what is a production manager?
As a production manager, you help your employer maintain inventory levels and ensure they have enough raw materials for production activities. The responsibility for overseeing the purchase and distribution of items in a supply chain looks simple but involves complex processes. For example, if you work in a manufacturing plant for shoes, you source the raw materials, including cloth, rubber and plastic. These come from various suppliers and should be ordered on precise schedules to avoid production delays. Apart from raw materials, you also source packaging items like boxes, labels or mining equipment.
what does a production manager do?
In production, it is important to balance costs and benefits. For instance, you incur warehouse costs if you order excess raw materials. Your role as a production manager is to optimise the supply chain to ensure your employer has what they need in the right amounts and at the appropriate time to keep the costs low. Due to the broad scope of the role, a production manager requires exceptional multitasking skills to juggle various tasks and ensure the supply chain functions are accomplished.
find jobsaverage production manager salary
The average salary of a production manager in New Zealand is $97,500 per year. In an entry-level position, your remuneration begins at $65,000 yearly due to the minimal tasks. When you have adequate experience to handle complex duties, your earnings rise to $130,000 annually. A production manager's average remuneration package depends on qualifications and experience. As you improve your skills and experience, your earnings increase gradually. With experience, you can handle complex tasks and lead a larger team.
what factors affect the remuneration of a production manager?
Aside from educational qualifications and experience, your company and industry can influence your earnings. When you work for a large organisation, you will likely earn more due to the unlimited resources available. Large companies also have complex logistical needs. For instance, you transport large machinery and vast quantities of raw materials to fulfil the company's production requirements.
The location of the company you work for also determines your remuneration package. For instance, working in metro areas increases your salary potential due to large cities’ high demand for production managers. Some industries, like mining and manufacturing, are also located in remote areas to prevent pollution. production managers earn higher salaries for supervising complex production needs.
types of production managers
Some of the types of production managers include:
- inbound production managers: as a production manager, your sole focus can be the incoming flow of resources needed to produce products or services. Your responsibilities in inbound production are to manage suppliers' inventories and ensure transportation schedules are aligned with production schedules to prevent delays.
- outbound production managers: as an outbound production manager, you focus on delivering products on time to consumers. For instance, ensure the finished products are packaged and dispatched on time to meet customers' delivery schedules. You also maintain inventory in warehouses.
working as a production manager
Are you good at organising and prioritising tasks? Read on to discover logistic managers' daily responsibilities, work schedules and work environments.
-
production manager job description
Some of the roles of a production manager include:
- managing the flow of incoming raw materials and outgoing products: as a production manager, you control the flow of incoming raw materials and the distribution of finished products. You optimise distribution channels and create plans to ensure delivery schedules align with production plans.
- budgeting and costing: production managers control supply chain costs. Your job is to negotiate favourable prices with suppliers and shipping costs. You create a budget for supply chain functions and minimise shipping expenses by building lasting working relationships with suppliers, retailers and carriers.
- supervising shipping operations: as a production manager, you work with delivery drivers and carriers to optimise shipping functions. You focus on route optimisation and reviewing the performance metrics of each shipping method. You are also responsible for shipping equipment like forklifts and trucks. Hence, adhering to health and safety standards and ensuring the operational costs match the budget is important.
- maintaining the inventory: the primary role of a production manager revolves around inventory management. You keep records of inbound and outbound products or raw materials. You also track stock levels, delivery times, transport efficiency and budgets. When inventory and stock levels don't tally, you access shipping reports and audit the inventory accounts to identify discrepancies.
- supervising and training warehouse workers: as a production manager, your role also involves coaching and monitoring the performance of your workforce. For improved productivity, you train workers and address warehouse safety hazards. You also supervise the workers to ensure they adhere to safe industrial practices.
- introducing safety procedures: warehouse environments need safety procedures to minimise accidents and injuries. As a production manager, you ensure safety protocols are in place and employees follow them. For instance, you implement emergency procedures and train workers in handling hazardous materials.
-
work environment
A typical workday of a production manager revolves around solving transportation problems and dealing with customers' concerns. You perform these functions in warehouses, shop floors or manufacturing settings. Warehouse work environments are climate-controlled and well-lit to keep the products or raw materials in good condition and ready for shipping. In indoor office settings, you mainly work on your computer preparing reports or updating inventory management systems. You also spend considerable time off-site visiting clients or suppliers and negotiating shipping contracts.
-
who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include production officers, coordinators, procurement officers and warehouse operatives. You might also be working in close proximity to production coordinators and factory supervisors, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, warehouse managers, supervisors, supply chain managers, assistant managers and operations managers.
-
work schedule
The work schedule of a production manager depends on employment terms. For instance, a full-time contract requires you to work over 40 hours a week. Since production is a 24-hour operation, you often work overtime, including weekends, to keep up with delivery schedules and shipping times. Companies that need a production manager on-site have shift schedules. Part-time positions are rare in production manager roles, but some vacancies may be available. Remote work is also possible if you aren't required to inspect goods on arrival.
-
job outlook
As a production manager, you have promising career prospects and opportunities for growth in your field. If you want to scale upwards, consider becoming a supply chain manager who manages all aspects of supply chain processes, including production. You can also become an operations manager or product manager. Some production managers specialise in transportation or warehouse management.
-
advantages of finding a production manager job through randstad
Finding your production manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a production manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
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.
production manager skills and competencies
Some of the qualities of a production manager include:
- leadership skills: as a production manager, you monitor and supervise the company's transportation needs. You require strong management and leadership skills to guide your team. Your leadership skills are important in delegating tasks, providing useful feedback, managing conflict and maintaining focus on tasks. Leadership is also crucial in motivating your teams and solving problems.
- communication skills: as a production manager, you interact with numerous individuals as you organise transport for procured goods or equipment. Having sound communication skills is useful for conveying information clearly and writing reports.
- problem-solving skills: as a production manager, you work in a dynamic environment and interact with various people. That means conflicts and unforeseen challenges may arise. You require excellent problem-solving skills to help you prevent delays in the company's production schedules. Problem-solving skills combine of analytical reasoning, decision-making and active listening skills.
- organisation skills: as a production manager, you require exceptional planning skills to help you prioritise tasks and implement processes effectively. Organisational skills assist in creating efficient delivery plans, minimising waste, and managing outbound and inbound deliveries. Organisational skills also help you with time management, goal setting and strategizing.
FAQs about working as a storeperson
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of production manager.
-
what are the responsibilities of a 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.
-
what is the salary of a production manager?
A production manager takes home an average annual remuneration package of $97,500. When you are in an entry-level position, your earnings are slightly lower due to your limited experience. With better qualifications and skills, your salary increases.
-
is production a good career?
Working as a production manager is an exciting career with great opportunities to scale to higher roles. For instance, you can become a supply chain manager and supervise entire processes. Some production managers become operations managers and senior leaders in the company.
-
how do I become a production manager?
You require knowledge of production to become a production manager. Start with a diploma in production or bachelor's degree courses to gain management skills. You also require experience gained through internships and entry-level roles.
-
what skills does a production manager require?
As a production manager, you require leadership skills to supervise and monitor the team of people working in the company. Strong leadership skills allow you to delegate tasks, check progress, and provide effective feedback. You also use communication skills to interact with your team and prepare reports.
-
how do I apply for a production manager vacancy?
Applying for a production manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our production manager job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
