How To Become an Industrial Production Manager

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Industrial Production Managers or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Industrial Production Managers what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Employers prefer Industrial Production Managers have at least a bachelor’s degree. While the degree may be in any field, many Industrial Production Managers have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or industrial engineering. Sometimes, production workers with many years of experience take management classes and become an Industrial Production Manager. At large plants, where managers have more oversight responsibilities, employers may look for managers who have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a graduate degree in industrial management.

How hard is it

You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be an Industrial Production Manager. For example, an accountant must complete 4 years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. These careers usually involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Similar careers include sales managers, database administrators, chemists, and art directors.

License and certifications

While not required, industrial production managers can earn certifications that show a higher level of competency in quality or management systems. The Association for Operations Management offers a Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential. The American Society for Quality offers credentials in quality control. Both certifications require specific amounts of work experience before applying for the credential, so they are generally not earned before entering the occupation.

Skills required

We asked other Industrial Production Managers if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Industrial Production Managers are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

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