Industrial Production Managers

Area Plant Manager
Assembly Manager
General Production Manager
Manufacturing Coordinator
Manufacturing Manager
Plant Manager
Product Line Manager
Production Control Manager
Production Manager
Sub Plant Manager

What is an Industrial Production Manager?

Industrial Production Managers are responsible for overseeing the production process in manufacturing facilities. They ensure that production runs smoothly, efficiently, and meets quality standards. Typically, they coordinate the various stages of production, manage the workforce, and collaborate with other departments such as engineering, quality assurance, and supply chain. Industrial Production Managers analyze production schedules, monitor productivity, and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce waste. Their role often involves budgeting, inventory management, and compliance with safety regulations. A key aspect of their job is to motivate and lead their teams, fostering a productive work environment while ensuring that production goals align with the overall company strategy.

Career Assessment
Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$72010.0 - $190480.0

New job opportunities are likely in the future. : Average

Finding local jobs...
Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.

Career Assessment

Tasks

  • Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
  • Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
  • Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.
  • Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
  • Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.

Technology Skills

Tools Used

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Education and Training

    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Mathematics

    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

65 Active Jobs in South Africa
Avg Salary: R31,234pm

How to Know if You Are Ready to be an Industrial Production Manager in South Africa

The South African manufacturing and industrial sectors are currently experiencing a significant demand for skilled leadership. With 79 active jobs currently on the market and an average salary of R31,234pm, the profession is both lucrative and stable. Our latest market analysis shows a strong upward trajectory in remuneration; monthly averages have climbed steadily from R27,486.32 in January 2024 to an impressive R34,357.91 by December 2024. This trend reflects the growing value placed on managers who can navigate the complexities of modern production.

Is Industrial Production Management Right for Me? (Psychometric Checklist)

Success in this field requires a specific blend of temperament and technical aptitude. Review the following traits to see if you align with the requirements of the role:

  • Decisiveness Under Pressure: Can you make critical calls when a production line halts or when meeting a strict export deadline?
  • Analytical Problem-Solving: Do you enjoy identifying bottlenecks and implementing methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma to improve output?
  • Leadership and Labour Sensitivity: Are you capable of managing diverse teams and navigating the complexities of South African labour relations and union environments?
  • Meticulous Safety Consciousness: Is a "zero-harm" mindset second nature to you? (Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is non-negotiable).
  • Spatial and Technical Logic: Do you have a natural grasp of how machinery, personnel, and logistics interlink to create a finished product?
  • Resilience and Adaptability: Can you pivot strategies quickly in response to external factors such as energy constraints or supply chain disruptions?

A Day in the Life

In a South African industrial setting, your day typically begins on the factory floor well before the first shift officially kicks off. You will likely start with a "toolbox talk," ensuring that your team is aligned on safety protocols and production targets for the day. You aren't merely a desk-bound administrator; you are the heartbeat of the plant, moving between the machinery and the boardroom.

Your morning might involve troubleshooting a technical failure with the maintenance team, while your afternoon is spent analysing cost reports and forecasting resource requirements. You are the bridge between senior management’s strategic goals and the technical reality of the shop floor. In our local context, this also means managing production schedules around national infrastructure challenges and ensuring that every staff member is motivated and productive.

Education & Upskilling

Ready to start your career as a Industrial Production Managers?

Explore Top-Rated Industrial Production Managers Courses on Udemy

To secure a position in this competitive field, a combination of formal education and specialised training is essential. South African employers typically look for a mix of the following:

  • Formal Degrees: A Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a BCom in Logistics provides a theoretical foundation. Many South African managers also hold a BTech from a University of Technology, which is highly valued for its practical application.
  • TVET Diplomas: National N-Diplomas (N4-N6) in Engineering or Business Management serve as an excellent entry point when combined with extensive on-site experience.
  • Short Courses & Professional Certifications: Staying relevant requires specialised knowledge in Total Quality Management (TQM), ISO Standards, and Six Sigma green or black belt certification.

It is important to remember that continuous learning is key. As Industry 4.0 introduces automation and AI into South African plants, the most successful managers are those who constantly upskill themselves on the latest manufacturing technologies and sustainable business practices.

Next Steps

If you have the grit to manage complex systems and the passion to drive South African industry forward, you are already halfway there. However, knowing you have the potential and being "industry-ready" are two different things. Test your readiness now by completing our professional assessment to identify your strengths and discover which areas of your management profile need further development before you take the next step in your career.

Skills

  • Coordination

    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Critical Thinking

    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

  • Deductive Reasoning

    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Information Ordering

    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • Oral Comprehension

    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression

    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Problem Sensitivity

    The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

  • High school diploma or equivalent
    29 %

    or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

  • Bachelor's degree
    26 %
  • Post-secondary certificate
    16 %

    Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

Work Activities

  • Getting Information

    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems

    Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

  • Working with Computers

    Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

    Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
  • Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
  • Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
  • Direct sales, marketing, or customer service activities.
  • Evaluate quality of materials or products.

Work Interests

  • Enterprising

    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

  • Conventional

    Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

  • Realistic

    Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

This page incorporates data from O_NET OnLine, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), under the CC BY 4.0 license. O_NET is a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Assessify has adapted and modified the original content. Please note that USDOL/ETA has neither reviewed nor endorsed these changes.