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Plant engineering manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. John Ballato,

Dr. John Ballato

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical plant engineering manager skills. We ranked the top skills for plant engineering managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.3% of plant engineering manager resumes contained continuous improvement as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a plant engineering manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 plant engineering manager skills for your resume and career

1. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how plant engineering managers use continuous improvement:

Led company turnaround efforts by developing world class maintenance systems, implementing professional project engineering functions and leading Continuous Improvement efforts.
Collaborated with my Industrial Engineer in executing continuous improvement projects and cycle-time reduction projects that reduced overall manufacturing costs.

2. Capital Projects

A capital project is a long-term project carried out by professional teams to build, improve, maintain or develop a huge project that will help improve the asset of a city. This project involves a significant and constant flow of investments. A capital project can be new construction, the purchase of land or property, leasing a property, the renovation of an existing building, or the purchase of new equipment.

Here's how plant engineering managers use capital projects:

Develop annual capital projects list and reviewed plans and specifications for compliance with appropriate codes and corporate requirements.
Managed Plant Engineering Department responsible for capital projects and supporting plant Operations and Maintenance Departments.

3. Project Management

Here's how plant engineering managers use project management:

Created, developed and implemented a new project management and justification system for the SOS Manufacturing facility.
Project management and customer PR for domestic and international machine field installations.

4. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how plant engineering managers use lean manufacturing:

Trimmed staffing by 40% without sacrificing equipment availability or a reduction in measured metrics by utilizing Lean Manufacturing techniques.
Used lean manufacturing principals to improve and stabilize the manufacturing process and reduce inventory levels.

5. Plant Operations

Here's how plant engineering managers use plant operations:

Plant operations had steadily improved including areas of total plant output, labor and equipment utilization, quality and customer satisfaction.
Tasked with managing process and project engineering support for maintaining and improving plant operations.

6. Plant Safety

Here's how plant engineering managers use plant safety:

Improved plant safety record through the addition of bulk handling equipment to reduce repetitive motion fatigue and instituted corrective action processes.
Enforced in plant safety procedures by applying OSHA and NFPA guidelines in the facility standards.

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7. Facility Maintenance

Here's how plant engineering managers use facility maintenance:

Collaborated with Maintenance Group in support of facility maintenance initiatives.
Plant Engineering Manager responsible for Facility Maintenance, Capital Program, Environmental Compliance, and Utility and Service Contracts.

8. OSHA

Here's how plant engineering managers use osha:

Lead assembly department OSHA Process Safety Management.
Lead a Process Hazard Analysis, (PHA), on shellac bleaching process compliant with OSHA Process Safety Management Standard.

9. CAD

Here's how plant engineering managers use cad:

Implemented use of CAD software to redesign product while standardizing shop prints and assembly instructions.
Supervised CAD drawings and sample production for approval from Research and Development.

10. Employee Development

Here's how plant engineering managers use employee development:

Generated positive results by focusing on profitability, customer service and employee development.
Supported and mentored employee development and training.

11. Environmental Compliance

Environmental compliance means to fulfill official environmental requirements. It comprises environmental rules, laws, and regulations, and permits regarding which sites to operate. Environmental concerns have raised compliances across the globe. Environmental compliance includes managing and monitoring the required permits for correct parameters, performing and processing calculations, generate daily compliance reports, and record data with compliance to any risk alert

Here's how plant engineering managers use environmental compliance:

Defined and controlled capital budget requirements for facility and utility upgrades, environmental compliance, support equipment, and equipment installations.
Provided Federal and state environmental compliance information to management and generated the agencies' necessary quarterly and annual environmental compliance reports.

12. PSM

PSM stands for Process Safety Regulations. It involves executing a healthy and compact PSM system. The main goal of process safety management (PSM) of extremely dangerous chemicals is to limit undesired discharges of hazardous chemicals particularly into areas that could expose workers and others to serious uncertainties. It is all about working with critical thinking skills to deal with the problem logically. Also, investigating options, avoiding biases, and concentrating on essential data to make useful outcomes.

Here's how plant engineering managers use psm:

Manage the Ammonia Refrigeration and the associated (PSM) Process Safety Management program.
Implemented the first PSM program in the corporation for the ammonia refrigeration systems.

13. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how plant engineering managers use r:

Developed testing method and pass/fail criteria to validate theft-resistant packaging for Toys R Us.
Involved in creating the processes for Appendix R plant integration within steering committee.

14. HVAC

Here's how plant engineering managers use hvac:

Improved plant energy efficiency by optimizing HVAC, electric, steam, water, hydraulic and compressed air systems.
Corrected environmental issues throughout plants including flooring issues, compressed air, water supply systems and HVAC systems.

15. Plant Maintenance

Plant maintenance includes all preventive measures, processes, and operations concerned with plant life.

Here's how plant engineering managers use plant maintenance:

Supplied Plant Maintenance personnel with appropriate documentation required for all welding activities.
Developed and maintained capital budgeting, plant maintenance and safety programs in compliance with all governing standards and JCAHO accreditation.

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What skills help Plant Engineering Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What hard/technical skills are most important for plant engineering managers?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

Important hard/technical skills really depend on the nature of the job/position and the organization. This really relates back to the What Skills Stand Out question. Employers want to know that employees have the requisite "toolbox" of basic skills and a willingness and aptitude to learn on the job. No person comes out of school with all the skills and experiences needed for a given job, so organizations inevitably continue to provide training on product-specific skills. Knowing how to learn, wanting to learn, and admitting what you don't know are as important, if not more so, than any hard/technical skills one gains during their education.

What skills stand out on plant engineering manager resumes?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

The phrase "well rounded" may be getting old, but it's still true. We like to see graduates who didn't just go to class but worked in a laboratory or did a co-op/internship and had various extra-curricular activities, both personal and professional. Remember that materials science and engineering are leveraging computer science more and more, whether through atomistic or microstructural modeling or newer technologies such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). So having some familiarity with those and how they complement experimental/hands-on studies are helpful.

Another point about skills that stand out is a simple one - do your homework. There are few things more irritating than receiving a resume or email asking for a job, and the student clearly didn't care enough to look up what we do. The resume is a copy and paste and isn't personalized to the specific position, Group, or company. That stands out like a sore thumb.

What soft skills should all plant engineering managers possess?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

To me, the most important soft skill has always been communication. And, due to the pandemic where people have had to isolate and possibly quarantine, effective communications are even that much more critical. We're spending less face-to-face time and more screen-to-screen time, which gets boring quickly. So, paying attention, being clear and concise in your communications since you don't have the opportunities as often now to simply walk into someone's lab or office and talk through ideas and next steps. Effective communications are also especially important in materials science and engineering because our field is innately interdisciplinary. This means that you might be the only materials scientist on a team that includes marketing, sales, manufacturing, etc. Knowing your audience, including your project team, and learning how to communicate with them is critical.

What plant engineering manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Philipp Zerbe

Associate Professor, University of California - Davis

There are several opportunities a student can consider. Improve your background knowledge by taking online classes, reading relevant literature, and attending online seminars that are hosted by universities and scientific societies and are often open to the public. Expand your skillset. For example, in biology and other STEM fields, expertise in programming is an increasingly desired skill. In addition, take advantage of management, entrepreneurship and/or leadership training available either at your university or through reputed online courses. These skills not only are valuable for anyone seeking a leadership role in their career, but also show a forward-looking and self-motivated attitude. Lastly, look for internships (in person or remote), for example, at your university, industry or non-profit organizations. These opportunities are an excellent opportunity to grow professionally and explore possible career avenues

What type of skills will young plant engineering managers need?

Matthew Barry Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

There are many skills young graduates will need when entering the workforce in the coming years. One of the most important is the use of software, particularly Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in any platform (SolidWorks, CATIA, Autodesk, etc.). CAD is ubiquitous in most engineering jobs and is used by most employees, from draftsmen and machinists to engineers. Students that can proficiently use CAD for constructing parts, models, to set up tooling (such as CAMWorks), construct PCBs, and to do basic analyses (such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), vibrational analyses and the like) have a tremendous hiring advantage over students that lack these skills. Additionally, students that have experience and proficiency with FEA and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software are in high demand. Finally, in terms of software, students that are able to code (and it doesn't matter what language or software, whether its MATLAB, C, C++, Java, Python) are needed. Most companies develop their own in-house codes and routines to do basic, repetitive tasks, or to develop models that are used in design and analysis. Being able to code is a highly desirable skill. Lastly, students should have some skills and experiences when it comes to hands-on activities. Being a modern engineer requires being able to not only design and analyze something, but to be able to figure out the tooling, assembly, and repair of various components. Having hands-on experience, whether it is with electrical circuitry, machining physical parts, or printing and assembling prototypes, indicates high levels of spatial reasoning, and is a sought after skill by employers.

What technical skills for a plant engineering manager stand out to employers?

Patrick Atkinson

Professor, Kettering University

Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.

Do you want to know more?

List of plant engineering manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a plant engineering manager resume and required skills for a plant engineering manager to have include:

Continuous Improvement
Capital Projects
Project Management
Lean Manufacturing
Plant Operations
Plant Safety
Facility Maintenance
OSHA
CAD
Employee Development
Environmental Compliance
PSM
R
HVAC
Plant Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisors
Maintenance Management System

Engineering Projects
Plant Equipment
Product Quality
Process Improvement
Technical Support
Process Engineering
CMMS
Cost Reduction
Sigma
Capital Budgets
Direct Reports
Strong Project Management
PET
Fire Protection
Safety Program
TPM
PLC

Lean Six Sigma
Production Equipment
Cost Savings
Quality Standards
Process Control
GMP
Plant Layout
Production Lines
Engineering Support
FDA
EHS
Process Equipment
Manufacturing Support
CNC
Capital Equipment
Preventive Maintenance

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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