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The differences between continuous improvement leaders and production managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a continuous improvement leader and a production manager. Additionally, a continuous improvement leader has an average salary of $85,851, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement leader include lean six sigma, sigma and process improvement. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $85,851 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $41.27 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 35,627 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A continuous improvement leader is an individual who is responsible for measuring and testing procedures to improve production efficiency in a company. Continuous improvement leaders must work closely with human resources employees or trainers so that they can develop a curriculum to bring hires to their peak efficiency quickly. They are required to improve processes and systems in the company as well as implement programs that have continuing long-term benefits. Continuous improvement leaders must also supervise and direct the work of staff members of the CI department.
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
Continuous improvement leaders and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $85,851 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $115,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement leader and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement leaders' and production managers' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |