Industrial Production Manager

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

On the job, you would:

Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
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.

Important Qualities

Business skills. Industrial production managers handle budgets for production facilities, hire and manage staff, and coordinate work between different departments.

Interpersonal skills. Industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff. Some industrial production managers oversee customer relationships.

Leadership skills. To keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees.

Organizational skills. Industrial production managers must keep track of many details to efficiently manage the operations of a production facility.

Problem-solving skills. Production managers must identify and address problems that arise. For example, if a product has a defect, the manager determines whether it is a one-time problem or the result of the production process.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		93%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		87%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		87%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		86%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		84%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		83%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		82%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		82%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		81%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		80%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		78%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		77%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		77%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		76%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		69%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		65%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
		83%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		83%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		78%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		72%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		67%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		67%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		67%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		75%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		72%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		69%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		66%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		63%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		63%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		56%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		56%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		53%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		53%	Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
		53%	Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
		53%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
		53%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		70%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		63%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		61%	Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
		59%	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
		57%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		57%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		57%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		57%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		57%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		57%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		57%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		57%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		57%	Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
		57%	Management of Material Resources - Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
		55%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		55%	Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
		55%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		55%	Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
		54%	Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
		54%	Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
		54%	Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
		52%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		52%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Conduct environmental audits.

Design industrial processing systems.

Direct operational or production activities.

Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.

Maintain regulatory or compliance documentation.

Monitor external affairs or events affecting business operations.

Implement design or process improvements.

Prepare operational reports.

Supervise employees.

Direct sales, marketing, or customer service activities.

Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.

Approve expenditures.

Prepare operational budgets.

Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.

Monitor organizational procedures to ensure proper functioning.

Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.

Evaluate employee performance.

Conduct employee training programs.

Hire personnel.

Manage control system activities in organizations.

Maintain personnel records.

Prepare operational progress or status reports.

Evaluate quality of materials or products.

Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.

Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.

Implement organizational process or policy changes.

Develop organizational methods or procedures.

Develop specifications for new products or processes.

Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.

Direct facility maintenance or repair activities.

Recommend organizational process or policy changes.

Maintain knowledge of current developments in area of expertise.

Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		97%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		95%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		92%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		90%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		89%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		89%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		89%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		88%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		87%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		87%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		86%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		85%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		82%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		80%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		78%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		71%	Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
		69%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		62%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		62%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		62%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		59%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		56%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		56%	Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
		55%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		54%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		53%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		51%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		51%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		85%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		87%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		86%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		83%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		80%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		80%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		75%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		74%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		72%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		71%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		70%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		69%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		69%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		69%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		68%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		68%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		67%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		66%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		66%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		66%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		65%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		64%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		64%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		64%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		63%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		62%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		62%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		61%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		60%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		58%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		58%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		53%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		53%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		52%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

What Industrial Production Managers Do

Industrial production managers monitor a plant’s workers to ensure they meet safety standards.

Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct activities involved in creating a range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, and paper products.

Duties

Industrial production managers typically do the following:

Decide how best to use a plant’s workers and equipment to meet production goals
Ensure that production stays on schedule and within budget
Communicate with sales staff, customers, and suppliers
Hire, train, and evaluate workers
Analyze production data
Review production reports
Monitor a plant’s workers and programs to ensure they meet performance and safety requirements
Streamline the production process
Assess whether production needs, such as for equipment upgrades or overtime work, are within budget
Lead staff in resolving problems or improving production

Industrial production managers, also called plant managers, may oversee an entire manufacturing plant or a specific area of production.

Some industrial production managers are responsible for carrying out quality control programs to make sure the finished product meets standards for quality. Often called quality control systems managers, their work helps to identify a defect in products, identify the cause of the defect, and solve the problem that created it. For example, a manager may determine that a defect is being caused by parts from an outside supplier. The manager can then work with the supplier to improve the quality of the parts.

Industrial production managers who oversee an entire plant often work closely with managers from other departments, such as sales, warehousing, and research and design. For example, they might coordinate with a manager for the procurement (buying) department about orders for supplies that the production department needs.

Work Environment

Industrial production managers held about 222,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of industrial production managers were as follows:

Transportation equipment manufacturing	11%
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	9
Chemical manufacturing	9
Food manufacturing	7
Machinery manufacturing	7

Industrial production managers spend some of their time in an office and some of it in the production area. When they are in the production area, they may need to wear protective equipment, such as a helmet, hearing protection, or safety goggles.

Work Schedules

Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.

Getting Started

Education:

29%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

26%

Bachelor's Degree

How to Become an Industrial Production Manager

Industrial production managers need leadership and interpersonal skills to supervise manufacturing employees.

Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience.

Education

Employers typically require or prefer that industrial production managers have a bachelor’s degree. However, some workers qualify for jobs if they have a high school diploma and extensive production experience.

For workers who have a degree, common majors include business and engineering. Some employers prefer to hire industrial production managers who have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a graduate degree in industrial management.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Industrial production managers usually need years of work experience in supervisory or other leadership positions. Some begin as production workers and move up through the ranks.

Industrial production workers usually advance to supervisory or other leadership positions before eventually becoming industrial production managers. Some take company-sponsored management classes to increase their chances of a promotion.

Those with a college degree might begin as a supervisor or lower-level manager. Other college graduates may be hired as an industrial production manager and complete training programs. Some begin working as an industrial production manager directly after college or graduate school. They may spend their first few months in training programs, becoming familiar with the production process, company policies, and safety regulations. In large companies, they may spend short periods of time working in other departments, such as purchasing or accounting, to learn more about the company.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although they are not required to do so, industrial production managers may earn certifications to demonstrate competency in quality or management systems. The American Society of Quality (ASQ) offers credentials in quality control and various levels of Six Sigma certifications. Because these credentials often require specific work experience, they typically are not available prior to entering the occupation.

Job Outlook

Employment of industrial production managers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 15,300 openings for industrial production managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Most of these managers are employed in manufacturing industries, some of which are expected to have declining employment due to greater productivity. However, because industrial production managers are responsible for coordinating work activities with the goal of increasing productivity, they will continue to be needed in this capacity.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about quality management and certification, visit

American Society for Quality

For general information about manufacturing careers, visit

National Association of Manufacturers

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of industrial production managers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.	Bachelor's degree	$138,730
Architectural and Engineering Managers	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering.	Bachelor's degree	$159,920
Construction Managers	Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.	Bachelor's degree	$101,480
Health and Safety Engineers	Health and safety engineers combine knowledge of engineering and of health and safety to develop procedures and design systems to protect people from illness and injury and property from damage.	Bachelor's degree	$100,660
Industrial Engineers	Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.	Bachelor's degree	$96,350
Management Analysts	Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.	Bachelor's degree	$95,290
Mechanical Engineers	Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.	Bachelor's degree	$96,310
Operations Research Analysts	Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.	Bachelor's degree	$85,720
Sales Managers	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams.	Bachelor's degree	$130,600
Top Executives	Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.	Bachelor's degree	$100,090