Raj Shekhar BidikaMaintenance Engineer| Reliance Industries LimitedJamnagar, Gujarat, India
What is the scope of project management in manufacturing industry? How different is it from IT & Construction? Can Project management in manufacturing is a good career choice?
Please share your experience and suggestions. Saving Changes...
Raj Shekhar BidikaMaintenance Engineer| Reliance Industries LimitedJamnagar, Gujarat, India
Feb 04, 2020 2:36 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Project management is required whenever we are doing something unique but whether a given company invests in improving their project (rather than their product) management capabilities varies widely within and across industries.
As such, you may want to look at your specific industry to see how many major players actually define a PM role whereas others who might expect their product managers and team leads to perform PM functions as part of their broader roles.
Thank you for your opinion.
I completely agree with you. I have seen many manufacturing companies where they undertake Capex projects but don't have a well established PMO. Saving Changes...
Raj Shekhar BidikaMaintenance Engineer| Reliance Industries LimitedJamnagar, Gujarat, India
Feb 03, 2020 5:23 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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There are many different types of projects in a manufacturing domain. Industries such as automotive and aerospace are often considered design focused, but are fundamentally manufacturing companies.
Although the bulk of the work is generally on the operations end of the business, There are projects to design the products, projects to change the products such as for cost reduction or better manufacturability, projects to design the manufacturing equipment, process flows, and facilities, projects to improve the back-office processes, etc. Many different technical and business domains are involved.
Is it a good career path? I’ve made a pretty good career out of it at my employer (Boeing), and it has afforded me opportunities to lead a very wide range of projects.
Dear Keith,
Thank you for your opinion and sharing your experience.
Please clarify on the role of project manager in manufacturing domain, whether it would be a Technical project manager or just a Project manager?
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1 reply by Keith Novak
Feb 04, 2020 2:58 PM
Keith Novak
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Raj,
The amount of technical involvement varies. There are some PM roles that I see as more administrative, some that are highly technical in a specific knowledge area, and others where the PM has a technical integration oversight role rather than a technical specialty.
Often, your ability to learn quickly is more important than detailed level technical knowledge. I have patents in things I can't even spell, and often describe my core competency as the ability to quickly become a temporary expert in things I know nothing about. Part of that is communication skills and figuring out who you should listen to, and who just likes to talk.
Projects are temporary, so unless you focus in one small area of the business, you will likely develop technical knowledge by managing different types of projects.
Thank you for your opinion and sharing your experience.
Please clarify on the role of project manager in manufacturing domain, whether it would be a Technical project manager or just a Project manager?
Raj,
The amount of technical involvement varies. There are some PM roles that I see as more administrative, some that are highly technical in a specific knowledge area, and others where the PM has a technical integration oversight role rather than a technical specialty.
Often, your ability to learn quickly is more important than detailed level technical knowledge. I have patents in things I can't even spell, and often describe my core competency as the ability to quickly become a temporary expert in things I know nothing about. Part of that is communication skills and figuring out who you should listen to, and who just likes to talk.
Projects are temporary, so unless you focus in one small area of the business, you will likely develop technical knowledge by managing different types of projects.
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1 reply by Raj Shekhar Bidika
Feb 05, 2020 9:26 AM
Raj Shekhar Bidika
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Thank you Keith for your advice on managing different types of projects.
Saving Changes...
Raj Shekhar BidikaMaintenance Engineer| Reliance Industries LimitedJamnagar, Gujarat, India
Feb 04, 2020 2:58 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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Raj,
The amount of technical involvement varies. There are some PM roles that I see as more administrative, some that are highly technical in a specific knowledge area, and others where the PM has a technical integration oversight role rather than a technical specialty.
Often, your ability to learn quickly is more important than detailed level technical knowledge. I have patents in things I can't even spell, and often describe my core competency as the ability to quickly become a temporary expert in things I know nothing about. Part of that is communication skills and figuring out who you should listen to, and who just likes to talk.
Projects are temporary, so unless you focus in one small area of the business, you will likely develop technical knowledge by managing different types of projects.
Thank you Keith for your advice on managing different types of projects. Saving Changes...
