Job profile:
Production Manager (m/f/d)
A production manager plays a crucial role in the manufacturing industry. This profession combines technical understanding and management skills to ensure the efficiency and quality of production processes. As the link between the management and the production employees, the production manager is responsible for planning, coordinating and controlling the manufacturing processes.
This job profile provides a detailed insight into the tasks, responsibilities and skills required for the role of Production Manager.
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What is a production manager? Definition and overview
A production manager, also known as a production manager or head of production is responsible for the entire manufacturing process of an industrial product. Whether in mechanical engineering, chemical companies or in the manufacture of consumer goods: as a production manager, you ensure that production runs smoothly and are responsible for all employees in production.
You will monitor production planning, ensure that production targets are met and implement improvements to increase efficiency. You will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations. Production manager is a profession that requires both analytical and communication skills.
It is not only the organization and management of production, but also quality management and employee management that make the area of responsibility of production managers so varied. In most manufacturing industries, the production manager is seen as a valued specialist who has a variety of tasks and brings a wealth of knowledge to the entire production process.
In addition to the production industry, there is also a production manager in the film industry. There, the person responsible takes care of the process on set.
Production manager salary:
What does a production manager earn?
The average salary for production managers in Germany is €64,000 gross per year. In addition to the fixed salary, some companies pay bonuses of €2,000 to €3,000 per year. However, the income of a production manager varies depending on the location of the company as well as academic degree and professional experience.
The industry also has a major influence on earnings in production management, which is why real salaries can often differ greatly.
Junior production manager salary: your starting salary in Germany
Senior Production Manager Salary
Production manager tasks and activities:
What does a production manager do?
Smooth production and therefore the quality of the product to be produced stands and falls with the competence of the production manager. As production manager, you must have an overview of the entire process.
This begins with the specification and purchasing of materials and includes the instruction and training of employees in production as well as quality assurance and error analysis. Thanks to close cooperation with marketing and sales, production management incorporates the latest findings in order to continuously improve the efficiency of production and keep an eye on the budget. Your tasks therefore also include the continuous improvement of processes and methods.
In the event of unexpected production backlogs or delays and errors, the production management team works to quickly identify the cause and find a solution. It is also important to have an overview of the machines and systems in operation. Is it necessary to purchase a new machine? Does an old system need to be shut down? These decisions are often the responsibility of the production manager.
The production manager also ensures and safeguards production and occupational safety, as well as monitoring environmental protection requirements. There is constant coordination between production management and plant management.
- Enabling smooth production processes
- Participation in product development and purchasing
- Technical and commercial planning and management of production
- Planning and controlling the use of materials and resources
- Quality assurance and improvement through constant monitoring
- Error and problem analysis
- Management, motivation and training of employees
- Contact person for all stakeholders on the topic of production
How do you become a production manager?
Training, studies & further education
If you want to become a production manager, you need several years of professional experience in production. There is therefore no specific production manager training. In many cases, the production manager has an academic background and has completed either a technical or business degree.
Nevertheless, even after many years in the company, you can work your way up through good performance and progress from shift supervisor to production manager. In this case, technical training may also be sufficient to climb the career ladder to production management.
The most important thing you need to have is experience in production and technical expertise. This is the only way you can be considered for the role of production manager.
Production manager training: The practical way
One way to become a production manager is to train in a technical or industrial profession. For example, training as an industrial mechanic or technical product designer could be a good basis for a career as a production manager. During your training, you will gain practical experience in production and learn how to monitor and optimize production processes.
Continuous further training is also important after completing your training in order to keep your knowledge at the highest level.
Production manager studies: the academic path
Another way to become a production manager is to study in a relevant subject area. A Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering, business administration or production management can provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful as a production manager. During your studies, you will learn how to plan, control and improve production processes, among other things. You will also acquire skills in employee management and business administration.
However, even in this case, you will still need to gain several years of professional experience in production or the desired industry after graduation in order to be promoted to production management.
Possible study programs for prospective production managers in Germany are:
Further training as a production manager: how to advance your career
Once you have gained a foothold in your career as a production manager, there are numerous opportunities for further training. For example, you could complete further training to become a technical business administrator in order to deepen your business knowledge. Or you could specialize in a specific area of production.
Possible further training courses for production managers are
- Lean Management and Six Sigma: advanced training in methods for value creation and value creation optimization
- Production Manager Module 1: Certification as Production Manager
- Technical business economist (IHK)
- Quality management
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Production manager skills: What hard and soft skills does a production manager need?
A production manager is a real all-rounder and therefore has knowledge and skills in various areas.
Time management, organizational skills and knowledge of lean production are particularly in demand in production management. Added to this is the ability to gain competitive advantages for the company through cost-efficient, customer-oriented production. A production manager should also have technical understanding and a methodical approach.
As the production manager is responsible for all employees in the production chain, high levels of communication, motivation and leadership skills are just as important as the ability to work in a team and, increasingly, foreign language skills.
Specifically, the production manager needs the following hard skills:
- Training or studies in engineering activities such as civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, media informatics
- Further training through special training courses for production management
- Specific industry knowledge
- Organizational management
- Error detection
- Leadership and communication skills
- Assertiveness
- Time management
- Load capacity
- Business fluent in foreign languages
Production manager career:
opportunities on the job market
In all manufacturing industries, smooth production and ensuring quality are key factors for the company's profitability. The production manager is the person who pulls the strings for the production chain together. Career prospects are good in all sectors, especially in engineering, and increasingly also in the production segment of life science.
Industry is still an extremely important part of the German economy. This is why production managers are in high demand. The shortage of skilled workers also means that experienced people in production management have good career prospects.
Top vacancies for production managers:
jobs throughout Germany
FAQ
The salary of a production manager in Germany is around € 63,000 gross per year. The industry and the size of the company have a very large influence on the amount you earn as a production manager.
A production manager is responsible for the entire production process of a company. They are responsible for resource planning, strategy development and employee management. The aim is to guarantee a smooth process.
The terms production manager and production manager are usually used interchangeably. However, the word manufacturing refers exclusively to material goods, while production also describes the creation of services or cultural goods, such as films.
The production manager leads the team of production employees in the industry. They themselves often report to a department head or directly to the management.