Hagley Community College
Production Manager Kaiwhakahaere Whakaputa
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.
Production managers may choose to become certified through the NZ Association for Operations & Supply Chain Professionals (NZPICS), which offers modules in all aspects of production management and planning.
Production managers may do some or all of the following:
- order and co-ordinate materials, supplies and equipment
- set production goals, timetables and budgets
- evaluate production processes, and report on production results
- manage repairs, testing and upgrading of equipment
- develop new products or production processes
- recruit and train new production staff
- meet with clients or customers
- maintain safety standards in the factory.
Quality Manager
To specialise as a quality manager, it is recommended you complete a diploma in quality assurance.
- New Zealand Organisation for Quality website - information about qualifications in quality assurance
Technical Manager
To specialise as a technical manager, a tertiary qualification in an area relevant to the industry you work in, such as engineering, is preferred.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for production managers includes:
- experience in the industry that you want to work in
- management or engineering experience
- work in a factory or office.
Personal Qualities
Production managers need to be:
- friendly and patient
- organised and good at planning
- good at making decisions and solving problems
- excellent at communicating
- good at leading people
- able to work well under pressure, and deal with conflict.
Skills
Production managers need to have:
- financial and budgeting skills
- skill in analysing information and figures
- knowledge of employment relations laws.
Conditions
Production managers:
- work regular business hours or do shift work, which may include nights and weekends
- are usually based in an office or on the factory floor
- may work in conditions that are hot and noisy
- may travel locally or nationally to meet new customers or suppliers.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a production manager. However, business studies, chemistry, maths with statistics and/or calculus, and processing technologies are useful.
Production Managers can earn around $80K-$150K per year.
Pay for production managers varies depending on skills and experience.
- Production managers with one to two years' experience usually earn $80,000 to $95,000 a year.
- Production managers with three to six years' experience usually earn $90,000 to $120,000.
- Production managers with over seven years' experience can earn $115,000 to $150,000.
Source: Lawson Williams Consulting Group, 2023.
Production managers may progress into general management roles or take up similar positions in other industries.
They may also specialise in a role such as:
- Production Planner
- Production planners help ensure factories run smoothly by working out timetables and keeping necessary supplies in stock.
- Production Supervisor
- Production supervisors manage teams in factories or manufacturing workplaces.
- Quality Manager
- Quality managers ensure products meet relevant quality standards, set up quality assessment systems, and improve product quality.
- Technical Manager
- Technical managers are responsible for checking, maintaining and upgrading technology in production workplaces.
Years Of Training
1-3 years of training usually required.To become a production manager you need to have experience working in a related role such as production planner, production supervisor, operations manager 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.
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