufacturing units of an organisation. By optimising company resources, producing high-quality goods and services, they boost productivity. He or she acts as a problem-solver for the bottom-line workforce and conveys all the plans and strategies to them. The role of a production manager is indispensable and important to keep manufacturing processes on track.