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Production works and maintenance manager

Between 2006 and 2009, 0.4% of employed doctoral graduates or 60 doctoral graduates, are known to have been working as production, works and maintenance managers six months after graduation.

Job description

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

A production or maintenance manager is involved with the planning, coordination and control of manufacturing processes. A production manager ensures that goods and services are produced efficiently. They ensure the correct amount is produced at the right cost and at the right level of quality. The scope of the job depends on the nature of the production system: jobbing production, mass production, process production, or batch production. The job role is also sometimes referred to as an operations manager. 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.

Typical work activities

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

  • Overseeing the production process, drawing up a production schedule and ensuring that the production is cost effective, to timescale and of a particular quality
  • Working out the human and material resources needed
  • Being responsible for the selection and maintenance of equipment
  • Monitoring the production processes and adjusting schedules as needed
  • Monitoring product standards and implementing quality-control programmes
  • Liaising among different departments e.g. Suppliers, managers
  • Working with managers to implement the company's policies and goals
  • Ensuring that health and safety guidelines are followed
  • Supervising and motivating a team of workers
  • Reviewing the performance of subordinates
  • Identifying training needs

A production manager is 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 those who work in your team.

Production managers are also involved with product design and purchasing. In a small firm you may have to make many of the decisions yourself, but in a larger organisation planners, controllers, production engineers and production supervisors will be involved. In progressive firms, the production manager's role tends to be more closely integrated with other functions, such as marketing, sales and finance.

Entry requirements

A graduate or doctoral qualification in the following subjects may increase your chances:

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

Pre-entry experience, while not essential, would be very useful, whether it takes the form of previous employment or a work placement in an industrial environment. If formal schemes are not open to you, try to arrange a work-shadowing placement or some temporary work.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

  • Planning and organising skills
  • Ability to act decisively
  • Ability to grasp concepts easily
  • Problem-solving capabilities
  • ICT literacy
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively
  • Excellent negotiating skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
  • Good physical health
  • Ability to motivate others
  • Self-confidence
  • Ability to work in a logical, systematic manner

Salary

  • Range of typical starting salaries is £20,000 - £23,000 (salary data collected June 2010)
  • Average salaries for production managers with a few years of experience vary from £24,000 - £37,000. For more senior roles, salaries are in the range of £40,000 - £65,000 (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, works and maintenance management were:

Career stories

Owen Hicks

Manufacturing Manager at 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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