Operations managers are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating operations of their particular plant, company, or organization. That means deciding on how the facility will be laid out and how it will function; that means formulating policies and products, controlling inventory and its distribution, working out logistics requirements and creating schedules of operations. Operations managers can be managers of a single plant or they can manage an entire large corporation, in which case their duties often overlap with those of the company’s chief executive officer, or CEO.
There are degrees in operations management—you can earn a bachelor’s in the subject. Business majors may choose to take courses in it as part of their degree, and students obtaining an MBA may even choose to specialize in operations management. For those looking to make their plant manager job a higher-profile career, there are master’s degrees and doctorates available in operations management as well.
If you are hoping to pursue a career in this field, you may be wondering what schooling you should look for. While an MBA with either a management focus or a degree in operations management itself will give you a leg up into the managerial corporate ladder, the MBA is the more flexible degree, offering more skills that transfer into other areas, as well as special skills for operations management.
The master’s degree in operations management gives you greater refinement of those skills. You will get specialized expertise in management, not just a general grasp of the concepts. That means that the right degree for you depends on what kind of career you are looking for. Do you want to focus only on operations management, or would you like to keep your options open in case another area turns out to be the right one for you? Choose according to these priorities.
There are some other skills you will need, in addition to the appropriate degree, if you want to turn your plant manager job into something higher on the corporate ladder. You have to understand people and business processes intimately, be good at solving problems, be capable of planning in detail, and be excellent at making decisions and managing people and operations.
Strong leadership abilities, problem solving and analytical skills, the ability to communicate well with others, and an assertive personality are also required in operations management. Additionally, anyone entering this field will need to be intimately familiar with business system analysis, computer technology, and important planning techniques as well as quantitative methods. This is the only way their business will be able to keep up with the currently rapidly growing and changing market.
Titles of entry-level jobs may be things like project manager, plant manager, operations consultant, business process manager, or simply operations manager. Generally, people who specialize in operations management start out in quality control, production control, logistics, or service delivery. They move upward from there, controlling and managing broader and more important areas as their careers progress.
Once they have proven themselves in the field, they can become senior managers of operations or senior produce managers, and then begin crossing over into other corporate positions as well. Salaries range from around $46,000 for an entry-level position to over $75,000 for senior-level personnel.
Operations management is crucial to any organization’s success, making it a field that is not as likely to be affected by higher competition or a struggling economy. That makes it an even smarter choice for a career. If you love keeping things running correctly, it might be time to turn your plant manager job into a career. The right education and the right job choices are what you need to make that happen. Your current employer may even be willing to help you if you are interested in going back to school.
You may be permitted to attend school part-time and work your current job full-time; some employers are even willing to help you with tuition, paying part or all of class fees. In turn you must promise to stay with the company so they can benefit from your knowledge. You will be guaranteed a steady job and you will be able to advance your career. Companies are willing to do this because they get a more-qualified operations manager out of the bargain. So if you want to work on your career, now is the time to find out more about expanding your education.
Of course, if you already have the education you need, finding the right job is more of a priority. Do not just check the classifieds or job sites—that is a mistake a lot of people make. While these locations offer a lot of good opportunities, do not forget to send your information to companies you would like to work for, even if they are not hiring. You could be the perfect candidate for a position they have not announced.
