Production Manager
Production managers organise and control the production process in a factory. They ensure that products are made to the right specifications and are ready on time and within budget.
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Pay per yearGraduate Senior |
Job opportunitiesGood |
What you'll do
Production managers may do some or all of the following:
- Order and co-ordinate materials, supplies and equipment
- Set production goals, timetables and budgets
- Evaluate production processes, and report on production results
- Manage repairs, testing and upgrading of equipment
- Develop new products or production processes
- Recruit and train new production staff
- Meet with clients or customers
- Maintain safety standards in the factory
Entry requirements
To become a production manager you need to have experience working in a related role such as production planner or technical manager.
Employers may also prefer you to have a tertiary qualification, such as a certificate or diploma, in one of the following areas:
- Engineering or manufacturing technology
- Food technology
- Purchasing and materials management
- Quality assurance
- Supply chain management or warehouse logistics
For more information about your study options see: Areas of specialisation: Food, Wine and Beer
Personal requirements
Production managers need to be:
- Friendly and patient
- Organised, and good at planning
- Good at decision making and problem solving
- Excellent at communicating
- Good at leading people
- Able to work well under pressure, and deal with conflict
What are the chances of getting a job?
Opportunities for production managers are growing because:
- Manufacturing is expanding, with the largest sectors – food products, fabricated metal and machinery – continuing to provide the largest number of opportunities for production managers
- High-tech companies, such as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, are growing and require skilled production manager
- Many manufacturing companies – especially bigger high-tech companies – prefer to employ production managers who have experience in a trade, such as mechanical engineering, or who have a degree.
You can increase your chances by having:
- A good attitude to work
- Good communication and people skills, including being a good team player
- Good literacy and numeracy skills
- An ability to do shift work
- Some trades skills
- An interest in management
It is also useful to gain:
- Management qualifications
- Diverse experience in the manufacturing process, as production management requires an overview of the production process
Most manufacturing companies have a production manager. In small companies, which are often privately owned, the job may be combined with another role such as team administrator.
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This information is a guide only. Last updated 13 November 2023.