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Manufacturing program manager vs plant manager

The differences between manufacturing program managers and plant 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 program manager, becoming a plant manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $76,289 average annual salary of a manufacturing program manager.

The top three skills for a manufacturing program manager include sigma, continuous improvement and project management. The most important skills for a plant manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and safety program.

Manufacturing program manager vs plant manager overview

Manufacturing Program ManagerPlant Manager
Yearly salary$76,289$113,843
Hourly rate$36.68$54.73
Growth rate3%6%
Number of jobs88,760275,962
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4844
Years of experience26

Manufacturing program manager vs plant manager salary

Manufacturing program managers and plant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Manufacturing Program ManagerPlant Manager
Average salary$76,289$113,843
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $106,000Between $85,000 And $152,000
Highest paying CityNewark, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyAppleKoch Industries
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between manufacturing program manager and plant manager education

There are a few differences between a manufacturing program manager and a plant manager in terms of educational background:

Manufacturing Program ManagerPlant Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Manufacturing program manager vs plant manager demographics

Here are the differences between manufacturing program managers' and plant managers' demographics:

Manufacturing Program ManagerPlant Manager
Average age4844
Gender ratioMale, 85.4% Female, 14.6%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%10%

Differences between manufacturing program manager and plant manager duties and responsibilities

Manufacturing program manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead team responsible for logistics, materials, incircuit, assembly, strain measurement, x-ray, and failure analysis.
  • Implement lead manufacturing principles to achieve continuous improvement processes; hire qualified machinists; ensure division-wide OSHA compliance.
  • Conduct sufficient in-house design reviews per ISO work instructions.
  • Manage project responsibilities from concept and prototyping of a product to FDA approval process through implementation into commercialization.
  • Implement overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) metrics to focus attention on key process equipment availability, performance and quality factors.

Plant manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage 65 plant production and five plant supervisors in bilingual union manufacturing HVAC plant.
  • Manage compliance and training for the facility HACCP plan and are awarded PICQS plus status on annual audit.
  • Lead skilled trades in the repair and maintenance of robotics, PLC, hydraulic and electrical switchgear applications.
  • Lead OEE & SMED initiatives to improve machine utilization, up-time, throughput, change-over time, & yield.
  • Manage daily operations of USDA facility.
  • Coordinate monthly safety meetings, provide training and lead internal inspections that foster OSHA awareness.
  • Show more

Manufacturing program manager vs plant manager skills

Common manufacturing program manager skills
  • Sigma, 13%
  • Continuous Improvement, 12%
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Process Improvement, 5%
  • Lean Six Sigma, 5%
  • Logistics, 5%
Common plant manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Safety Program, 6%
  • Plant Operations, 6%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

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