What does a production control manager do?
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.
Production control manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real production control manager resumes:
- Manage production team to company goals through the use of KPI's.
- Document department processes to achieve ISO certification.
- Manage site operational support functions including scheduling, vendor certification, purchasing, materials planning, inventory management and logistics.
- Contact various suppliers for monthly ECO updates, changes, price negotiations and order cancellations.
- Monitor each lines plan and actual to ensure optimal line balancing, WIP control, and elimination of over production
- Work with QA and production to ensure quality parts and that all ISO standards are met in compliance with the customer.
- Monitor critical daily batch processing on both mainframe and distribute operating system.
- Implement appropriate forecasting statistical models used by the forecast module within ERP system.
- Establish & maintain KANBAN replenishment inventory system and demonstrate system to other companies.
- Design and develop automated KANBAN system for improving raw material inventory and scheduling.
- Post implementation administrator for continue support to all areas utilizing company wide ERP system.
- Develop trend analysis tools examining WIP and inventory which effectively signal abnormality within the process and provide guidance to correction.
- Maintain acceptable inventory accuracy levels through cycle counting, administer proper tracking and FIFO systems, prepare for quarterly inventories.
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with external vendors and suppliers to improve logistics, ensuring production and delivery requirements are meet.
- Facilitate several Kaizen events that improve process efficiency, reduce manufacturing hours and improve several non-standard project fabrication and operational processes.
Production control manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Production Control Managers are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Logistics, and Delivery Performance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Production Control Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 7%
Optimized performance through continuous improvement projects to drive superior service, while reducing operating expense relative to inventory and factory costs.
- Logistics, 6%
Established and maintained professional relationships with external vendors and suppliers to improve logistics, ensuring production and delivery requirements are met.
- Delivery Performance, 5%
Ensured on-time delivery performance of ASIC prototypes through daily priority management and close communications with all levels of management in manufacturing.
- MRP, 5%
Analyze MRP, determining material availability and develop production schedule based on firm orders and forecasts.
- Lean Manufacturing, 5%
Redesigned material control to implement cart delivery and supermarket processes as part of lean manufacturing project utilizing cross-functional teams.
- Inventory Control, 5%
Designed and implemented a purchasing/inventory control system that reduced overhead cost by minimum 50 percent within the purchasing and warehousing departments.
Common skills that a production control manager uses to do their job include "continuous improvement," "logistics," and "delivery performance." You can find details on the most important production control manager responsibilities below.
Leadership skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a production control manager to have is leadership skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Production control managers often use leadership skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided primary leadership for oracle erp systems implementation for a multi-plant manufacturing operation. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling production control manager duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." According to a production control manager resume, here's how production control managers can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "work closely with supply chain and internal/external feeder areas to drive shortage resolution and meet contractual delivery dates. "
The three companies that hire the most production control managers are:
- Wells Fargo7 production control managers jobs
- Tesla4 production control managers jobs
- Curtiss-Wright3 production control managers jobs
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Compare different production control managers
Production control manager vs. Materials supervisor
The job of a materials supervisor is to oversee the shipping, receiving, handling, and warehousing of materials. You will supervise the transport of materials and ensure that the material needs of an organization are met. Typical job duties include overseeing the daily business operations of the group, ensuring best practices in safety, productivity, housekeeping. The supervisors ensure that attendance is being followed and monitoring routine operations in materials management, including logistics and planning. As a materials supervisor, you are also expected to mentor team members for professional and personal development.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between production control managers and materials supervisor. For instance, production control manager responsibilities require skills such as "delivery performance," "customer service," "capacity planning," and "shop floor." Whereas a materials supervisor is skilled in "safety procedures," "osha," "production schedules," and "purchase orders." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Materials supervisors earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $71,036. On the other hand, production control managers are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $103,140.materials supervisors tend to reach similar levels of education than production control managers. In fact, materials supervisors are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Production control manager vs. Plant superintendent
Plant superintendents must have skills in operations, productions, and management. They also need a 4-year degree in business or industrial management. Those who choose this career will be called upon to oversee a plant's manufacturing processes and to recommend improvements to increase productivity. They also enforce all state and federal regulations for plant operations and employee safety.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, production control manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "logistics," "delivery performance," "mrp," and "customer service." Meanwhile, a plant superintendent has duties that require skills in areas such as "plant safety," "production supervisors," "osha," and "plant operations." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Plant superintendents may earn a higher salary than production control managers, but plant superintendents earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $116,194. On the other hand, production control managers receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $103,140.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Plant superintendents tend to reach similar levels of education than production control managers. In fact, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Production control manager vs. Master scheduler
A master scheduler is in charge of overseeing and developing a company's overall production schedule, ensuring quality and workforce adherence. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs, developing daily schedules and objectives, disseminating scheduling notices, and conducting regular inspections to ensure the completion of projects in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, a master scheduler must produce progress reports and encourage workforce members to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, production control managers are more likely to have skills like "delivery performance," "shipping receiving," "materials management," and "material control." But a master scheduler is more likely to have skills like "program management," "microsoft project," "primavera," and "work breakdown structure."
Master schedulers make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $78,633. On the other hand, production control managers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $103,140.master schedulers typically earn similar educational levels compared to production control managers. Specifically, they're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Production control manager vs. Manufacturing director
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.
Types of production control manager
Updated January 8, 2025
