Industrial production managers have to look after the production process, quality maintenance, and coordination among all the departments of the unit.
The Production Process
- The most prominent function of an industrial production manager’s job is to be fully familiar with the unit’s existing production systems, expenses, and company policies.
- The production manager must monitor the production process personally.
- The manager should try to cut costs wherever possible.
- The manager must ensure timely production.
- It is the production manager’s duty to assess the industrial unit’s human and capital resources and plan their optimal utilization to achieve company objectives.
- The production manager must periodically monitor the condition of the requisite machinery and determine the need for new machines.
- The industrial production manager must solve any existing problems in the plant and be able to anticipate potential difficulties.
- Industrial production managers monitor the quality standards of the final products and are responsible for
implementing quality control measures.
- The production managers, if they feel the need, introduce training programs for plant personnel.
- The managers also deal with suppliers as necessary to improve product quality.
- Industrial production managers are required to do many things simultaneously.
- Even in emergencies, the production manager must ensure smooth functioning of the production processes.
- Industrial production managers must confer with the directors of several other related departments for guidance and coordination purposes.
- The industrial production manager keeps personnel and machines in a ready state to execute the company’s objectives.
- The production manager and procurement departments work jointly to maintain the optimal levels of plant inventories.
- Industrial production managers function as liaisons between executives and first-line supervisors.
Employment Outlook
The market for industrial production managers is not likely to be a hot one in the coming years. Overall employment in manufacturing has declined of late. Many industries have moved their production plants to other countries, and this trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, with the introduction of more advanced machinery, fewer workers can now produce much more.
Nonetheless, the work of an industrial production manager is essential in any industry, and as such, numerous job opportunities remain.
In 2004, about 160,000 people worked as industrial production managers in various industries, and the median annual salary for the position was $73,000.
