Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 1321
Food production manager
A food production manager is a person who supervises and monitors food production and carries overall responsibility for the staff and for everything connected with them.
Check yourself in a minute: food production manager
Rate 5 of the 31 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
train staff to reduce food waste
supervise employees in food production plants
set production KPI
maintain relationship with customers
set quality assurance objectives
About food production manager
The role requires detailed knowledge of the products being made and of the processes that make them. The manager controls the process parameters and understands what each of them does to the product: a temperature, a time, a pH or a mixing speed changes shelf life, texture and safety. Compliance with production process requirements is monitored, and corrective actions are managed when something has gone out of specification.
The manager also ensures an adequate level of employment and recruitment, plans the activity of the food production plant around the people available, and manages resources across the plant.
The manager interprets data from food production, such as figures on yields, downtime, rejects and complaints, and bases decisions on them. Reducing waste is also among the manager's duties. The manager develops food waste reduction indicators and trains staff in reducing food waste. The manager also maintains relationships with customers and makes sure the plant produces to their requirements.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (31)
food waste monitoring systemsfood waste monitoring systemsThe characteristics, benefits and ways of using digital tools to collect, monitor and evaluate data on food waste in an organisation or hospitality establishment.food legislationfood legislationLegislation related to the food and feed industry including food manufacturing, hygiene, safety, raw materials, additives, GMOs, labelling, environmental and trade regulations.financial capabilityfinancial capabilityFinancial operations such as calculations, cost estimations, budget management taking relevant commercial and statistical data into account such as data for materials, supplies and manpower.quality assurance methodologiesquality assurance methodologiesQuality assurance principles, standard requirements, and the set of processes and activities used for measuring, controlling and ensuring the quality of products and processes.food and beverage industryfood and beverage industryThe respective industry and the processes involved in the food and beverage industry, such as raw material selection, processing, packaging, and storage.train staff to reduce food wastetrain staff to reduce food wasteEstablish new trainings and staff development provisions to support staff knowledge in food waste prevention and food recycling practices. Ensure that staff understands methods of and tools for food r...supervise employees in food production plantssupervise employees in food production plantsSupervise employees and monitor product quality at plants that turn raw materials including living creatures, vegetables and grains into products.set production KPIset production KPISet and achieve KPIs in line with company strategy and ensure customer requirements are met.maintain relationship with customersmaintain relationship with customersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and servic...set quality assurance objectivesset quality assurance objectivesDefine quality assurance targets and procedures and see to their maintenance and continued improvement by reviewing targets, protocols, supplies, processes, equipment and technologies for quality stan...oversee production requirementsoversee production requirementsOversee production processes and prepare all the resources needed to maintain an efficient and continuous flow of production.manage corrective actionsmanage corrective actionsImplementing corrective action and continuous improvement plans from internal and third party audits to meet food safety and quality performance indicators with adherance to agreed timescales.implement short term objectivesimplement short term objectivesDefine priorities and immediate actions for the short future.design indicators for food waste reductiondesign indicators for food waste reductionDetermine key performance indicators (KPI) for reducing food waste and managing in line with established standards. Oversee the evaluation of methods, equipment and costs for food waste prevention.ensure cost efficiency in food manufacturingensure cost efficiency in food manufacturingEnsure that the whole process of food manufacturing from receipt of raw materials, production, to food manufacturing and packaging processes is cost-effective and efficient.apply HACCPapply HACCPApply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).identify hazards in the workplaceidentify hazards in the workplacePerform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.analyse trends in the food and beverage industriesanalyse trends in the food and beverage industriesInvestigate trends in foodstuffs related to consumers preferences. Examine key markets based on both product type and geography as well as technological improvements in the industry.plan shifts of employeesplan shifts of employeesPlans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.manage resources in food manufacturingmanage resources in food manufacturingManaging resources to ensure sufficient and appropriate trained staff to ensure consistent performance.apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beveragesapply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beveragesApply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.apply GMPapply GMPApply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).keep up with innovations in food manufacturingkeep up with innovations in food manufacturingLatest innovative products and technologies to process, preserve, package and improve food products.use resource-efficient technologies in hospitalityuse resource-efficient technologies in hospitalityImplement technological improvements in hospitality establishments, as connectionless food steamers, pre-rinse spray valves and low flow sink taps, which optimise the water and energy consumption in d...plan food plant production activitiesplan food plant production activitiesPrepare food plant production plans by scheduling the main activities within agreed budgetary and service levels. Foresee realistic times and costs required for the production activities taking produc...develop food waste reduction strategiesdevelop food waste reduction strategiesDevelop policies such as staff meal or food redistribution to reduce, reuse and recycle food waste where possible. This includes reviewing purchasing policies to identify areas for reducing food waste...control of expensescontrol of expensesMonitor and maintain effective cost controls, in regards to efficiencies, waste, overtime and staffing. Assessing excesses and strives for efficiency and productivity.communicate production plancommunicate production planCommunicates production plan to all levels in a way that targets, processes, and requirements are clear. Ensures that information is passed to everyone involved in the process assuming their responsib...apply control process statistical methodsapply control process statistical methodsApply statistical methods from Design of Experiments (DOE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) in order to control manufacturing processes.analyse production processes for improvementanalyse production processes for improvementAnalyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.interpret data in food manufacturinginterpret data in food manufacturingInterpret data from different sources, like market data, scientific papers, and customers requirements in order to research development and innovation in food sector.
Optional (20) — show
molecular gastronomymolecular gastronomyThe analysis of scientific research applied to food preparation, which focuses among others on how the interaction between ingredients can modify the structure and appearance of food, for example by c...food authentication techniquesfood authentication techniquesMethodologies, analytical techniques and indicators applied to verify food authenticity and detect frauds.food fraudfood fraudInvestigation techniques to detect the act of deliberately adulterating information related to the nature, identity, properties, composition, quantity, durability, country of origin or place of proven...lead process optimisationlead process optimisationLead process optimisation using statistical data. Design experiments on the production line and functional process control models.perform strategic planning in the food industryperform strategic planning in the food industryDevelop and coordinate plans of action in the food industry to assure that quality and deadlines are met in time.assess environmental plans against financial costsassess environmental plans against financial costsAssess environmental plans in financial terms in order to balance the expenditure required for environmental improvements. Assess the economic benefit that those investments will bring in the long-ter...manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.attend to detail in preparation for auditsattend to detail in preparation for auditsEnsure constant compliance with standards and requirements, such as keeping certifications up to date and monitoring activities to ensure correct procedures are followed, so that audits can occur smoo...manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...recruit employeesrecruit employeesHire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.manage communications with food industry governmental bodiesmanage communications with food industry governmental bodiesManage communications with regulatory authorities for the food industry for all aspects of food safety, limits on potentially hazardous ingredients, labelling requirements and legislation.adapt production levelsadapt production levelsAdapt current production levels and strive to improve the current production rates looking for economic gains and margins. Negotiate improvement with sales, dispatch and distribution departments.apply foreign language for international tradeapply foreign language for international tradeCommunicate in foreign languages to facilitate international trade operations such as the importation of food and beverages.evaluate employeesevaluate employeesAnalyse employees' individual performances over a certain time span and communicate your conclusions to the employee in question or higher management. Evaluate achievements of staff members.monitor developments used for food industrymonitor developments used for food industryIdentifying and exploring developments and innovation in technology and materials in the food industry.advocate for consumer matters in production plantsadvocate for consumer matters in production plantsConduct regulatory oversight activities inside production plants concerning consumer matters, e.g. misbranding, consumer protection, etc.conduct research on food waste preventionconduct research on food waste preventionResearch and evaluate methods, equipment and costs for reducing and managing food waste. Monitor recorded measurement data and identify areas for improvement relating to food waste prevention.plan medium to long term objectivesplan medium to long term objectivesSchedule long term objectives and immediate to short term objectives through effective medium-term planning and reconciliation processes.mitigate waste of resourcesmitigate waste of resourcesEvaluate and identify opportunities to use resources more efficiently with continuously striving to reduce waste of utilities.manage medium term objectivesmanage medium term objectivesMonitor medium term schedules with budget estimations and reconciliation on a quarterly basis.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a food production manager do?
Food production managers oversee and monitor production and have overall responsibility for staffing and related issues. Hence, they have a detailed knowledge of the manufacturing products and their production processes. On the one hand, they control process parameters and their influence on the product and on the other hand, they ensure that staffing and recruitment levels are adequate.
What skills does a food production manager need?
A food production manager needs 31 essential skills, including food waste monitoring systems, food legislation, financial capability, quality assurance methodologies, food and beverage industry.
Will AI replace food production manager jobs?
The AI disruption score for food production manager is 48/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: financial capability, food waste monitoring systems, attend to detail in preparation for audits. Most resilient: maintain relationship with customers, perform strategic planning in the food industry, train staff to reduce food waste.
AI Replacement Risk
48/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupProduction and specialised services managers
Essential Skills31
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