Archive for March, 2011

Become a Production Manager


The work of a production manager involves lots of responsibilities and it requires these professionals to have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. The requirements and important points on how to become a production manager are presented below. The person who looks after process of planning and manufacturing of a product in an industry is referred to as production manager. Depending on the product that a company manufactures, the educational requirements vary for a production manager. For example, production managers working in the field of automobile manufacturing require an engineering degree. Those professionals operating in pharmaceutical companies need to have a degree in pharmacy. There is post for production managers in companies from different fields where some kind of product is manufactured. The activity of planning is also an important part of a production manager’s profile. Thus, production manager needs to have many different skills. Let us have a look at the information about how to a become a production manager through this article.

Becoming a Production Manager

To become a production manager, first of all, you need to be well versed with technicalities associated with the job. Secondly, it is necessary to have managerial skills which help in getting the work done within the specified time limit. There are many other facets of a production manager’s job. Let us get into the details of this job profile and understand how to become a production manager through this article.

Educational Requirement
A candidate looking for the job of production manager needs to have a college degree relevant to the field in which he/she is applying. Such a degree would allow him/her in understanding the technical details associated with the job. Students who wish to work in the industrial sector can think about pursuing a degree in industrial technology. It is always an added advantage to have a management degree (for example MBA) because it helps in moving up the levels of hierarchy. Since the planning activity also comes under the job profile of a production manager, he needs to have knowledge of financial transactions and management policies. This is the main reason why a management degree proves to be useful. A diploma course in production management is offered by many universities and which provides the students with all the necessary skills & technical know-how. Such a diploma course is therefore, useful and worth considering. It also means that a degree is not a must for becoming a production manager.

Production Manager Job Description
A production manager is the key person to the manufacturing process in a firm. He needs to have knowledge about the product development lifecycle. All the technical details associated with manufacturing should be known to him. There are many other production manager responsibilities which need to be understood. Let us have a look at these different responsibilities.

* Creating a layout of the project or work to be completed is an important part of a production manager’s job. Preparing a layout or outline of work gives an idea about the tasks to be implemented in the process of manufacturing a product. Planning these tasks also becomes easier by having an overview of the project to be completed.
* A production manager should basically be a multi-tasker. Coordinating different activities which together contribute to the production work is also an important aspect of a production manager’s profile.
* The work of a manager is not just limited to the proper working/operation of production system. He has to communicate with people from other departments to allow smooth functioning of the department he is leading. For example, production management is closely associated with sales products. Keeping an eye on sales figures, communicating with the sales manager, setting target for a given period, etc. are all the important work responsibilities which need to be handled by him.

Production Manager Salary
Salary of production managers is different in different fields. It depends on the product being manufactured, sales and overall size of the company. A production manager working in the industrial sector can earn anything between $70,000 and $75,000 annually. It is however, necessary to understand that salary in this range is offered to experienced professionals. In order to work as a production manager, you need to have enough experience to handle critical situations. It is therefore, advisable to start off as a trainee or assistant manger to obtain knowledge and experience required to handle the production manager duties and responsibilities in a proper manner.

The work of a production manager requires you to be on your toes all the time. It is not just the process of manufacturing, but also the related activities that these professionals need to handle. Inventory, sales, workforce management are the different things which influence the production work to a great extent. The production manager job description and other aspects of this profile are presented through this article. Knowledge of all these aspects of the job profile should prove to be helpful for the readers.

Different Forms of Communication in the Workplace


Communication is the key when it comes to growth of an organization. Different forms of communication in the workplace are explained in this article. The ability to communicate effectively with others is a gift. Not all of us are born with this gift, which turns out to be an asset for the development of an individual. Communication also determines the growth of organization as a whole. Authoritative communication, peer communication are important aspects of organizational communication. With the advent of communication media and techniques, communication at workplace has also assumed a new face. Still, the basic core of communication at workplace remains the same. Communication styles in the workplace can be differentiated in various forms. In this article, we have explained different forms of communication in the workplace.

arge organization consists of employees that come from various backgrounds, cultures, races, nations and so on. It is important to bring all of them on an equal footing by establishing a common foundation of communication. Effective communication in the workplace creates a harmonious work culture which helps the individuals and organization to grow together. Understanding the various forms of communication may help in improving communication in the workplace.

Visual Communication
Visual communication is an interactive form of communication, which relies on basic observation skills of employees. Various techniques of visual communication can be used in an organization. Presentations, displaying charts, figures and graphics on the notice board are some forms of visual communication in the workplace. A message can also be conveyed by showing an audio visual clip of the subject matter.

Written Communication
Written communication is the most commonly utilized type of communication at office. This also happens to be the most primitive form of workplace communication. However, with time, hand written communication has been replaced by typed communication to a great extent. Written communication can assume the form of formal communication as well as informal communication at the workplace. Formal written communication involves exchange of emails, electronic or physical memos, documents, training materials and so on. Informal written communication comprises of text messages, instant messaging etc. The flow of written communication can be from management to employees and vice versa or between peers.

Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is the most important aspect of workplace communication. It can be further subdivided into two categories which are as follows.

Formal
Formal verbal communication includes meetings, seminars, conferences, address, training etc. The exchange of ideas can take place at various levels. It can be a small group communication such as board meetings, team meetings, department meetings or it can be at an organizational level. This type of communication requires a facilitator to initiate and direct the proceedings. The attendees usually come with their own agendas, opinions for such meetings. Formal communication can take place face to face or exchange of ideas can take place remotely by the means of advanced technology such as video conferencing.

Informal or Grapevine
Grapevine communication is the most interesting part of workplace communication. It does not conform to the usual norms of workplace communication. Besides, it flows in all possible directions upward (employee to management), downward (management to employee), across (within peers), diagonal (within departments) etc. Informal or grapevine communication is usually the source of all rumors and gossip in the office. This type of communication must be controlled effectively, else it may hamper the work culture of an organization and deter its growth.

Non Verbal Communication
Although, this form of communication is rarely used in the workplace, it may have a significant impact upon the exchange of ideas and views at workplace. Generally, signs, touch are two basic aspects of non verbal communication. However, touch is not considered as an appropriate form of workplace communication. Nonetheless, a lot can be shared and conveyed with the help of a body language which is one of the most important aspect of communication. Verbal communication accompanied with appropriate body language can prove to be a very effective medium of communication at workplace.

All these forms of communication can be effectively used for the growth of an organization. Improper communication may lead to misunderstanding between various groups and individuals, which may have a bad impact upon organization as a whole. Ideas and messages must be conveyed clearly and without any ambiguity. This will leave no scope for errors, misunderstandings and similar issues.

This was all about the various forms of communication in the workplace. Apart from the above mentioned types, several other forms of communication can be used depending upon the needs of an organization. Hope, you found this article resourceful.

Incoming search terms:

  • forms of communication on the job