Supply chain manager vs production manager

The differences between supply chain managers and production managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a supply chain manager, becoming a production manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a supply chain manager has an average salary of $100,414, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.

The top three skills for a supply chain manager include supply chain, logistics and project management. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.

Supply chain manager vs production manager overview

	Supply Chain Manager	Production Manager
Yearly salary	$100,414	$78,064
Hourly rate	$48.28	$37.53
Growth rate	-	3%
Number of jobs	37,773	95,561
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	47	46
Years of experience	6	2

What does a supply chain manager do?

A supply chain manager is an individual who takes responsibility for managing hardware, equipment, and any other logistical details of an organization. Supply chain managers work alongside the external partners for parts and raw material procurement. They make sure that global companies coordinate with their sources of goods. These professionals also assess their suppliers and negotiate corporate contracts with vendors. The skills they needed include technical understanding, project management, cost accounting skills, and business ethics.

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.

Supply chain manager vs production manager salary

Supply chain managers and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Supply Chain Manager	Production Manager
Average salary	$100,414	$78,064
Salary range	Between $72,000 And $139,000	Between $50,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Vermont	Rhode Island
Best paying company	McKinsey & Company Inc	Cheniere Energy
Best paying industry	Professional	Technology

Differences between supply chain manager and production manager education

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

	Supply Chain Manager	Production Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Supply chain manager vs production manager demographics

Here are the differences between supply chain managers' and production managers' demographics:

	Supply Chain Manager	Production Manager
Average age	47	46
Gender ratio	Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2%	Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black 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%
LGBT Percentage	10%	6%

Differences between supply chain manager and production manager duties and responsibilities

Supply chain manager example responsibilities.

Lead the SIOP process to establish continuous flow for customer deliveries while achieving a reduction in inventory.
Manage RFP process to identify best partners.
Develop and implement a process to manage and maintain accurate item master in LAWSON procurement system.
Raise capital, set up PMO office & lead cross-functional team to deliver a document management technology solution.
Pilot software implementation by establishing requirements, creating strategy, and defining implementation plan; manage integration with ERP system.
Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.

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.

Supply chain manager vs production manager skills

Common supply chain manager skills

Supply Chain, 20%
Logistics, 9%
Project Management, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Chain Management, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

Common production manager skills

Continuous Improvement, 8%
Customer Service, 7%
Quality Standards, 6%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Lean Manufacturing, 6%
Production Supervisors, 6%

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Supply Chain Manager vs Production Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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