What Do Industrial Production Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Industrial Production Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications. They also review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.

Other tasks include:

• Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
• Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
• Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
• Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
• Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
• Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.

We asked Industrial Production Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Industrial Production Managers review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints. They develop budgets or approve expenditures for supplies, materials, or human resources, ensuring that materials, labor, or equipment are used efficiently to meet production targets.

A typical day for an Industrial Production Manager will also include:

• Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
• Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
• Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
• Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
• Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.

We asked some Industrial Production Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	75% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	25% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	77% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Industrial Production Managers also maintain current knowledge of the quality control field, relying on current literature pertaining to materials use, technological advances, or statistical studies. They may also coordinate or recommend procedures for facility or equipment maintenance or modification, including the replacement of machines.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Industrial Production Managers Review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes. They might also Negotiate materials prices with suppliers.

In addition, they Institute employee suggestion or involvement programs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.

To some Industrial Production Managers, it is also their responsibility to Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Industrial Production Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/management/industrial-production-managers.htm

http://www.apics.org/

http://asq.org/index.aspx

http://www.nam.org/