Production manager

Production manager job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Responsibilities of the job include:

• planning and organising production schedules
• assessing project and resources requirements
• estimating, negotiating and agreeing budgets and timescales with clients and managers
• determining quality control standards
• overseeing production processes
• re-negotiating timescales or schedules as necessary
• selecting, ordering and purchasing materials
• organising the repair and routine maintenance of production equipment
• liaison with buyers, marketing and sales staff
• supervising the work of junior staff.

In larger companies there may be close links between production management and general or strategic management and marketing or finance roles.

Typical employers of production managers

Food manufacturing and processing companies employ the majority of production managers.

Most graduates begin their career as trainees or in junior posts such as production supervisor, material planner, inventory control etc. With appropriate experience, production managers may gain responsibility for several sites - possibly including production plants overseas.

Vacancies are advertised via the internet, by careers services, in newspapers and specialist publications such as Production Engineering Solutions and Food Manufacture. Specialist recruitment agencies may also advertise vacancies.

Qualifications and training required

To become a production manager a good degree in an appropriate subject is normally necessary. A small number of universities offer specialist undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in production management.

Key skills for production managers

• confidence
• technical skills
• organisation
• interpersonal skills
• problem solving skills
• IT skills
• communication skills
• team working skills

Managers must also be able to handle responsibility and the pressure of meeting deadlines.