What They Do: Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants.
Work Environment: Most industrial production managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours per week.
How to Become One: Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience.
Salary: The median annual wage for industrial production managers is $103,150.
Job Outlook: Employment of industrial production managers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of industrial production managers with similar occupations.
Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.
Industrial production managers typically do the following:
Industrial production managers, also called plant managers, may oversee an entire manufacturing plant or a specific area of production.
Industrial production managers are responsible for carrying out quality control programs to make sure the finished product meets a specific level of quality. Often called quality control systems managers, these managers use programs to help identify defects in products, identify the cause of the defect, and solve the problem creating it. For example, a manager may determine that a defect is being caused by parts from an outside supplier. The manager can then work with the supplier to improve the quality of the parts.
Industrial production managers work closely with managers from other departments as well. For example, the procurement (buying) department orders the supplies that the production department uses. A breakdown in communication between these two departments can cause production slowdowns. Industrial production managers also communicate with other managers and departments, such as sales, warehousing, finance, and research and design.
Industrial production managers hold about 203,800 jobs. The largest employers of industrial production managers are as follows:
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 10% |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 10% |
| Chemical manufacturing | 8% |
| Machinery manufacturing | 7% |
| Food manufacturing | 7% |
Industrial production managers split their time between the production area and a nearby office. When they are working in the production area, they may need to wear protective equipment, such as a helmet or safety goggles.
Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.
Get the education you need: Find schools for Industrial Production Managers near you!
Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor's degree and several years of related work experience.
Employers prefer that industrial production managers have at least a bachelor's degree. While the degree may be in any field, many industrial production managers have a bachelor's degree in business administration or industrial engineering. Sometimes, production workers with many years of experience take management classes to become production managers. At large plants, where managers have more oversight responsibilities, employers may look for managers who have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a graduate degree in industrial management.
Many industrial production managers begin as production workers and move up through the ranks. They usually advance to a first-line supervisory position before eventually becoming an industrial production manager. Most earn a college degree in business management or take company-sponsored classes to increase their chances of a promotion.
Alternatively, a worker who joins a firm immediately after graduating from college may work as first-line supervisor before beginning a job as a production manager.
Some begin working as an industrial production manager directly after college or graduate school. They may spend their first few months in training programs, becoming familiar with the production process, company policies, and safety regulations. In large companies, many also spend short periods of time working in other departments, such as purchasing or accounting, to learn more about the company.
Interpersonal skills. Industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills so they can work well other managers and with staff.
Leadership skills. To keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct the employees they manage.
Problem-solving skills. Production managers must identify problems immediately and solve them. For example, if a product has a defect, the manager determines whether it is a one-time problem or the result of the production process.
Time-management skills. To meet production deadlines, managers must carefully manage their employees' time as well as their own.
While not required, industrial production managers can earn certifications that show a higher level of competency in quality or management systems. The APICS offers a Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential. The American Society of Quality (ASQ) offers credentials in quality control. Both certifications require specific amounts of work experience before applying for the credential, so they are generally not earned before entering the occupation.
The median annual wage for industrial production managers is $103,150. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $64,150, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $170,470.
The median annual wages for industrial production managers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Chemical manufacturing | $125,480 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $119,400 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $101,870 |
| Food manufacturing | $98,500 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | $98,490 |
Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.
Employment of industrial production managers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 15,400 openings for industrial production managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Most of these managers are employed in manufacturing industries, some of which are expected to have declining employment due to greater productivity. However, because industrial production managers are responsible for coordinating work activities with the goal of increasing productivity, they will continue to be needed in this capacity.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Industrial production managers | 203,800 | 210,900 | 3 | 7,100 |
For more information about careers in production management and certification, visit
Association for Operations Management (APICS)
For more information about quality management and certification, visit
For general information about manufacturing careers, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.