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What does a production support specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.

In the manufacturing industry, a production support specialist is in charge of providing technical production support to employees and enterprise clients. It is their duty to coordinate with customer support groups, establish guidelines and budgets, gather and analyze data, perform extensive research and analysis to find and implement solutions against issues, and handle customer requests promptly and efficiently. Moreover, a production support specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

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Production support specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real production support specialist resumes:

  • Manage defects and configurations for code promotions utilizing ETL providing pivot table leadership reports.
  • Facilitate well-received Perl and UNIX programs serving clients' FTP, SFTP and SCP from proxy server.
  • Assist in the development of a production environment and testing application enhancements on a Unix client server platform.
  • Configure network routers and switches for branch deployment.
  • Assist with configuration and deployment of Cisco switches.
  • Utilize Linux and SQL commands to diagnose system issues.
  • Content and document management software (Microsoft Sharepoint, WorkSite FileSite).
  • Use of LINUX on the hardware testing and upgrade to accommodate customer need.
  • Review and deploy VMware system releases and vendor-supply patches according to best practices.
  • Support and control the promotion of all changes to operational source code on the mainframe.
  • Receive incoming phone calls from Avaya field technicians requiring assistance with trouble shooting, installation or upgrades.
  • Conduct QA on support processes to ensure that the application and support solution meets quality standards and business needs.
  • Perform complex installations for mid-range and mainframe applications.
  • Upload documentation in SharePoint database for in house management approval.
  • Engage with patients while entering their account information promptly and accurately.

Production support specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Production Support Specialists are proficient in Troubleshoot, Java, and Escalate. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Production Support Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Troubleshoot, 11%

    Define and drive application monitoring requirements to identify and troubleshoot issues before they are reported by end-users.

  • Java, 9%

    Worked on the configuration of Java, J2ee applications in Oracle Application Servers.

  • Escalate, 7%

    Monitor the company intranet websites for all the platforms using Sites scope and escalate any problem to the appropriate group.

  • Unix, 6%

    Assisted in the development of a production environment and testing application enhancements on a Unix client server platform.

  • Windows, 6%

    Leveraged extensive experience in multiple operating environments including mainframe connectivity and security, Windows NT/2000 workstation and various servers.

  • Production Environment, 4%

    Managed software and configuration changes on Test and Production environments.

Most production support specialists use their skills in "troubleshoot," "java," and "escalate" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential production support specialist responsibilities here:

Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a production support specialist to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what production support specialists do because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a production support specialist resume shows how production support specialists use customer-service skills: "provide 2nd and 3rd tier level application support to our internal customers. "

Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling production support specialist duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." According to a production support specialist resume, here's how production support specialists can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated with multiple departments to assure technical and business efficiency for a great customer service experience. "

Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for production support specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how production support specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a production support specialist: "investigate production control problems, analyze root causes, and derive solutions. ".

Speaking skills. A big part of what production support specialists do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to production support specialist responsibilities because "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical production support specialist tasks: "reviewed and addressed all production issues from previous shift. "

Writing skills. Another common skill required for production support specialist responsibilities is "writing skills." This skill comes up in the duties of production support specialists all the time, as "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." An excerpt from a real production support specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a production support specialist does: "worked on writing stored procedures to pull data from sql server database and insert or update data into sql database. "

All production support specialist skills

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Compare different production support specialists

Production support specialist vs. Systems support

A systems support agent is responsible for resolving system applications and network issues, performing technical configuration, and upgrading systems infrastructure. A systems support representative conducts regular maintenance and diagnostic tests on the computer applications to ensure its optimal performance and efficiency to support business operations and avoid delays in deliverables. They also assist the technology team in designing backup systems and improve existing networks according to business requirements and specifications. They write resolution reports for reference to prevent the reoccurrence of system malfunction and inconsistencies.

We looked at the average production support specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a systems support. Generally speaking, systems supports are paid $16,658 lower than production support specialists per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between production support specialists and systems supports are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like troubleshoot, java, and unix.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, production support specialist responsibilities require skills like "escalate," "windows," "production environment," and "application support." Meanwhile a typical systems support has skills in areas such as "customer service," "pc," "provides technical support," and "desktop support." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Systems supports really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $72,760. Comparatively, production support specialists tend to make the most money in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $112,911.On average, systems supports reach similar levels of education than production support specialists. Systems supports are 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Production support specialist vs. Support lead

A support lead is typically in charge of overseeing the performance of a technical support team, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the performance of the workforce, resolving complex issues, identifying customer needs and sales opportunities, and training new team members. They may also perform calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, and resolve issues promptly. Furthermore, as a support lead, it is essential to perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports, managing schedules, and maintaining records of transactions.

A career as a support lead brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a production support specialist. In fact, support leads salary is $6,127 higher than the salary of production support specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Production support specialists and support leads both require similar skills like "troubleshoot," "java," and "unix" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real production support specialist resumes. While production support specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "escalate," "windows," "data entry," and "remedy," support leads use skills like "customer service," "cash management," "pos," and "sales floor."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Support leads tend to reach similar levels of education than production support specialists. In fact, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for production support specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Babak Beheshti Ph.D.Babak Beheshti Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology

-The enormous growth of IoT and wearables. The number of connected devices is expected to be more than 26 billion in 2020. That includes things like household appliances, controllable lighting, and much more. This trend is likely to continue as it is expected to see the industry grow to 661 billion dollars by 2021.

-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.

-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.

Production support specialist vs. Database specialist

A database specialist is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the databases to maintain the confidentiality of data. Database specialists determine business requirements and manage multiple operating systems to build the database's efficient structures and feasibility. They also install security protection software tools and programs to prevent unauthorized access and potential leak of restricted information. A database specialist coordinates with the system engineers to improve existing databases and upgrade the network infrastructure for optimization.

On average, database specialists earn lower salaries than production support specialists, with a $3,047 difference per year.production support specialists and database specialists both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "troubleshoot," "java," and "unix," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from production support specialist resumes include skills like "escalate," "application support," "incident management," and "production issues," whereas a database specialist is more likely to list skills in "database management," "database design," "database administration," and "microsoft sql server. "

Database specialists earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $95,518. Comparatively, production support specialists have the highest earning potential in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $112,911.database specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to production support specialists. Specifically, they're 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Production support specialist vs. Systems specialist

Systems specialists are professionals who maintain, troubleshoot, and install information and computer systems. They identify the software, data, and hardware needs of companies. Generally, they work in physically demanding indoor environments installing complicated networks. They manage, lead, and coordinate technical support for new software, upgrades, and products. Also, they configure systems for the users and assess data from different sources to make a decision.

Systems specialists tend to earn a higher pay than production support specialists by an average of $5,331 per year.While their salaries may vary, production support specialists and systems specialists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "troubleshoot," "unix," and "linux. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "java," "escalate," "windows," and "production environment" are skills that commonly show up on production support specialist resumes. On the other hand, systems specialists use skills like customer service, veterans, patients, and project management on their resumes.The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for systems specialists, with average annual pay of $91,431. Comparatively, the highest production support specialist annual salary comes from the pharmaceutical industry.The average resume of systems specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to production support specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.7%.

Types of production support specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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