Nature of work
A production manager is involved in planning, coordinating and controlling of manufacturing processes. He/she ensures that goods and services are produced efficiently and that the whole production is produced according to the determined cost and level of quality. The scope of the job depends on the nature of the production system: quantity, process, or batch production. The nature of work depends on the size of the organization. However, tasks typically involve: overseeing the production process, setting up a production schedule, ensuring that the production cost is effective, making sure that products are produced on time and good quality. He/she also drafts a timescale for the tasks, estimates costs and sets the quality standards. He/she monitors the production processes and adjusts schedules as needed. In addition, he/she is responsible for the selection and maintenance of equipment, monitors product standards and implements quality-control programs. He/she deals with different departments, e.g. suppliers, managers. He/she works with managers to implement the company's policies and goals, ensures that health and safety guidelines are followed. Environment of work
He/she may have to work shifts and unsocial hours, especially in the early stages of his/her career. He/she may need to work extended hours, particularly if there are deadlines to be met or new systems to be introduced. In small enterprises, he/she will spend long time on the shop floor supervising staff, where the environment can be quiet and pleasant, or noisy and dirty, depending on the nature of the organization. Opportunities for self-employment are limited, but people with considerable experience in production management are sometimes engaged as consultants to help industries implement new manufacturing and production systems. Dress code is usually business casual, but he/she will need to dress more formally when meeting suppliers, managers or business people. The job can be stressful but rewarding and he/she will definitely need good time management and excellent attention to details. Most production managers tend to work in one site, but some are responsible for operations in some locations, including locations abroad, and will be required to travel and spend time away from home. Professional life
Graduates often start as trainees and gain experience in different aspects of production management before moving on to become production supervisor or shift manager. Some production managers eventually pursue a more strategic role and become involved with long-term planning rather than day-to-day operations. There are often opportunities to move into general management. In larger organizations he/she may be responsible for production on a number of sites, and opportunities to set up and manage operations overseas may arise with multinational firms. Moving up in the profession depends on his/her personal motivation and interest, as well as his/her career choices. Many who are new to the profession find that he/she is encouraged by his/her employers to acquire a professional qualification, and it may prove advantageous to do so. In any case, manager needs to continually update his/her knowledge and experience as new systems and processes become available.Range of typical starting salaries: 60000 SYP plus potential bonuses.
Getting the job
Most employers require production managers to have a bachelor’s degree and 2 to 5 years of related work experience. Most industrial production managers have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or industrial engineering. Sometimes, a production worker with many years of experience takes management classes and becomes a production manager. At large firms, where managers have more oversight responsibilities, employers may look for a manager who has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a graduate degree in industrial management. Some managers could work at a company directly after college or graduate school. They spend their first few months in training programs, becoming familiar with the production process, company policies, and safety regulations. Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in the following subjects may increase his/her chances: mechanical engineering, food science/technology, process engineering, business/management, electrical and electronic engineering, materials science/technology, transport/distribution/logistics, chemistry, physics, biochemistry. Skills
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:- Planning and organizing skills.
- Ability to act decisively.
- Ability to grasp concepts easily.
- Problem-solving capabilities.
- ICT literacy.
- Attention to details.
- Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Excellent time management.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to motivate others.
- Ability to work in a logical, systematic manner.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Leadership skills.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Time-management skills.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:- www.poms.org, Production and Operations Management Society
- www.apics.org, The Association for Operations Management
- The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
- www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
- Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.