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Production engineering manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

8 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. John Ballato,

Dr. John Ballato

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical production engineering manager skills. We ranked the top skills for production engineering managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.5% of production engineering manager resumes contained production engineering as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a production engineering manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 production engineering manager skills for your resume and career

1. Production Engineering

Here's how production engineering managers use production engineering:

Analyzed the in-place preventative strategies to determine means and methods of improvement for production engineering.
Performed all product development and production engineering.

2. 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 production engineering managers use continuous improvement:

Championed continuous improvement across value stream.
Coordinated and lead continuous improvement activities.

3. 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 production engineering managers use r:

Managed design, developed and produced X-Band T/R module using commercial components as demonstrator of complex device fabrication ability.
Lead workforce of 52 Production, Maintenance, T/R and Shipping personnel.

4. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how production engineering managers use lean manufacturing:

Implement Lean Manufacturing identifying and eliminating areas of wastes, lowering costs, improving productivity and quality.
Utilized lean manufacturing to solve projects that reduced operational cost of production.

5. Process Improvement

Here's how production engineering managers use process improvement:

Developed, recommend and implemented procurement process improvements with emphasis on re-engineering, simplification, and contribution to cost savings.
Worked with manufacturing personnel, developed a process improvement utilizing CNC equipment eliminating variability while combining 3 separate secondary processes.

6. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how production engineering managers use sigma:

Utilized Six Sigma and Lean methodologies to drive operational efficiency.
Led a Lean Six Sigma department transformation with a cross functional scope (customers, product, technology, operations).

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7. Test Procedures

Test procedure i defined as a tool for conducting an experiment to analyze or observe the specifications of a process or application.

Here's how production engineering managers use test procedures:

Developed and implemented product literature, test procedures, assembly procedures, troubleshooting guides, maintenance guides and burn-in procedures
Developed test procedures to validate and ensure system quality and reliability.

8. CAD

Here's how production engineering managers use cad:

Designed new product concepts using CAD software, market feasibility and evaluated engineering testing, assembly integrity and effectiveness.
Engineered and developed the design of products using drafting tools or computer-assisted design (CAD) or drafting equipment and software.

9. Production Schedules

The project plan of a film or a documentary that highlights how a production budget will be spent over a given period until its completion is called a production schedule. The scheduling process starts with writing and analyzing the script, which is then broken down to determine and allocate the budget for each scene. The production schedule also includes several elements of the film including; cast actors, special effects, wardrobe, special equipment, stunts, extras, silent bits, production equipment, and many others.

Here's how production engineering managers use production schedules:

Developed, implemented and managed production schedules and allocated resources as required.
Developed and maintained production schedules, material requirements and tracking.

10. Production Lines

Here's how production engineering managers use production lines:

Worked with facility manager to arrange production lines to maximize production output with limited production space.
Eliminated shortages and simplified delivery of material to production lines by introducing KanBan.

11. Kaizen

Kaizen is a Japanese term derived from the words "kai-" which means "Change" and "zen" for good. In short, Kaizen means "change for the better," or it could also mean "continuous improvement." It is a term used for the process that continuously improves all employees. Kaizen believes in the improvement in productivity in a gradual and methodological approach. This improvement could happen by making the workplace more efficient and effective by improving team atmosphere, making the job less tiring and fulfilling and safer for the employees. Members of a company are expected to suggest an improvement when they encounter a problem.

Here's how production engineering managers use kaizen:

Improved yield by 21% through all phases of production through value stream mapping and kaizen events.
Spearhead internal 5S, Kaizen and Lean concepts; working with corporate group.

12. Cost Reduction

Here's how production engineering managers use cost reduction:

Initiated and implemented process optimization, reliability improvements, and cost reduction projects.
Execute the cost reduction activities through process optimization and efficiency enhancement.

13. Jigs

Here's how production engineering managers use jigs:

Developed specifications, produced drawings, and placed orders for tools, dies and jigs and fixtures for new product introduction.
Design, development & implementation of production tools, templates, jigs & fixtures to adhere to strict Aerospace guidelines.

14. Production Operations

Production operations are the process through which a business turns its resources into goods or services. Production operations include activities such as manufacturing, production, procurement, inventory, and shipment. These operations turn raw materials into consumable products or services through human resources and automation.

Here's how production engineering managers use production operations:

Supervised daily management of production operations that maximized profitability by increasing revenue and lowering operating expenses.
Managed production operations including receiving/inspection, shipping, purchasing and manufacturing departments.

15. Capital Equipment

Non-current assets are also known as a capital investment he refers to any equipment that can be capitalised and appreciated over the length of its productive life. Also considered as an investment it is usually directly associated with the generation of profit.

Here's how production engineering managers use capital equipment:

Facilitated capital equipment procurement improving productivity and quality while adhering to cost benefit parameters.
Qualified and selected vendors for new plant construction and capital equipment fabrication.

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What skills help Production Engineering Managers find jobs?

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

What soft skills should all production 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 hard/technical skills are most important for production 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 production 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 production engineering manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Yi Yang PhD

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.

What type of skills will young production engineering managers need?

Randy Jacobs

Instructional Assistant Professor, Construction Management, Professional Practice Coordinator, Illinois State University

Many of the skill sets will remain the same: problem solving, communication and leadership. CM graduates are accustomed to being mobile moving from job to job and working at off-site locations. But some of those skill sets will be put to the test as the need for more "digital presence" is required of companies and construction projects.

What technical skills for a production 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 production engineering manager skills to add to your resume

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

Production Engineering
Continuous Improvement
R
Lean Manufacturing
Process Improvement
Sigma
Test Procedures
CAD
Production Schedules
Production Lines
Kaizen
Cost Reduction
Jigs
Production Operations
Capital Equipment
Product Development

Process Engineering
ISO
Direct Reports
Quality Products
CNC
Process Control
Production Processes
Production Equipment
Product Design
Performance Reviews
MRP
KPI
Engineering Support
Production Management
Quality System
Solidworks

OEE
On-Time Delivery
Production Floor
Product Specifications
SPC
Inventory Control
SMED
FDA
Quality Standards
TPM
Extrusion
Quality Issues
Assembly Line
Troubleshoot
Capital Projects
BOM

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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