Monday, June 17, 2013

Operations Manager

By: Lu Mengru and Michael Machala


An operations manager is a role that is most often found in the production step of a supply chain, where raw materials are assembled to create finished goods.  Operation managers are vital to the success of a business, namely because they are overseeing production as a whole.  The responsibilities of this job field include: keeping production costs low, setting goals for the organization as a whole, major role in budgeting, and looking over financial statements in order to get a better idea of how to improve operations.   

Communication is a key skill needed to be a successful operations manager.  The success of this role relies heavily on operations running smoothly, and the operations manager is at the forefront of this.  They have to be able to communicate with top executives, between departments, and also among employees.  Along with communication, operations managers tend to be optimists and display a positive attitude across an organization.  Also, a keen sense of business is an integral skill that is applied to this job every day and one that can only be truly taught through the progression of a career. 

Generally, a bachelor’s degree in business or finance is needed to secure a position as an operations manager along with a master’s degree in business administration.  Along with education, applicants who wish to obtain a position as an operations manager have to display strong leadership qualities and being able to speak a second language increases one’s chances greatly.

The work environment for an operations manager can be said to be both inside an office and on the floor of a factory.  The individual has to have a close connection to the normal every day operations and this can only be done by putting oneself in an environment where production is taking place.  In regards to the office environment, an operations manager often meets with top executives to discuss budgets, purchasing, and how to improve the operations of the business.  In addition to meetings, this job role also studies financial statements and other business documents in order to get a better idea of how the business is doing as a whole.

Operations managers are needed in every type of industry and having an operations manager that is good at their role is a great asset to an organization.  The national average salary for an operations manager is anywhere from $44,818 to $81,596. This average really does depend on the industry of interest. Many companies have a different set of goals for their operations and therefore the pay range may vary. Also, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2011 the average annual pay for top executives, which is what business operations managers are considered, was $114,490 per year and $55.04 per hour.






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