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Production Manager
Production managers do the planning, organization, coordination and control of production. They must endeavour to produce as much as possible at the lowest possible cost. Their activities include the anticipation of production, factory layout, the drawing up of a production plan and quality standards.

Production managers are responsible for the effective managing of organizations' production line to ensure that the highest production standards, at the lowest costs, are maintained.

Production managers can specialize in various management fields such as personnel and financial management, work-study, training, quality control, marketing and distribution, administration and organization. The nature of the work depends on the type of institution worked for, as well as the individual's knowledge of chemical, metallurgical and other processes.

With reference to the long-term planning, production managers help with the selection and designing of the specifications of the services that are being rendered. They take part in decisions concerning the layout of the enterprise, the size and range of the product or service to be rendered, the design and organization of the work processes, work standards and compensations of the employees. Short-term planning includes decision-making on scheduling the production activities and the implementing thereof.

Production managers work mostly with the production system but they also do inspections to make sure that their orders are being implemented correctly. All these functions require production managers to work closely with other management personnel of the organization and stay in contact with the production workers in order to prevent any possible delay in production.

Satisfying Aspects
- challenge and variety of tasks
- working with people
- good job opportunities

Demanding aspects
- having to work overtime on occasion
- dealing with difficult staff members

Requirements
A production manager should:
- be practical and enjoy solving problems;
- be able to make decisions on production matters;
- ability to work well with others;
- be willing to continue his education to keep up with the latest developments in the field;
- good mathematical ability
- ability to visualize three-dimensional objects

School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma    requirements for a diploma course

Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.

Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics
Recommended Subjects: Business Science

Training
Degree: BSc Industrial Engineering - UJ, US, UNISA, UP, NMMU, Wits, or BA, BCom and BAdmin with Industrial Psychology and Economics - various universities.

Diploma: N.Dip: Production Management - TUT

Some technical engineering courses such as for production and industrial engineering technicians, which are offered, at most of the universities of technology, are also applicable for training as a production manager.

A diploma course in Production Management is offered at the Production Management Institute of South Africa. Students over 23 who do not hold a National Senior Certificate first undergo a short orientation course to gain admission. This course is available in every main centre in South Africa. Students work while attending evening classes.

Employer
- factories
- food producers
- self-employment, with enough experience and capital, can start own manufacturing concern

Contact
The Production Management Institute of South Africa
Technical / Commercial College
1st Floor Quest House
3 Margaret St
Box 5524
Kempton Park
Tel:?(011)?394-0454 Fax:?(011)?394-0474

www.pmi-sa.co.za