Occupation · SOC 11-3051
Industrial Production Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
Median wage
$121,440
$74,900–$197,310
Projected growth
+1.9%
Slower than average
Annual openings
460
per year
Employed (US)
234,380
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
3,358 mapped
Core skills
Judgment and Decision MakingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringCoordinationActive ListeningReading ComprehensionTime Management
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingMathematics
Technology & tools
Facilities management softwareDocument management softwareVideo creation and editing softwareDesktop publishing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Representative tasks
Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during proDirect or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial orgReview processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Production schedules and work orders — review and interpret under supervisor guidance to identify staffing and inventory needs on the plant floor.Raw material and finished product samples — collect and inspect according to established quality standards under direct supervision in a manufacturing facility.Production tracking software — enter shift data and generate basic operational reports following established protocols in an industrial production environment.Equipment operation logs and maintenance records — read and summarize to flag potential processing issues for senior managers on an active production line.Safety and processing protocols — follow and apply consistently during daily production activities on the manufacturing floor.Production team communications — listen actively and relay instructions accurately between supervisors and line workers in a high-volume plant setting.Staffing rosters and duty assignments — assist in preparing and distributing under the direction of a production manager during scheduled shift planning.Basic mathematical calculations — apply to verify batch quantities, material measurements, and output counts during routine production runs.Inventory management software — use to monitor stock levels and flag low-supply conditions to supervisors in a warehouse or production storage area.New employee onboarding tasks — support by demonstrating standard operating procedures to incoming production staff under managerial direction.
developing
Quality control checkpoints — monitor and document across multiple stages of production to detect deviations from prescribed standards in a mid-sized manufacturing facility.Production processing schedules — review and adjust independently to balance workload, inventory levels, and budgetary constraints across active production shifts.Personnel grievances and routine HR issues — address and resolve using established company policy and human resources software with reduced supervisory oversight.Operational and production reports — analyze regularly to identify trends, inefficiencies, or quality problems and recommend corrective actions to department leadership.Cross-functional staff meetings — facilitate to coordinate production, maintenance, and quality teams in resolving recurring processing problems on the plant floor.Hiring and onboarding processes — execute for production line roles by screening candidates, conducting evaluations, and delivering role-specific training programs.Industrial control software — configure and monitor to track production throughput and ensure output meets established scheduling targets in an automated plant environment.New product specifications and process documentation — review in collaboration with research and technical staff to prepare the production floor for pilot runs.Time management across concurrent production orders — apply structured prioritization methods to meet delivery deadlines within a multi-line manufacturing operation.Personnel performance records — maintain accurately and use to inform merit evaluations and duty reassignments across a production department.
proficient
Full-scope production operations — direct and coordinate autonomously across processing, distribution, and scheduling functions within a large industrial organization.Quality assurance systems — develop and implement end-to-end, integrating sample testing, in-process inspections, and statistical analysis to ensure finished goods meet prescribed standards.Complex production and processing problems — diagnose and resolve independently by conferring with engineering, technical, and administrative staff across multiple departments.Production tracking and quality control platforms — design configuration standards and lead deployment across facility systems to enable real-time performance monitoring.Non-routine staffing challenges — manage decisively, including disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, and workforce restructuring in response to operational shifts.Budget and resource allocation decisions — evaluate and execute for production departments by analyzing cost data, capacity utilization, and time constraints against organizational goals.Cross-departmental process improvement initiatives — lead by applying systems analysis and inductive reasoning to identify root causes and redesign workflows in manufacturing environments.New product and process development proposals — evaluate critically and integrate into production planning through structured collaboration with R&D and support staff.Learning and development strategies — design and apply for production staff to address skill gaps, improve safety compliance, and support operational advancement.Comprehensive production and personnel reports — prepare and present to senior leadership, conveying operational performance metrics and strategic recommendations for improvement.
advanced
Organizational production strategy — set and champion across multiple facilities or business units, aligning manufacturing priorities with enterprise-level financial and operational goals.Quality management culture — establish and sustain across an industrial organization by defining standards, sponsoring continuous improvement programs, and holding leaders accountable.Senior production management talent — identify, develop, and mentor to build a deep leadership pipeline capable of sustaining high-performance manufacturing operations.Enterprise-wide systems evaluation — lead periodic assessments of industrial control, inventory, and facilities management platforms to drive technology modernization decisions.Capital investment and capacity planning decisions — direct by synthesizing engineering analysis, market demand forecasts, and budget constraints at an organizational scale.Cross-functional executive alignment — orchestrate among operations, supply chain, HR, and finance leadership to resolve systemic production challenges and enable strategic growth.Industry regulatory and compliance frameworks — interpret and institutionalize across production operations, ensuring full adherence while minimizing disruption to output targets.Organizational learning and knowledge management systems — design and champion to capture production expertise, standardize best practices, and reduce operational risk across facilities.Novel product and process innovation initiatives — sponsor and guide from concept through commercialization by integrating research, engineering, and production capabilities at scale.Organizational performance metrics and accountability structures — define and deploy across production leadership teams to drive measurable achievement of quality, efficiency, and safety objectives.
Also known as
58 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Gas Operations ManagerProduction SuperintendentFactory SuperintendentPlant ChiefBrewing DirectorMaterials CoordinatorBulk Plant ManagerQuality Assurance Supervisor (QA Supervisor)Quality ManagerFactory ManagerPlant General Manager (Plant GM)Manufacturing ManagerSub Plant ManagerSuperintendent, Car ConstructionMaterials PlannerProduction Managing SupervisorValue Stream ManagerSuperintendentVinous Liquor Wine MakerManufacturing PlannerManufacturing Project ManagerProduction Control SupervisorCar Construction SuperintendentFood Processing Plant ManagerManufacturing Plant ManagerConcrete Mixing Plant SuperintendentWine MakerProduction ForemanProduct Line ManagerSawmill ManagerPlant ManagerPlant SuperintendentProduction ManagerManufacturing CoordinatorManager, Food Processing PlantManufacturing DirectorManufacturing Operations ManagerGeneral SupervisorGeneral Superintendent, MillingSuperintendent, Industries, Correctional Facility