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Sales and production manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.,

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sales and production manager skills. We ranked the top skills for sales and production managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 28.3% of sales and production manager resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sales and production manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sales and production manager skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how sales and production managers use customer service:

Developed close business relationships with customers and outside sales representatives through quick order processing and unmatched customer service.
Directed trained and mentored account executives; oversaw customer service and major account requirements.

2. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how sales and production managers use product development:

Advised senior management regarding incorporation innovative strategies, processes & product development to improve performance while reducing operation costs.
Plan and execute product development of the engagement jewelry; including identifying new item opportunities, design direction and sampling.

3. Delivery Schedules

Delivery schedules are general agreements between a buyer and provider that schedule when and how often a delivery will be made. Depending on the products and how much is being sold, a buyer may have more control over the delivery schedule. While the frequency of deliveries may change, the merchandise volume is typically consistent.

Here's how sales and production managers use delivery schedules:

Managed customer base in 3 state regions along with logistics of product supply and delivery schedules.
Worked with National Trucking Companies maintaining all pickup and delivery schedules.

4. 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 sales and production managers use production schedules:

Managed advertising production schedule to meet daily deadlines.
Prepared production schedules, generated sales orders, maintained stock levels, invoiced and collected bills.

5. Trade Shows

Here's how sales and production managers use trade shows:

Participated in trade shows and maintained referral relationships with professionals in similar trades.
Traveled extensively for presentations and trade shows.

6. Production Process

The production process is a series of events and industrial activities that come into play when raw material are delivered onto the production facility for manufacturing. The process involves different steps of production from start to finish such as; research, design formation, design testing, product manufacturing, and assembly according to the design, product experimentations, and supply.

Here's how sales and production managers use production process:

Managed the complete production process from order entry, CAD design, and job site delivery.
Work closely with the Engineers and Maintenance to help improve production processes and equipment operation.

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7. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how sales and production managers use payroll:

Processed Bi-Monthly Payroll & Prepared Financial Statements
Managed 10-12 employees including payroll, employee hiring, and all disciplinary actions including terminations.

8. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how sales and production managers use graphic design:

Created graphic design for classified advertising customers.
Provided advertisement graphic design for clients.

9. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how sales and production managers use windows:

Hand painted promotional offers on store windows.
Provided technical/analysis support: troubleshooting for Windows operating systems and hardware/software configurations

10. Customer Relations

Here's how sales and production managers use customer relations:

Focused on warehousing/storage, product quality, inventory tracking, customer relationship management, and sales.
Performed outstanding customer relationship management, and ensured educated clients.

11. Inventory Control

Here's how sales and production managers use inventory control:

Involved in design, part standardization, fabrication, configuration, and inventory control, as well as marketing.
Assumed increasing duties and responsibilities to include toll processing, buying material, transportation and inventory control.

12. Sales Floor

The sales floor is the area in a company or a business that is specified for retail activities or is designated as the selling area of the shop. A car showroom can be considered a sales floor, as it has cars in its display which are to be sold. A sales floor is generally crowded with sales assistants who are there to help you out while you can search and check out the products. Generally a sales floor has free access to the public and they can observe, view and get information about the product that is being sold.

Here's how sales and production managers use sales floor:

Work sales floor, and production area, cashier
Conducted evaluation of employees training and sales floor experience to ensure eligibility to maintain proper conductivity.

13. RAN

RAN stands for "revenue anticipation note," which refers to a practice where an organization (often the government) borrows money to support a specific project. When these funds are then repaid, the money given to the lenders comes from the profits generated by the business originally funded.

Here's how sales and production managers use ran:

Purchased inventory for production line and insured the operations ran at full capacity.
Set up and ran audio duplication equipment including digital bin.

14. Production Management

Here's how sales and production managers use production management:

Function: Outside sales/production management for residential and commercial painting services.
Served as member of senior management staff handling production management

15. Embroidery

Here's how sales and production managers use embroidery:

Supported small business in opening new facility to service embroidery, screen print and promotional products.
Machine operator, trained on all embroidery equipment.

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What skills help Sales And Production Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on sales and production manager resumes?

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.

Director, Western Oregon University

The skills that stand out on resumes fall into two categories: 1) Skills required to do the job and 2) Skills almost all employers look for. The most important aspect of resumes is to make sure it reflects exactly what the employer needs. Study the job description, identify key skills, and have them reflected on your resume. Think about transferrable skills, not the specific roles you've had.

Most employers look for skills such as communication (written/oral), flexibility, proactivity, problem-solving, project management, and technical. Make sure to cultivate those skills in whatever role you have, and have examples that demonstrate those skills.

What soft skills should all sales and production managers possess?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.

What hard/technical skills are most important for sales and production managers?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

One of the growing technical skill requirements for sales managers is in the area of data analytics. Our performance and customer systems provide a myriad of data, and the role of the sales manager is to be a sense-maker of that mound of data. What are the implications for changes in strategy or behavior evident in last quarter's activity? How can the sales manager help a specific seller "see" where the data suggest new approaches?

What sales and production manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kerri Orders

Assistant Professor of Business, Aquinas College

In terms of a gap year, I recommend that international business students acquire tangible skills, relevant experience and/or certifications which will enhance their success in their desired area of interest. For example, a gap year could consist of gaining technical or digital training overseas, which would also further the students' cultural intelligence and language proficiency. These types of enriching gap year experiences will assist students to distinguish themselves in a highly competitive market. Furthermore, students should focus on broadening and maintaining their global network during a gap year in order to be ready for the job market once the gap year is concluded.

What type of skills will young sales and production managers need?

Michael Mikitka

Executive Vice President, MHI – Material Handling Industry

Courses and internships are essential. While the required depth of knowledge may vary from one position to another, employers are generally looking for candidates with strong "people-related" skills, those who are willing to continue to learn, and those with the ability to be flexible and adapt.

By "people-related" skills, I mean the abilities associated with effective communication (listen and express ideas and direction) and the skills related to working independently and a team.

As for the interest to continually learn... from a technology, data, and equipment perspective, today's supply chain looks very different than it did 10-years ago. The willingness and ability to continually learn are essential for anyone in a leadership role.

As for flexibility and adapting...supply chain/logistics is as much about responding to disruption and demand as it is planning for it. There is a predictable demand (i.e., seasonal...everyone knows when back-to-school shopping begins). Then there is the unpredictable demand (i.e., power-outages, wildfires, pandemic) that impact market and the ability to operate. Candidates that express flexibility and problem-solving skills will be much sought-after.

Do you want to know more?

List of sales and production manager skills to add to your resume

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

Customer Service
Product Development
Delivery Schedules
Production Schedules
Trade Shows
Production Process
Payroll
Graphic Design
Windows
Customer Relations
Inventory Control
Sales Floor
RAN

Production Management
Embroidery
Oversight
Customer Orders
Order Entry
Production Floor
Product Line
Business Development
Customer Complaints
Sales Training
CNC
Cold Calls
Direct Sales

Sales Process
QuickBooks
Product Knowledge
Inventory Management
Daily Sales
Sales Strategies
Retail Sales
Production Facility
Quality Products
Sales Orders
Client Relations
Sales Volume
Customer Specifications

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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