Production management is an expansive process in my experience. I say this because managing, monitoring, and improving the operational efficiency of different manufacturing processes has demanded the best of my efforts and expertise. This is why I believe this field demands diverse skills, including technical skills like financial understanding, knowledge of industry trends and guidelines, agile management, and interpersonal skills like communication, problem-solving, leadership, etc.
To gain these skills, I started with a comprehensive POPM course and gained some hands-on experience in production management. If you also plan to begin your career in this field, read on. I have explained the top skills you must acquire to become a production manager in 2024.
What Skills Does a Production Manager Need?
Production managers are crucial in meeting various industries' manufacturing and product development goals. They delegate labor resources, monitor production schedules, and configure costs to minimize expenditure and ensure everything gets accomplished smoothly.
Simply put, they oversee the entire production process. This is why production manager competencies like operational efficiency, knowledge of process optimization techniques, supply chain and inventory management, data analysis, etc., are a must.
Types of Skills for Production Managers
Key skills for production managers can be categorized into two broad categories: hard and soft skills. Hard skills cover the technical aspects of production manager skills, while soft skills include the interpersonal ability to work with others, communicate effectively, plan ahead of time, etc.
Top Hard Skills for Production Managers
Key skills of production managers include data-driven decision-making, process optimization, technical knowledge, etc.
- Data-driven Decision Making: Data is one of the most vital elements for a product manager. In fact, the entire product roadmap should be based on data. Whether it is to fine-tune an existing product feature or to flag bottlenecks in the manufacturing process, data can guide product managers to the right places.
- Operational Efficiency and Process Optimization: Production managers must be aware of the operational efficiency of the process and aim to enhance it by applying introductory economic principles. While they don't need a whole degree in economics, they must have a ground-level understanding of utilizing available resources to maximize efficiency. That said, optimizing processes for maximum efficiency is a common roadblock for most production managers.
- Technical Knowledge and Industry Expertise: Do production managers have to come from a technical background, like Headspace's Ashok Bania? Not necessarily. While having a technical background can help, even non-technical workers can aim to become production managers. With relevant experience, skills, and training, anyone can acquire the key skills of a production manager.
Top Soft Skills for Production Managers
Besides technical expertise, having interpersonal skills like leadership, problem-solving, research, etc., can give you an upper hand. These production manager key skills include the following.
- Leadership and Team Management: Good leadership skills are essential for all management-related job roles. Product managers adept at leading multidisciplinary teams can help employees overcome successes and challenges.
- Problem-Solving: Production managers must be able to find and resolve problems that arise in the production process. Being good at problem-solving opens your horizons to weigh different options and select the best fit for your workplace. In tandem with conflict resolution, this can make you a proficient production manager.
- Active Listening: A good production manager must also be a good listener. Actively listening, comprehending, and responding effectively helps the manager and team members collaborate better. This is a great way to build trust and transparency in the workplace.
Most Important Production Manager Skills in 2024
Now that you know the hard and soft production manager skills required to be good at your work, here is a list of the most critical skills 2024.
1. Resource Optimization and Efficiency
Today, maximizing production output is one of the most important competencies for a production manager. As resources are often always restricted, ensuring sustainability has become paramount, especially without compromising today's requirements. Production managers can follow techniques like resource leveling to adjust and balance the demand and supply of required resources. Further, resource smoothing can be done to ensure production does not go beyond the defined constraints and follows the plan.
2. Advanced Technology Integration
Technology adoption and integration have become inevitable in today's world. All businesses now utilize some or other kind of advanced automation technology to scale and enhance business processes. Consequently, most manufacturing and production businesses also seek ways to integrate technology like IoT, AI, ML, etc. Needless to say, production manager qualifications and skills include staying abreast with tech developments, understanding their application in real life, managing their implementation, and driving innovation.
3. Strategic Workforce Management
Production managers work with multidisciplinary teams. They are responsible for training them, managing their activities, and delegating duties. This is why production managers must be skillful at workforce planning and management. But it doesn't end here. Finding and retaining talent has become a chore, especially with the evolving labor market. In such a situation, they must ensure their workforce is motivated, productive, and cared for.
4. Quality Control and Continuous Improvement
Quality is a non-negotiable factor for every target consumer or market. A production manager's responsibility is to ensure that the end product is of utmost quality and to improve it based on feedback (if there is any). This involves establishing clear guidelines on quality assurance, testing the product routinely, being agile in spotting defects and roadblocks, and encouraging feedback from the team. Production managers skilled in quality assurance and continuous improvement are highly demanded as they consistently meet customers' expectations and regulatory requirements.
An Agile certification course can help you get more experienced in quality assurance and continuous improvement.
5. Project Management and Scheduling
Fundamentally, production management is a special kind of project management where the project is concerned with manufacturing something. It requires the skills and abilities to think, plan, delegate, coordinate, and implement production activities within a stipulated time and budget. Production managers must be familiar with project management, guiding principles, tools, and techniques like Scrum planning, dashboards, infographics, Gantt charts, etc.
6. Financial Acumen
For all managers handling projects or production, having financial knowledge is imperative. Since most of their work involves minimizing costs and maximizing output and production efficiency, production managers must effectively follow the budget. They must conduct cost-benefit analyses, predict financial outcomes, and ensure the overall profitability of the process.
7. Communication and Collaboration
Communication skills are vital for all job positions. Communicating and explaining complex things to even non-technical stakeholders makes collaborating easier and ensures transparency in the process. Production managers who listen actively and communicate effectively can foster a preferred work environment among all team members.
8. Crisis Management and Adaptability
Production is often unpredictable and prone to disruptions like supply chain issues, equipment failures, etc. Regardless of the disruption, production managers must be on their toes to identify potential bottlenecks and act swiftly to prevent damage. They must devise contingency plans, keep backups, and manage their teams through crises. This is why staying agile is among the most preferred qualities of a good production manager.
Production Manager Skills by Experience
Production managers at all levels must have the necessary skills and knowledge of production, communication, cost analysis, technology integration, and the ones mentioned above. However, the veracity of these qualities of a good production manager might vary with years of experience. Let's see how.
A. Entry-Level/ Beginner
- Knowledge of production processes and manufacturing techniques.
- Attention to detail.
- Ability to meet deadlines and report to senior management.
- Good interpersonal skills - communication, observation, active listening, etc.
B. Intermediate/ Mid-senior
- Knowledge of production process, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles.
- Leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Sound understanding of global manufacturing regulations and standards.
- Familiarity with production management software and tools.
- Experience working in diverse teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
C. Advanced/ Senior
- Excellent team-leading skills and experience.
- Knowledge of advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Ability to integrate the latest tech into the scope of production.
- Good at optimization - budgeting, minimizing costs, and resource allocation.
- Experienced in crisis management.
- Agile decision-making.
Conclusion
Production management is a comprehensive process, which is why production managers are among the most important people in the process. They spend a significant part of their day in a manufacturing plant, whether in automobiles, heavy engineering, food processing, etc. They often work closely with other stakeholders - managers, clients, and team members. Safe to say, they have a lot on their plate. However, with appropriate knowledge, skills, and qualifications, they become proficient in dealing with the process and managing crises if required. If you are interested in production management, you can start with KnowledgeHut's POPM course and get hands-on experience.
