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The differences between manufacturing managers and business unit 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 manufacturing manager, becoming a business unit manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a business unit manager has an average salary of $122,782, which is higher than the $101,712 average annual salary of a manufacturing manager.
The top three skills for a manufacturing manager include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and production schedules. The most important skills for a business unit manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and product line.
| Manufacturing Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $101,712 | $122,782 |
| Hourly rate | $48.90 | $59.03 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 40,395 | 295,151 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A manufacturing manager is an individual who manages the day-to-day operations of the organization's production process to ensure that all workers and departments meet the organization's productivity and efficiency standards. Manufacturing managers work under a department head and assist them in planning and directing an efficient equipment layout and material flow. They implement quality control programs that ensure finished products are in par with a certain standard. They also train manufacturing workers and monitor them to ensure that they meet performance and safety requirements.
A business unit manager handles a unit or segment of the company. This unit may be a specialized team on specific projects or a part of a significant production process. The business unit manager ensures that the unit works efficiently and productively by implementing strategies and techniques that will enhance the productive output. A business unit manager also provides suggestions, offers solutions to problems, handles tasks delegation, planning production processes, and training and monitoring of employees in a unit.
Manufacturing managers and business unit managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Average salary | $101,712 | $122,782 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $145,000 | Between $81,000 And $184,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | East Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Bain & Company | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing manager and a business unit manager in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between manufacturing managers' and business unit managers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |