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Between 2006 and 2009, 0.2% of employed doctoral graduates or 30 employed doctoral graduates, are known to have been working as production or process engineers six months after graduation.         

Job description

This role is part of the ‘other common doctoral occupations' employment cluster.

Production and process engineers or managers are typically involved with the planning, coordination and control of manufacturing processes. They ensure that goods and services are produced efficiently, at the right cost and at the right level of quality. Many companies are involved in several types of production, adding to the complexity of the job. Most production managers are responsible for both human and material resources, although the scope of the job depends on the nature of the production system. However they are generally also designers, as well as analytical and creative thinkers.

A production supervisor (sometimes known as a shift manager or team leader) reports to the production manager or plant/works manager and is responsible for achieving immediate and short-term objectives laid down by the production manager, such as output, quality, waste, yield, safety and overtime costs. In particular, the supervisor can have a significant effect on how effectively their production staff perform as a team.

Typical work activities

The exact nature of the work will depend on the size of the employing organisation. However, tasks typically involve:

  • Working with other engineers such as chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, to ensure all product and system requirements are taken into account from the initial product conception to finished result
  • Working with other professionals such as accountants and human resources personnel, to manage budget aspects and recruitment of junior engineers
  • Overseeing the production process, drawing up a production schedule and ensuring cost effectiveness
  • Estimating costs and setting the quality standards, making sure that products are produced on time and are of good quality
  • Drafting a timescale for the job and working out the human and material resources needed
  • Supervising and motivating a team of workers and ensuring that health and safety guidelines are followed
  • Examining and tendering for new equipment to ensure the highest quality at the best price

Production and Process Engineers or Managers are involved in both the pre-production (planning) stage as well as the production (control and supervision) stage. A large part of production management involves dealing with people, particularly within a team.

 

Entry requirements

Degrees or a doctoral qualification in a related field will increase your chances. These include:

  • Biochemistry
  • Business/management
  • Chemistry
  • Electrical and electronic engineering
  • Food science/technology
  • Materials science/technology
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Physics
  • Process engineering
  • Transport/distribution/logistics

Having accredited academic qualifications is the most straightforward way to meet Incorporated Engineer status.

Process and production engineers can also be designed as ‘Qualified Persons', a crucial role as they are responsible for approving and certifying the release of pharmaceutical products, for use with both humans and animals. This will require specialised training and membership of a relevant professional body.

Pre-entry experience, while not essential, is very useful, whether it takes the form of employment or a work placement in an industrial environment during your course.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following

  • Good project management skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work within budget and timescales
  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent negotiating skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively
  • Self-confidence and ability to motivate others
  • Ability to work in a logical, systematic manner
  • ICT literacy
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as a team member

Salary

  • Range of typical starting salaries is £20,000 - £25,000 (salary data collected June 2010).
  • Average salaries for production managers with a few years of experience vary from £24,000 - £55,000.
  • For more senior roles, salaries are in the range of £40,000 upwards (salary data collected June 2010).

Sector and disciplinary information

Sector information

Doctoral graduates from 2006-9 working in this occupation were known to be employed in the following profiled sectors six months after graduation:

Disciplinary background

The most common disciplinary backgrounds for doctoral graduates (2006-2009) entering production or process engineering were:

Career stories

Owen Hicks
Manufacturing Manager, Johnson Matthey

"As Manufacturing Manager, my role is to supervise a management team which is responsible for around 300 people engaged in making catalysts and filters that eliminate the pollution which comes out of cars."

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