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The differences between value stream managers and plant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a value stream manager, becoming a plant manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $107,526 average annual salary of a value stream manager.
The top three skills for a value stream manager include value stream, lean manufacturing and sigma. The most important skills for a plant manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and safety program.
| Value Stream Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $107,526 | $113,843 |
| Hourly rate | $51.70 | $54.73 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 9,958 | 275,962 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A value stream manager is responsible for monitoring supply chain management operations and enhancing logistics performance to prevent operational delays and minimize waste loss. Value stream managers determine the strengths and weaknesses of every process within the supply chain and identify opportunities that would increase efficiency and growth, delivering high-quality outputs, and generating more resources for revenues. They also assist the whole production team in providing the highest customer service by responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns and resolving their complaints about products accurately and efficiently.
In general, plant managers are responsible for the entire operations in a manufacturing plant. Plant managers plan, direct, organize, and run the optimum operations of the plant daily. They create and execute organizational or departmental goals procedures, and policies. They aim to increase the manufacturing production and the capacity and flexibility of its assets while keeping its current quality standards and unnecessary costs. They are expected to have a better understanding of the manufacturing industry like equipment use and mechanical aptitude.
Value stream managers and plant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Value Stream Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Average salary | $107,526 | $113,843 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $148,000 | Between $85,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Ridgefield, CT | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Koch Industries |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a value stream manager and a plant manager in terms of educational background:
| Value Stream Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between value stream managers' and plant managers' demographics:
| Value Stream Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |