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General production manager vs quality manager

The differences between general production managers and quality managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a general production manager, becoming a quality manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a quality manager has an average salary of $91,357, which is higher than the $32,434 average annual salary of a general production manager.

The top three skills for a general production manager include general production, food safety and hand tools. The most important skills for a quality manager are continuous improvement, corrective action, and quality standards.

General production manager vs quality manager overview

General Production ManagerQuality Manager
Yearly salary$32,434$91,357
Hourly rate$15.59$43.92
Growth rate-3%
Number of jobs183,68763,422
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4648
Years of experience26

What does a general production manager do?

A general production manager is responsible for overseeing the overall production operations for the business, managing staff performance, and ensuring that the team performs with the highest productivity and efficiency. General production managers perform quality control procedures to monitor the stability and effectiveness of current processes and minimize downtimes. They also handle the budget and resource allocation across the department to support activities and enhance performance. A general production manager strategizes workforce policies, adhering to the company's guidelines and protocols, and resolves production discrepancies as soon as they arise.

What does a quality manager do?

A quality manager is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the level of quality of the company's product outputs is met for customers. Quality managers monitor and evaluate the internal production process so that they can produce statistical reports on the standard of quality and communicate them to upper management. To ensure health and safety standards, quality managers must create and maintain up-to-date product or process specifications. They also train employees on quality assurance standards and processes.

General production manager vs quality manager salary

General production managers and quality managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

General Production ManagerQuality Manager
Average salary$32,434$91,357
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $64,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CityRochester, NYRichmond, CA
Highest paying stateWyomingCalifornia
Best paying companyTitan InternationalMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between general production manager and quality manager education

There are a few differences between a general production manager and a quality manager in terms of educational background:

General Production ManagerQuality Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

General production manager vs quality manager demographics

Here are the differences between general production managers' and quality managers' demographics:

General Production ManagerQuality Manager
Average age4648
Gender ratioMale, 73.3% Female, 26.7%Male, 72.1% Female, 27.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between general production manager and quality manager duties and responsibilities

General production manager example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate ability to manage multiple departments and improvement projects, prepare short and long term goals focusing on company KPI's.
  • Manage production control group and supply replenishment logistics for the manufacturing division.
  • Facilitate monthly safety meetings and ensure compliance with HACCP, SSOP and GMP.
  • Return work environment within OSHA standards.
  • Provide support for ISO 2001 plant accreditation.
  • Pack finished products manually or by using hoists.
  • Show more

Quality manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve TS16949 accreditation during the year.
  • Plan and manage UAT test cycles with the business.
  • Manage six sigma projects concerning Sidematch claims savings $130K annually.
  • Manage drug product, API and component release for clinical and commercial.
  • Manage UAT testing, including consolidation and report out to management on test results.
  • Utilize ITAR knowledge and manage vital certifications and registrations (UL, CSA, military / aerospace).
  • Show more

General production manager vs quality manager skills

Common general production manager skills
  • General Production, 32%
  • Food Safety, 28%
  • Hand Tools, 12%
  • HR, 4%
  • Quality Standards, 3%
  • Production Floor, 2%
Common quality manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Corrective Action, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Product Quality, 5%
  • Sigma, 4%
  • Quality Management System, 4%

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