Career Overview
Manufacturing managers:
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of a manufacturing plant or of a production department within a manufacturing plant, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager
- Are employed by manufacturing companies
Job Titles
Duties
Manufacturing managers:
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of a manufacturing plant or the operations or production department of a manufacturing plant
- Develop and create plans to efficiently use materials, labour and equipment to meet production targets
- Plan and manage the establishment of departmental budgets
- Develop production schedules and maintain an inventory of raw materials and finished products
- Plan and implement changes to machinery and equipment, production systems and methods of work
- Direct quality control inspection system and develop production reporting procedures
- Develop equipment maintenance schedules and recommend the replacement of machines
- Hire, supervise and train or oversee training of employees in the use of new equipment or production techniques
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
9,265% Employed Full Time
79%A conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school
Career Pathways
Progression to senior management positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of a college or university program in engineering or business administration is usually required
- Five to 10 years of supervisory experience in manufacturing are required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Operations Management/Supervision

Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
9,265Employment by Region
Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 285 | 3.1% |
Kootenay | 315 | 3.4% |
Mainland/Southwest | 6,310 | 68.1% |
North Coast and Nechako | 90 | 1.0% |
Northeast | 55 | 0.6% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 1,030 | 11.1% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,190 | 12.8% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
4,770Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 90 | -1.2% |
Kootenay | 80 | -1.3% |
Mainland/Southwest | 3,620 | 1.1% |
North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.0% |
Northeast | 30 | 1.0% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 590 | 0.1% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 350 | -1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
---|---|
Manufacturing | 4,610 |
Wholesale Trade | 60 |
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 30 |
Construction | 30 |
Agriculture and Fishing | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.