Production Managers

 

“The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager." - Peter Drucker


Production can be defined as the process of creating goods and services that are meant to be consumed or sold. Professionals who manage and supervise the production in a factory are called Production Managers. Their main job is to plan, coordinate and control the manufacturing process. The aim of a Production Manager is to keep the production process running smoothly.

Choosing Production Management as a career is a good decision. The production industry is expected to progress at a steady rate and the job provides lots of opportunities for growth. Production Managers perform a variety of jobs that depend on the type of company you’re working for. There are jobs available for Production Managers in a lot of manufacturing industries like the Food Manufacturing Industry, Automobile Manufacturing Companies, Garment Production etc.


What do Production Managers do?

The main aim of a Production Manager is to produce the desired amount of goods and services while staying within the allocated budget and without compromising on the quality of the products. Production Managers are responsible for supervising both material and human resources. They constantly deal with people of their own team and ensure that the production process take place as planned.

 

One of the most important jobs of a Production Manager is to organize and plan production schedules. These schedules normally fix the time frames within which a particular stage of production has to be completed. Production Managers use these schedules to allocate tasks and make sure that the manufacturing process gets completed on time. This is important as factories generally follow rigid work timings that need to be adhered to while planning for production.

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Production Managers are also required to assess the type and amount of materials that will be required for the production process. They are then responsible for selecting, ordering and purchasing those materials so that the production process can carry on smoothly.

Another essential task that a Production Manager has to perform is to finalize timescales and budgets with clients and managers. This includes the setting of time frames within which a phase of production has to be completed and also finalizing the maximum amount of money and resources that can be utilized during that time frame for the process.

Production Managers establish quality control standards and ensure that they are followed. They have to explain to their workers the minimum acceptable quality and ensure that at no time does the unit manufacture goods that are below that quality.

Production Managers are also supposed to be in charge of supervising the production process and ensuring that everything takes place as planned. They have to solve problems and disputes on the spot so that the production does not stop. This includes writing reports about the production process.

Selecting and maintaining equipment and machinery is a very important task that a Production Manager has to perform. As most of the production can take place only when these machines are functioning, it is essential that they are regularly maintained and work properly.

Hiring, Training, Supervising, Evaluating and Motivating staff is another essential task that a Production Manager has to perform. Production Managers are heavily involved in the hiring and training processes. They allocate tasks and judge employees based on their performance. Most importantly, they constantly motivate their subordinates and employees to perform better and work hard.

Production Managers are also required to coordinate between different departments like Suppliers and Supply Chain Managers. They form the common link between two different departments and do their best to keep the communication process clean and clear.

Production of goods takes place inside a factory which is a hazardous place. Therefore, Production Managers are responsible for establishing the safety standards for that area and ensuring that they are followed. An example of such safety standards is wearing a hard hat before entering a construction site.

Production Managers are also required to observe, think and come up with new techniques and methods to produce goods and services more efficiently so that the profit margin increases.

 

How to become a Production Manager?

Production Managers allocate resources like labor and machinery, handle production scheduling and costs, make on the spot adjustments and coordinate the inflow and outflow of materials and goods. Most trained graduates start off at junior positions like Production Supervisor, Inventory Control etc. and then move up the ladder.


Becoming a Production Manager requires hard work and dedication. You need to concentrate on subjects like Physics, Math and English. Once you complete your 10th, you can choose to go into either Commerce stream or Science stream depending on whether you want to go into fields that provide technical knowledge or managerial knowledge. For example, joining a company that produces computers will require technical knowledge, whereas joining a garment production company will require more of managerial knowledge.

Most Production Managers are graduates in fields related to management. You should pursue a Bachelor’s degree post your schooling. You can also choose to do a Post – Graduation course after your graduation. This will help you gain more knowledge about the subject and improve your chances of promotion.

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Internships can prove to be a major help in this industry. You should try and work as an intern in as many places as possible during your school and college years. This will provide you with the necessary experience you need in dealing with employees and deadlines.

Networking is an essential task you have to perform in order to become a Production Manager. You have to build trust and establish relationships. Production Managers have important jobs; therefore people should see you as a responsible and honest professional.

You can also choose to pursue Diploma and Certificate courses in Management if you want to get into this industry. These courses can help you gain important industry skills that are required for this job.

Applying directly to companies and factories is another route you can choose if you want to become a Production Manager. Look for vacancies through newspapers and the internet. Apply to as many companies as possible even if there is no vacancy. They might contact you if they like your resume.

You can also choose to pursue some small – term industrial training courses which provide vocational training for Production Managers. These courses will help you get a feel of what it is like being on the job and introduce you to the type of problems a Production Manager has to encounter.


Institutions:


The type of courses you should pursue depend on the type of industry you want to work in. If you want to work in a very technical industry like an electronic equipment manufacturing firm, then you need to pursue an engineering course which will provide you with technical knowledge. The IITs are the best institutions in India for Engineering. They will provide you with a B.Tech in your specific field of engineering. Apart from the IITs, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IT-BHU) in Varanasi is a really good institution for a Bachelor’s in Engineering. IT – BHU also provides a B.Tech upon graduation.

Pursuing a M.B.A after your Bachelor’s in Engineering can be very beneficial. The IIMs are the best institutes for management studies in India. Apart from the IIMs, the Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi provides you with a great M.B.A degree.

If you want to join a less technical company such as garment manufacturing or food manufacturing, then a degree in management can be very helpful. You should pursue a B.B.A or a Bachelor’s in Management Studies and follow it up with a MBA degree. Christ College, Karnataka has a great B.B.A program. The IIMs and Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi are great institutions for your M.B.A.

If you want to become a Production Manager, you can also choose to pursue courses in fields like Manufacturing Technology, Food Technology and Purchasing and Materials Management.


What are the skills required to become a Production Manager?


The main job of a Production Manager is to ensure that the production of the goods is completed on time and within the budget. Production Managers need to deal with a variety of departments and people to ensure the smooth functioning of the production process. Therefore, they need to have great communication skills. Production Managers need to be very flexible and adjusting as they have to solve problems immediately. They should have the ability to lead workers and motivate them to perform better. They need to have basic accounting skills to make sure that the production costs do not exceed the allocated budget and the profit margin remains as high as possible. Production Managers also need to have certain technical skills such as knowing how to use the machinery, knowledge about the products that are produced etc. They should be able to solve problems on the spot and make quick decisions. Production Managers need to be able to handle pressure and meet deadlines. They also need to be responsible and honest as individuals. They should also have the ability to work in teams and coordinate with others. Most importantly, Production Managers need to have the genuine desire to lead and motivate workers to complete quality production assignments on time.


Is this the right career for me?

Production Managers spend their whole lives working in factories supervising the production of goods and services. They have to work for long hours in hot and noisy environments. They have to constantly deal with a lot of pressure and adhere to deadlines. They often have to go to the factory in the middle of the night to solve problems that have suddenly come up. It is a career that is well paying and offers opportunities for growth. You can go really far in this industry if you have the right skills and aptitude.

So if you’re interested in leading and motivating people to achieve goals, and if you’re willing to work hard and explore your potential in the field of management, then this might just be the right career for you.

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