Production Control Manager

Career Guide

A Production Control Manager plans and coordinates how materials, work orders, and schedules flow through a manufacturing operation. The goal is to keep production on time, control inventory, reduce delays, and ensure customer orders ship as promised.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Build and maintain production schedules based on demand, capacity, and lead times
Release work orders and prioritize jobs across production lines
Coordinate material availability with purchasing, receiving, and inventory teams
Track production progress and address shortages, delays, and bottlenecks
Set and monitor inventory targets for raw materials, work in progress, and finished goods
Lead daily production planning meetings and communicate changes to stakeholders
Maintain accurate planning data in the planning system and inventory system
Partner with quality, engineering, and maintenance to reduce downtime and rework
Report schedule performance, on time delivery, and inventory health to leadership
Support continuous improvement projects that increase throughput and reliability

Top Skills for Success

Production Scheduling

Demand Planning

Capacity Planning

Inventory Management

Materials Planning

Workflow Optimization

Root Cause Analysis

Problem Solving

Stakeholder Communication

Team Leadership

Process Improvement

ERP Systems

Excel Modeling

Data Reporting

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Production Manager

Operations Manager

Supply Chain Manager

Materials Manager

Plant Manager

Transition Opportunities

Master Scheduler

Demand Planning Manager

Inventory Planning Manager

Continuous Improvement Manager

Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced ERP PlanningInventory Accuracy ManagementStatistical ForecastingSIOP Process KnowledgeKPI DesignChange ManagementSupplier Lead Time Management

Development SuggestionsStrengthen planning fundamentals by owning a monthly planning cycle, improving key master data, and leading one cross functional project focused on schedule adherence or inventory reduction. Build credibility with clear metrics, routine communication, and consistent follow through.

Market Intelligence Report

Production Control Manager is part of the Production Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 65,000 to 85,000

Mid LevelUSD 85,000 to 115,000

Senior LevelUSD 115,000 to 155,000

Growth Trend

Stable to growing demand, driven by supply chain uncertainty, reshoring of manufacturing, and increased focus on inventory accuracy and on time delivery.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

BoeingLockheed MartinRaytheonGeneral MotorsFordTeslaToyotaGE AerospaceSiemens3MMedtronicJohnson and JohnsonProcter and GamblePepsiCoCaterpillarHoneywell

Industry Sectors

Aerospace and DefenseAutomotiveMedical DevicesConsumer Packaged GoodsIndustrial EquipmentElectronics ManufacturingFood and BeveragePharmaceutical ManufacturingChemical ManufacturingContract Manufacturing

Recommended Next Steps

Audit current schedule performance and define three measurable improvement targets

Map the end to end planning process and document key decision points

Improve master data quality for lead times, lot sizes, and safety stock

Create a weekly planning dashboard for on time delivery, shortages, and inventory turns

Run a structured daily shortage review and track resolution time

Lead a capacity and constraint review to reduce bottlenecks

Get hands on training in the company ERP planning modules

Build a standardized communication rhythm with production, purchasing, and customer service