Career: Industrial Production Managers
Though much of today’s manufacturing is now done by factories overseas, there are still a number of manufacturing plants in the United States. Many of these factories involve complicated systems of machinery, computers, and workers.
The industrial production manager is the person in charge of day-to-day operations, making sure it all works together as quickly and cheaply as possible, while still turning out a quality product.
The industrial production manager is in charge of planning, budgeting, and monitoring a plant's production schedule.
Did You Know?
- Many plants now use “lean” production techniques, rather than assembly lines. Here, employees work in teams, each member doing several steps, rather than just one.
Are You Ready To...?
- Work both on the factory floor as well as at a desk in the office
- Review the performance of people working for you
- Meet strict deadlines under intense pressure
- Handle emergencies with a cool head
- Hire and fire
- Set production quotas
- Keep an eye on the stock of raw materials
- Make sure machinery is well taken care of
- Make sure safety guidelines are followed
- Measure product quality
- Meet with other managers
It Helps to Be...
Someone who can work on several tasks at once, works well with others, and likes to solve problems and take on constantly changing challenges.
Make High School Count
- Sign up for computer courses. In some plants, computers are used to run assembly-line machinery. In other cases, computers are used to manage inventory.
- Build strong writing and communication skills in English, speech, and drama -- you’ll have to write reports and speak with your employees.
- Take accounting. The methods you learn will help you work on budgets and report on progress.
- Enroll in shop class. Experience with tools and materials will come in handy.
Did You Know?
- In order to improve quality and efficiency, the industrial production manager may experiment, changing the manufacturing process.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for industrial production managers to decline by 2016.
With productivity increasing because of better production methods and computers, fewer employees are needed -- and therefore fewer managers. Still, there will be a need for new managers to fill positions left open when people retire or leave the field for other reasons. For the best positions, you’ll need a degree in a related field, such as business, engineering, or industrial management.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average yearly salary for industrial production managers was $91,200 in 2008.
