What does a manufacturing director do?

A manufacturing director is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing a company's manufacturing procedures. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, coordinating and managing different departments, planning budgets, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, implementing solutions, and developing strategies to optimize manufacturing operations. Furthermore, as a manufacturing director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Manufacturing director responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real manufacturing director resumes:
- Manage quality inspection, production control, inventory, procurement, facilities, product sales, support and ISO compliance functions.
- Manage OEM manufacturer for product assembly and internal manufacturing for product customization.
- Interact with QA and other support groups to resolve technical and GMP issues in manufacturing.
- Develop an in-house bar code scanning system as part of DMAIC measurement phase to compile shop floor data.
- Administer action plans and follow-up, PDCA.
- Develop and maintain specifications for products, while monitoring QA.
- Utilize the PDCA cycle to stabilize, optimize and improve processes.
- Implement SQCD boards to measure department KPI's on daily Gemba walks.
- Interface with distribution centers and corporate offices to improve customer service and efficient use of MRP.
- Institute, and engage the top management in weekly Gemba walks for waste and opportunity identification.
- Develop a detail training and record keeping system for ESH programs require by OSHA and the EPA.
- Mentore HSE coordinator in the development and implementation of a comprehensive HSE program to bring operations into OSHA and TCEQ compliance.
- Develop logistics and customs support.
- Supervise ISO management and quality control.
- Facilitate all kaizen events focuse on quality and productivity improvements.
Manufacturing director skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Manufacturing Directors are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain, and Lean Manufacturing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Manufacturing Directors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 9%
Included manufacturing/engineering strategic planning/direction and continuous improvement programs.
- Supply Chain, 6%
Strengthened supply chain reliability by forging supplier relationships, synchronizing material flow with process demand, and replacing problematic sole-source suppliers.
- Lean Manufacturing, 6%
Managed measurements for plant equipment performance, monitor, control, reporting per lean manufacturing recommendations and ultimate reduction in waste.
- Sigma, 4%
Lead and delivered a Global Green Belt program utilizing Lean Six sigma methodologies tailored manufacturing industry.
- On-Time Delivery, 4%
Maintained excellent on-time delivery while driving cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
- Project Management, 3%
Project management of Clinical trial drug production and scale-up using Microsoft Project.
Common skills that a manufacturing director uses to do their job include "continuous improvement," "supply chain," and "lean manufacturing." You can find details on the most important manufacturing director responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a manufacturing director to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Manufacturing directors often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "train and certify production supervisors to written procedures and to develop interpersonal skills. "
Leadership skills. Many manufacturing director duties rely on leadership skills. "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees.," so a manufacturing director will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways manufacturing director responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "key member of safety leadership team, leading implementation of behavior based safety programs. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of manufacturing directors is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday manufacturing director duties, as "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "led evaluation, implementation and management of fishbowl erp solution to integrate with quickbooks accounting software. "
The three companies that hire the most manufacturing directors are:
- Pwc132 manufacturing directors jobs
- Stoughton Trailers20 manufacturing directors jobs
- Ernst & Young9 manufacturing directors jobs
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Manufacturing director vs. Production control manager
A project control manager is an executive who manages, develops, and coordinates the schedules of production in the industrial environment. Production control managers make sure of the flow of parts, materials, and assemblies within or between departments. Typically, they handle the production workers. They make certain that manufacturing processes operate efficiently and reliably. Part of their responsibilities includes the estimation, negotiation, and agreement of timescales and budgets with the clients and the other managers. Among the qualifications for this job include a specialty in electrical engineering, communications, or business management.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a manufacturing director are more likely to require skills like "supply chain," "project management," "gmp," and "product quality." On the other hand, a job as a production control manager requires skills like "delivery performance," "customer service," "capacity planning," and "shipping receiving." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Production control managers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $103,140. On the other hand, manufacturing directors are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $157,950.On average, production control managers reach lower levels of education than manufacturing directors. Production control managers are 7.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing director vs. Senior production manager
Basically, a Senior Production Manager takes responsibility for supervising the production reports in assigned departments. Senior Production Managers are in charge of the product workmanship or product quality of methods, techniques, and processes. They focus on conformance with economical manufacturing objectives, profit goals, and production schedules. They ensure that the production process is on time and within the budget.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that manufacturing director responsibilities requires skills like "supply chain," "safety program," "human resources," and "medical devices." But a senior production manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sr," "production schedules," "corrective action," and "production management."
Senior production managers may earn a lower salary than manufacturing directors, but senior production managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $110,581. On the other hand, manufacturing directors receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $157,950.In general, senior production managers achieve lower levels of education than manufacturing directors. They're 6.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing director vs. Assistant plant manager
An assistant plant manager is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities revolve around managing the daily plant operations, assessing the workforce performance, and performing administrative support tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, managing budgets and schedules, answering inquiries, and handling calls and correspondence. Furthermore, as an assistant plant manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from manufacturing director resumes include skills like "supply chain," "on-time delivery," "project management," and "product quality," whereas an assistant plant manager is more likely to list skills in "production schedules," "safety procedures," "production facility," and "customer satisfaction. "
When it comes to education, assistant plant managers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to manufacturing directors. In fact, they're 10.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing director vs. Value stream manager
A value stream manager is responsible for monitoring supply chain management operations and enhancing logistics performance to prevent operational delays and minimize waste loss. Value stream managers determine the strengths and weaknesses of every process within the supply chain and identify opportunities that would increase efficiency and growth, delivering high-quality outputs, and generating more resources for revenues. They also assist the whole production team in providing the highest customer service by responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns and resolving their complaints about products accurately and efficiently.
Types of manufacturing director
Updated January 8, 2025











