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Production manager vs manufacturing manager

The differences between production managers and manufacturing managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a production manager and a manufacturing manager. Additionally, a manufacturing manager has an average salary of $101,712, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.

The top three skills for a production manager include continuous improvement, customer service and quality standards. The most important skills for a manufacturing manager are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and production schedules.

Production manager vs manufacturing manager overview

Production ManagerManufacturing Manager
Yearly salary$78,064$101,712
Hourly rate$37.53$48.90
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs95,56140,395
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4648
Years of experience22

What does a production manager do?

Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.

What does a manufacturing manager do?

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.

Production manager vs manufacturing manager salary

Production managers and manufacturing managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Production ManagerManufacturing Manager
Average salary$78,064$101,712
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $120,000Between $71,000 And $145,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandAlaska
Best paying companyCheniere EnergyBain & Company
Best paying industryTechnologyRetail

Differences between production manager and manufacturing manager education

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

Production ManagerManufacturing Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Production manager vs manufacturing manager demographics

Here are the differences between production managers' and manufacturing managers' demographics:

Production ManagerManufacturing Manager
Average age4648
Gender ratioMale, 76.6% Female, 23.4%Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between production manager and manufacturing manager duties and responsibilities

Production manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead a KAIZEN that save 220k in damages.
  • Manage lean sigma techniques and Kaizen events to reduce raw material and scrap costs.
  • Hire and manage crew and locations along with renting necessary film equipment and organizing shoot logistics.
  • Team member in setting up TPM method of measuring production (OEE), helping to achieve record production results.
  • Manage data reports, analyze and provide data to improve operational performance to include OEE, process reliability and labor optimization.
  • Manage production control group and supply replenishment logistics for the manufacturing division.
  • Show more

Manufacturing manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead plant start up efforts by implementing TPM systems, training, tracking, course correction.
  • Manage a 3 shift 63 machinist , 15 mfg engineers, and 5 support CNC machining operations.
  • Manage cross-functional teams to derive root cause analysis and resolutions for deviations, investigations and CAPA's.
  • Manage tech transfers, DFM, suppliers and CMO on late stage & commercial drug-device combination products.
  • Manage all tissue valve production functions including QC inspection, machine shop, custom device and surgical accessories.
  • Utilize applicable decision making tools to consider assets, evaluate effectiveness and realign to achieve strategic goals and ROI.
  • Show more

Production manager vs manufacturing manager skills

Common production manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 6%
  • Production Supervisors, 6%
Common manufacturing manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 10%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 9%
  • Production Schedules, 4%
  • Production Supervisors, 4%
  • Sigma, 4%
  • Project Management, 3%

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