What Is Production Management? Definition, Careers, and More

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learn about production management, including what it is, why it's important, careers, and how to get started.

[Featured image] Two product managers are wearing an orange vest, and gloves looking at warehouse products.

Key takeaways

Production management involves monitoring and improving the efficiency of activities, materials, staff resources, and budgets to produce goods.

  • The annual median total salary for a production manager is $94,000, according to Glassdoor [1]. 

  • Job titles you can target in product management, besides production manager, include manufacturing manager, industrial production manager, plant manager, and operations manager. 

  • You can pursue a degree in business, engineering, industrial management, or manufacturing to obtain foundational knowledge in production management. 

Learn more about the field of production management, the skills you need, and how you can start a career in production management. Afterward, if you’re ready to enhance your leadership skills to succeed in this role, enroll in the Leading People and Teams Specialization. Beginner-friendly, this program covers team management, persuasive communication, conflict management, team building, and more. 

What is production management?

Production management is the process of managing production inputs (raw materials, capital, and labor) to produce outputs (finished products). For companies that manufacture products, production management is necessary to ensure the operations and logistics (supply chain) run smoothly. Production management goes hand in hand with operations management.

Read more: Operations Management: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Why is production management important?

Production management is important because it lowers costs when done efficiently. This means the processes maximize resources to improve a business's competitiveness in the market. This, in turn, helps companies produce high-quality products that are delivered on time to achieve business objectives and, therefore, improve the company's reputation.

What are the 5 M's of production management?

The 5 M's of production management are men, machines, methods, money, and materials. Managing "men" (the better word for this is "people") is a core of production management, who work the machines that produce goods. Production managers strategize how to use machines and certain methods (strategies) to optimize resources, money, and materials.

What is a production management job?

Production management job descriptions vary by industry and level of the role, but in general, someone working in production management has the following responsibilities:

  • Managing manufacturing processes and looking at inputs to achieve outputs

  • Creating and maintaining work schedules and budgets

  • Monitoring production to find ways to improve efficiency and operations

  • Communicating effectively with staff, stakeholders, suppliers, and customers

  • Manage safety and quality control

  • Manage a production team 

  • Identify, evaluate, and resolve any problems with manufacturing or staffing

Skills needed in production management jobs

To work in production management, you'll need both technical and workplace skills.

Technical skills:

  • Competency with technical equipment and maintenance

  • Financial and industry knowledge

  • Knowledge of industry regulations, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

  • Ability to use Microsoft 365 and email

Workplace skills:

Industries that need production management systems

These industries commonly rely on production management to turn raw materials into finished products:

• Automotive 

• Chemical

• Food

• Machinery

• Metal and fabricated products 

• Computers and technology

Production management salary figures and job titles

Production management jobs, titles, and salaries vary and have different responsibilities. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected growth from 2024 to 2034 for industrial production managers is 2 percent [2]. Salaries for production management roles in the US are much higher than average, with the median annual earnings at $121,440, rising to over $197,310 for the top 10 percent [3]. Explore some product management jobs and their median annual salaries.

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of February 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Production manager

Median annual salary (US): $94,000 [1]

A production manager manages the production process and ensures the company's manufacturing goals are met (outputs) by successfully overseeing inputs such as time, staffing, efficiency, materials, and costs. 

Manufacturing manager

Median annual salary (US): $146,000 [4]

A manufacturing manager looks after the day-to-day manufacturing operations. You organize schedules, manage staff, and set budgets. The role is very similar to a production manager, except the production manager is responsible for the entire production process, while a manufacturing manager looks after the equipment and those who use it. 

Assistant production manager

Median annual salary (US): $82,000 [5] 

An assistant production manager supports the production manager with their duties. Your tasks are similar, but at a junior level.

Industrial production manager

Median annual salary (US): $100,000 [6]

An industrial production manager oversees production and manufacturing in an industrial plant. Your role includes scheduling production and managing budgets, staff, and processes. 

Plant manager 

Median annual salary (US): $154,000 [7]

A plant manager supervises operations and manufacturing and is responsible for making strategic decisions, managing staff, ensuring safety, and working to achieve production goals.

Operations manager

Median annual salary (US): $105,000 [8]

An operations manager is responsible for the production and daily operations, making business decisions, and working as a senior management team member. You look to improve production processes and may recruit and train staff. 

How to become a production manager 

To become a production manager, you'll want to make sure you have the right skills, education, experience, and certifications. 

1. Earn a production management degree.

A bachelor’s degree is typically the minimum educational requirement to become a production manager, with 62 percent of managers holding one and 18 percent holding an associate degree [9]. However, it’s possible to qualify for a position if you have a high school diploma and have gained an impressive amount of experience. 

Useful bachelor’s degree subjects include business, engineering, industrial management, manufacturing, or similar. Depending on the company and level of responsibilities, some positions may require an MBA. Some schools offer options to complete a production management degree.

2. Receive some training.

On-the-job training tends to be the best way to learn. A new employee will often spend the first few months learning about the company and job responsibilities, and then putting those methods into action.

Completing an internship in manufacturing or production is helpful in learning industry processes.

3. Gain experience.

Experience is necessary in most cases to work in production management, especially if you want to advance into a leadership role. You'll need to first land an entry-level position to gain a few years of experience before pursuing more responsibilities.

4. Consider getting certified.

Given the competition for jobs, having relevant certifications can boost your resume. Some common ones to know include:

  • ASCM Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM)

  • ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)

  • IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB)

  • AAPM Master Project Manager (MPM)

  • AIPMM Certified Product Manager (CPM)

The artificial intelligence (AI) product development life cycle can differ from the standard. Building AI skills can be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other candidates and stay current with the evolving tech landscape. With IBM's AI Product Manager Professional Certificate, you can learn to apply your leadership skills to the AI product management lifecycle. You'll examine real-world case studies of successful AI integration and develop or strengthen your knowledge of Agile concepts and methodologies. By the end, you'll have earned a Professional Certificate from an industry leader in technology.

Explore our free resources for production management

Join Career Chaton LinkedIn to get weekly updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Discover more about product management with our other free digital resources:

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.

Article sources

1. 

Glassdoor. “How much does a Production Manager make? https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/production-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed February 27, 2026.

Updated on
Written by:

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.