Production Manager Resume Examples [2 Samples & Writing Guide]

Top-performing companies have production managers who oversee production processes and coordinate all production-related activities. They plan production schedules and ensure that all associated activities occur within a given budget and time limit. Other roles include ensuring the correct functioning of equipment and enforcing compliance with health and safety protocols.

In this article, we will look at the roles and responsibilities of product managers to help you familiarize yourself with this position. We will also cover all the requirements surrounding this role, i.e., skills, education, and experience, to help you understand what’s needed. Lastly, we have two resume examples and a FAQ section that should tell you what to include in your resume when applying for a job. Let’s get right into it!

Production Manager Job Description

A production manager is in charge of all the production processes in the company. They create production schedules, oversee production processes and coordinate all production-related activities, making them important production team members. Other roles include estimating costs, preparing budgets, planning workers’ schedules, and ensuring work is submitted within the deadlines.

To succeed in this role, one needs excellent time management and communication skills and the ability to multitask, given the number of simultaneous operations within the workplace. Excellent problem-solving skills are also necessary.

Production Manager Roles and Responsibilities

• Researching and formulating objectives together  with other managers
• Estimating near-accurate costs and preparing budgets to fund production processes
• Organizing workflows to meet deadlines and specifications
• Determining different resources needed to power production processes/ projects, e.g., raw materials and workforce
• Monitoring all production processes to identify and resolve issues in timely fashion
• Approving the purchase of equipment to increase  production efficiency
• Ensuring that all outputs meet the required quality standards
• Approving maintenance work on tools and equipment
• Reporting to upper management
• Enforcing all health and safety standards and  precautions
• Training, coaching, motivating, and providing guidance to production teams
• Regularly communicating with upper management on problems/issues around production
• Ensuring continuous production and minimal downtime through thorough evaluation of machine resources.
• Finding a balance between cost reduction and increased productivity for better operations efficiency
• Ensuring adequate staff scheduling
• Setting productivity goals for manufacturing teams and monitoring them to ensure goal achievement
• Developing policies and procedures for improving efficiency and upholding both quality and safety standards
• Keeping the organization accident-free by implementing health and safety policies
• Determining quality control standards for the organization
• Organizing and leading regular training sessions aimed at production efficiency improvement
• Lasing with the right departments, e.g., finance, to select, order, and purchase materials
• Upholding all the policies and standards within the company
• Ensuring that all equipment and resources are adequately stocked for continuous productivity
• Participating in the overall management and running of the organization

Production Manager Required Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of budgeting principles and concepts
• Performance evaluation skills
• In-depth knowledge of production management
• Ability to report on key production metrics
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Excellent problem-diagnosis and solving skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite Programs
• Proficiency in ERP software
• Great attention to details
• Interpersonal skills
• Information Technology and Math skills
• Ability to work in team settings
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent decision-making skills
• A results-driven approach
• Perfect understanding of health & safety regulations
• Understanding of quality standards
• Excellent budgeting skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to train, coach, and motivate others
• Excellent project/ program management skills
• Working knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines
• Knowledge and mastery of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations

Production Manager Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science or Art degrees in Business Administration, Business Management, or a relevant field
• Proven experience as a production director or any relevant industry-related experience
• Experience in production metrics reporting
• Proven experience coaching/training employees on safety and production

Production Manager Salary

According to Glassdoor estimates, production managers earn quite well. Junior production managers make roughly $71,000 yearly, which is pretty lucrative. Lead production managers earn $92,000 yearly, while senior production managers who are more experienced earn $100,000+ annually. This is a career worth trying.

Production Manager CV Example 1

Production Manager CV Example 2

Production Manager Resume Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

1. Which Technical Skills Should I Include in My Production Manager Resume?

Production management is a highly technical job requiring many specific skills and competencies. Even though these are often mentioned in the job listing, you should list others. Some of the technical abilities worth including in your resume include excellent project management skills, email management skills, agile methodology, scrum, database administration and management, product strategy citation, knowledge of financial principles and methods, market research, excellent prototyping skills, and A/B testing.

Additional skills include production management, product development, production planning, lean manufacturing, continual improvement process, scheduling, innovation, supervision, vendor management, excellent quality control skills, and facilitation. As a general rule, ensure that you first include the technical skills required in the job listing, as hiring managers give them more priority.

 Another excellent idea would be to highlight how you have applied these skills in your previous work, as we have done in the work experience sections of our resumes. If possible, mention some of them in your personal profile/ resume summary section too.  

2. Which Keywords Should I Include in My Resume?

Resume optimization is just as crucial as finding or highlighting the right technical skills. Therefore, read through the job listing once more and find the specific terminologies, skills, tools, and software programs the hiring manager needs to see in your resume. To give you an idea, here are some of the common keywords in production manager resumes: A/B testing, lean, agile Methodologies, project management, OSHA, EPA, facilitation, prototyping, strategy citation, process, continuous, process improvement, technical, MS Office, scheduling, production efficiency, production team, success metrics, and insights.

Additional keywords worth considering are datasets, data findings, meetings, project delivery, agile sprints, optimization, development, production management, health and safety precautions, productivity improvement, standards, productivity goals, budgeting, estimation, objectives, policies, procedures, and processes.

Please ensure that these keywords are well-spread within your resume, i.e., in different sections such as work experience, resume summary, and skill. The hiring manager expects to review a well-written resume, not an overly-stuffy one.

3. Which Certifications Can I Pursue for a Better Resume?

Pursuing the right certifications may be the secret ingredient to staying competitive in the job market that you have been looking for. These credentials prove your ability to thrive in your area of expertise. They often cover specific aspects of your career. Some of the best options for a production manager include:

• Certified in Production and Inventory Management- This certification, popularly known as CPIM, is offered by the American Production and Inventory Control Society. It affirms the availability of the knowledge and skills required to streamline business operations. It requires no previous work experience and must be renewed every five years.

• Manufacturing Production and Operations Certification– This is an intermediate course and certification offered by the Institute of Supply Chain Management. It is handy in developing critical production planning skills and assuming team leadership or supervisory management roles. Some areas covered include logistics, manufacturing, planning and control, procurement, customer service, supplier relationships, product sourcing, supplier selection, movement of goods, and general warehousing.

Other online courses worth pursuing in production management include the production planning for management consultants & analysts by Udemy, Advanced Diploma in Production and Operation Management by Alison, and the Production Management course by Swayam. Most of these courses cover areas such as strategic planning, production management control, measurement, forecasting, maintenance management, process analysis methods of production planning, and capacity management.

4. How Can I Become a Production Manager?

You must have a level of education and experience to become a production manager. Therefore, the first step is to get the right education, which in this case should be a Bachelor’s degree focusing on Mathematics or technology. You can also obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration or Manufacturing. The next step is gaining relevant work experience, where you will learn essential skills and competencies needed to thrive in your work. This should be followed by the right technical certifications covered in FAQ no. 3. With the right experience, education, and certifications, you can apply for a production manager job and walk into the interview shoulder-high.

5. Which Are the Most Important Soft Skills for Production Managers?

There are five primary soft skills required for production managers. They are:

• Communication- Excellent verbal and written communication skills will help you get through to your team, production line workers, and management.
• Organization- Knowing how to organize your work and get your job-related affairs in order will help you meet tight deadlines and keep on task.
• Teamwork– It’s impossible to work alone as a production manager. You should know how to win the cooperation of everyone in the manufacturing environment.
• Problem-solving- Excellent problem-solving skills help identify and solve problems, which is vital for every production manager.
• Leadership- One can only thrive as a production manager if one can lead and motivate team members.