Manufacturing management
Manufacturing management involves the implementation of methods and techniques to achieve low costs, quality, flexibility and innovation. Samantha Yong finds out more from Ir Dr Kanesan Muthusamy, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technical Studies, Open University Malaysia.
Manufacturing management is concerned with the creation of a company's products and as such, is also the heart of a company’s operations. It is defined as the organisation of resources devoted to the production process. Essentially, it is ‘about the way companies produce their products – the tasks they have to complete, the issues they have to deal with and the decisions that they have to make’, says Dr Kanesan. What do manufacturing managers do?
One of the main responsibilities of the manufacturing manager is to oversee the production process, reducing costs wherever possible and making sure that products are produced on time and are of good quality. The manufacturing manager has to be able to resolve issues quickly, have good interpersonal skills and be knowledgeable in the whole manufacturing process.
Manufacturing managers can be specialists in different areas. These include scheduling, logistics and purchasing. Manufacturing management graduates who wish to specialise do not need additional degrees to do so. However, in order to gain specialised knowledge, they are required to attend short courses provided by consultancies.
Some specialisations:
| Scheduling | To determine which machines will be used, whether new machines need to be purchased, whether overtime or extra shifts are necessary, and what the sequence of production will be |
| Logistics | Involves monitoring the production run to make sure that it stays on schedule and correcting any problems that may arise |
| Purchasing | To assess the plant’s personnel and capital resources in order to select the best combination to meet production goals. Managers in this sector are responsible for purchasing materials and equipment |
Who employs manufacturing managers?
According to Dr Kanesan, manufacturing management graduates can find work in many manufacturing industries, from electronic manufacturing companies producing semiconductors and home appliances to food manufacturers, automotive manufacturers and even industrial manufacturers who produce paper, steel, cement, chemicals, rubber and plastic, wood and furniture, and textiles, among others.
Manufacturing vs production
In recent times, manufacturing has been generally misunderstood. The main confusion is the difference between manufacturing and production.
Although both sectors are closely interrelated, manufacturing involves the process of transforming raw materials into goods and associated services, while production encompasses the physical processes of making, cutting and bending, etc.
As manufacturing operations have become increasingly sophisticated, employers look for candidates with degrees in manufacturing or engineering management. Previously, SPM leavers were accepted as manufacturing supervisors, but recent developments in the manufacturing sector have given rise to employers making a degree qualification a prerequisite for manufacturing supervisors.
Examples of employers of manufacturing management graduates are Samsung, Panasonic, Seagate, Flextronics, Motorola, Western Digital, Nestle, Proton and Perodua.
Designations for the manufacturing management graduate
In large companies, fresh graduates are usually hired as manufacturing supervisors, assistant manufacturing managers or even shift managers. After a few years and with more experience in a supervisory position, they are promoted to manufacturing managers. On the other hand, in small and medium enterprises, there are instances when fresh graduates are hired as manufacturing managers right away.
Choosing a course
A manufacturing management degree is a fairly new qualification and currently, in Malaysia, OUM is the only university which provides this course at degree level. However, a career in the manufacturing industry can also be built with other degrees such as a degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, production management and even business administration.
Course content
A degree in manufacturing management spans five years and comprises the following:
| Year 1 | Students take general units like mathematics, marketing and human resources management subjects |
| Year 2 | Students study more detailed subjects such as manufacturing and systems, engineering science, quality control and financial management |
| Year 3 | Students will take subjects such as industrial engineering, project and quality management, manufacturing strategy, production technology and IT for manufacturing |
| Year 4 | Students are introduced to production and operations management, materials management and industrial law, among others |
| Year 5 | To help them improve a company’s production, students are taught the 6 sigmas, a system of practices developed to systematically improve processes by eliminating defects |
Advice
An individual’s career in manufacturing will thrive only if he has a continuous interest in keeping up with the latest happenings in manufacturing, such as ‘being constantly aware of the new methods and technologies that are available in the industry’, says Dr Kanesan.
On top of that, aspiring manufacturing managers should also be prepared to ‘be called at any hour to go into the factory to resolve a problem and stay until the situation is solved or under control’.
The job of a manufacturing manager requires the ability to compromise, persuade and negotiate. Therefore, successful manufacturing managers are ‘well-rounded individuals who have excellent interpersonal and communication skills’.
Ir Dr Kanesan Muthusamy is currently the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technical Studies, Open University Malaysia. Prior to this appointment, he worked as a manager at Panasonic/Matsushita Television & Networks Malaysia, head equipment manager at Motorola Malaysia and mechanical engineer at Robert Bosch Malaysia.
As vice dean, he is responsible for the design and development of new programmes, courses, module writing, editing and moderating. He is also a lecturer, tutor, examiner, trainer, facilitator and moderator for his faculty. Dr Kanesan is the Deputy Chief Internal Quality Auditor and a consultant for Meteor Sdn Bhd on various industrial projects.
This article first appeared in doctorjob's coursesNOW! Engineering 2007 .
