What Does A Production Do?

WHAT DOES A PRODUCTION DO?

Published: Dec 15, 2025 - The Production Professional oversees manufacturing activities by coordinating resources, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring efficient production workflows. This role supports operational goals through production planning, process control, safety compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. The individual delivers consistent output by applying technical expertise, analytical thinking, and effective collaboration across teams.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Production

1. Production Analyst Duties

Schedule Analysis: Understand factors that impact the schedule, anticipate potential risks, and proactively create action plans to reduce delays in the schedule
Production Scheduling: Plan and establish a work schedule and assignments for material availability to support the production schedule
Schedule Optimization: Optimize the schedule to improve on-time performance and reduce lead time
Tool Development: Develop tools that automate and help the team visualize and track the availability of raw materials and the availability of products to ship
Process Coordination: Coordinate the schedule of activities of supporting processes for the conversion of raw materials and transfer of products between facilities
Cross Coordination: Confer with managers and supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments
Work Monitoring: Observe work and employees to ensure that the conversion of raw materials supports the production schedule
Inventory Management: Maintain an updated picture of the inventory of raw materials, work in process, supplies and requisition additional items
Continuous Improvement: Facilitate an environment and organizational philosophy of continuous improvement
BOM Accuracy: Work with the finance team to ensure the accuracy of BOMs

2. Production Artist Details

Design Coordination: Liaise with the key team to define design requirements
Design Review: Review graphics, layouts, and fonts before assignments are completed
Design Execution: Finalize designs using the appropriate software and process
Prepress Management: Manage and execute the prepress process for print files
Deadline Management: Follow deadlines to ensure timely publication
Requirement Follow-Up: Follow up with the team to ensure the requirements are met
Design Trends: Keep up to date with trends in graphic design techniques and software
Mechanical Files: Prepare and release mechanical files
Image Sourcing: Search for stock photography
Print Production: Print and mount corporate collateral such as employee certificates, acknowledgement cards, posters, and signage

3. Production Assistant Responsibilities

Meeting Scheduling: Schedule meetings for coordinators and ensure all attendees are informed
Meeting Documentation: Take and distribute meeting notes and provide backup note-taking for review sessions
Room Preparation: Ensure rooms are prepared for meetings and daily sessions
File Posting: Post files to both internal and external FTP systems
Shipment Handling: Handle FedEx shipments
Meal Coordination: Order and pick up meals for artists
Calendar Management: Assist in keeping the resource calendar up to date
Document Maintenance: Assist in maintaining production documents and internal email groups
Travel Coordination: Prepare travel arrangements
Production Support: Provide general assistance to the Production Management team

4. Production Associate Accountabilities

Team Coordination: Share team goals and manage job assignments
Machine Operation: Help operate machinery to expected performance levels
Setup Assistance: Assist crew members with set-ups, troubleshooting and minor machine adjustments
Product Organization: Organize final products for production and shipping distribution
Operator Care: Perform basic Operator Care on machines and equipment
Workplace Housekeeping: Complete general housekeeping duties to maintain a safe and clean teamwork environment
Safety Compliance: Maintain strict adherence to safety rules and regulations including wearing safety equipment

5. Production Controller Functions

Strategic Planning: Participate in the strategy process and lead the budget and forecasting work within the area
Productivity Support: Support production with productivity and efficiency improvements
Cost Calculation: Develop and maintain accurate product calculations and participate in the recurring calculation process
Inventory Analysis: Support inventory management and analysis of inventory
Cost Control: Develop cost control and strengthen financial know-how in the organization
KPI Reporting: Be responsible for the quality of the report package and KPIs
Financial Documentation: Prepare calculations, business cases and other financial decision documents
Financial Analysis: Follow up, analyze and communicate financial goals and propose measures

6. Production Designer Overview

UX Strategy: Work with Executives, Product Managers and Engineering to define and drive the user experience of the BrightEdge platform
Product Design: Create new product designs including user flows, wireframes, mocks and prototypes that are simple, intuitive, yet sophisticated to solve complex problems
Design Collaboration: Partner with the Product team to generate high-quality mockups while referring to the user journey map
User Research: Lead UX research engagements with customers and include appropriate testing mechanisms in the design process
Design Handoff: Stagger design hand-offs with a detailed spec to optimize design and development time
Implementation Support: Collaborate with engineering and QA leads to ensure implementation follows the design spec and provide support in execution
Design Ownership: Own key product designs as an individual contributor and set the tone for the holistic enterprise system
Stakeholder Validation: Validate product design with key stakeholders
Design Review: Participate in regular design reviews and other team-wide design efforts
Roadmap Planning: Assist in setting the roadmap and defining the UX strategy and vision for the enterprise platform

7. Production Director Details and Accountabilities

Production Management: Directly manage and support the day-to-day production of Members’ orders
Specification Coordination: Work closely with Customer Success Managers and Packaging Managers to ensure all products are being spec’d correctly for seamless production
Lead Time: Maintain lead times and make sure they’re being communicated effectively
Quality Compliance: Make sure AQL quality inspections and standards are being followed by both Members and Suppliers
Data Analysis: Analyze data and forecasts to ensure the timely delivery of every order
Team Leadership: Provide leadership to the CS team and join calls to provide critical updates and solutions
Supplier Motivation: Motivate Suppliers to improve performance and complete orders on time
Supplier Escalation: Enforce purchase agreements and lead escalations with Suppliers to solve production issues
Performance Reporting: Report team metrics and help maintain Supplier score cards
Logistics Ownership: Own relationships with Carriers and Logistics providers
Cost Optimization: Look for opportunities to consolidate freight and reduce Members' costs

8. Production Lead Tasks

Staff Training: Training and assignment of specific job duties to each employee on the assigned line
Product Packing: Responsible for the proper labeling, lidding and packing of all products produced
Production Documentation: Responsible for completing all production paperwork
Procedure Compliance: Ensure required work instructions, standard operating procedures, production paperwork and related documents are followed
Quality Reporting: Immediately inform QA or management if a deviation from the procedure or process occurs
Quality Execution: Perform quality work within guidelines, deadlines and processes with or without direct supervision
Professional Interaction: Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers
Team Contribution: Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments
Independent Work: Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees
Safety Awareness: Work safely to help preserve the safety and health of coworkers, guests and visitors
Safety Compliance: Follow all Company safety and accident policies and procedures and adhere to all applicable safety laws and regulations
Hazard Reporting: Notify management promptly of any safety hazards, violations or accidents and injuries
Safety Training: Participate in safety training
PPE Usage: Properly use and maintain personal protective equipment

9. Production Manager Roles

Facility Onboarding: Onboarding new Production Facilities with process documentation and rules of engagement in accordance with company policies
Capacity Negotiation: Negotiating with 3PDs based on open capacity forecasts, demand timing and raw materials
WIP Management: Build and maintain internal WIP in accordance with the Demand and T and A Calendar for forecasts, material commitments and purchasing
Cost Negotiation: Negotiate capacity and costs with Domestic Contractors
PO Accuracy: Ensure PO data accuracy and manage updates with 3PDs
Issue Resolution: Troubleshoot discrepancies related to VAS forecast cost and timing with 3PDs
Order Prioritization: Work closely with internal cross-functional partners to prioritize orders based on urgency
Inventory Control: Develop maintainable and scalable inventory control practices at each contractor to maintain raw material inventory levels
Work Orders: Produce and communicate work orders for production runs for seasonal, daily and hot market order types structured to be cost advantageous methods
Production Support: Support domestic production needs of management with reports, key metrics and risk mitigation strategies

10. Production Planner Additional Details

BOM Management: Create and maintain a Bill of Materials
BOM Analysis: Analyse NPD and Production Bill of Materials, ensuring stock is correctly consumed on Production Orders
Production Planning: Manage Production Planning for allocated brands
Launch Support: Work with Project Managers on new launches, assisting with the transition of new products into production
Contract Compliance: Ensure Contract Fillers adhere to agreed production plans
Delivery Assurance: Ensure on-time deliveries for components and finished products
SAP Management: Create and maintain Purchase Orders and Production Orders in SAP
Invoice Processing: Process and approve invoices
Inventory Projects: Recommend and lead Inventory management projects
Risk Reporting: Report any potential OOS risks
Stock Auditing: Perform regular stock checks with Contract Fillers
Discrepancy Resolution: Root cause stock discrepancies and carry out stock adjustments
Relationship Building: Build relationships across various departments and internationally
Supplier Liaison: Liaise with Suppliers, Contract Manufacturers and Internal Departments
Quality Compliance: Ensure Technical and Quality specifications are adhered to

11. Production Planning Engineer Essential Functions

Production Supervision: Work under the Production and Planning Supervisor and manage the electric motor production line
Team Supervision: Act as the supervisor of foremen and blue-collar employees
Production Planning: Responsible for the planning of production
Order Management: Take production orders from the sales department
Work Orders: Create work orders and follow them up in the field
Continuous Improvement: Take part in continuous improvement studies regarding production and routine testing processes
Recipe Management: Take responsibility for the creation and revision of product recipes and product codes
Capacity Planning: Make capacity and competency calculations
Performance Reporting: Conduct performance reporting of workstations

12. Production Scheduler Role Purpose

Production Efficiency: Ensures that production of products meets or exceeds efficiency and company quality standards and specifications
Regulatory Compliance: Follow policies and procedures including regulatory requirements, HACCP and GMP
Schedule Development: Work with Production and Plant Managers in developing the production schedule in accordance with the projected sales plan
Workflow Balancing: Ensures workflow balancing, division of responsibilities amongst employees and production lines
Inventory Control: Organize stock and inventory levels communicate needs to relevant departments
Cross Coordination: Responsible for coordinating with production warehouse and sales staff to ensure all material needs and finished product deliveries are met and completed
Problem Solving: Responsible for meeting production goals, forming action plans to help solve production problems, seeking to improve processes and helping fulfill company expectations
Schedule Administration: Posting schedules, generating make sheets and populating and maintaining databases
Data Analysis: Production Scheduler collects and analyzes past and present data to generate reports and create more effective schedules
Issue Response: On call in case of production problems that need to be resolved immediately

13. Production Specialist General Responsibilities

UX Design: Provide UX and visual designs
Design Specification: Define ideas down to a production specification level
Design Implementation: Develop and implement designs via build or by using a templated page builder
User Research: Interpret requirements and conduct user research to create digital experiences that connect people to the client’s products and services in meaningful, compelling ways
Ideation Facilitation: Facilitate ideation through brainstorming and sketching exercises to determine the direction for designs
Rapid Prototyping: Drive concepts forward with rapid prototyping
Web Standards: Maintain strong working knowledge of current web standards, UX best practices, responsive web layouts, email standards and digital advertising standards
Experience Optimization: Use optimization tools like A/B testing to improve the user experience and consider how personalization can provide an audience-first approach to digital marketing
Performance Analysis: Assess and recommend site performance improvements

14. Production Supervisor Key Accountabilities

Lean Manufacturing: Drive lean manufacturing and continuously improve the process in the manufacturing operation
Safety Compliance: Support and maintain a safe work environment and practices in compliance with established safety rules and practices
Production Management: Responsible for production management and operation of the department, arranging production operations, following up on the production schedule and ensuring the plan is completed on time and with quality
Continuous Improvement: Lead and promote continuous improvement of the production site of the department and promote continuous improvement of employee productivity
Staff Management: Responsible for the training, assessment, transfer, reward and punishment management of line leaders
Workplace Organization: Keep the working area clean and orderly and promote a good workplace through the introduction of 5S+
Cross Coordination: Responsible for contact coordination and cooperation with each department and complete other tasks assigned by the manager

15. Production Line Worker Roles and Details

Conveyor Operation: Ensure that the conveyor system is in good working condition and is functioning properly
Area Safety: Ensure that the pack off area is maintained in a safe, clean and orderly condition
Material Handling: Receive, identify and place pack off materials sent to the pack off in their proper place in accordance with established procedures
Warehouse Security: Assist with providing necessary security within the warehouse
Workplace Communication: Communicate with various employees to provide and receive information, resolve questions and issues and coordinate activities
Stock Control: Maintain a proper amount of stock to complete daily production
Order Fulfillment: Pull pack and accurately deliver orders to the Scale Operator or Pack Off Supervisor for processing
Inventory Management: Organize stocks and maintain inventories
Issue Reporting: Notify supervisors of problems that are not resolvable

Relevant Information

What Does A Production Manager Do?

What Does A Production Supervisor Do?