17 Production Control Manager Interview Questions and Answers

A production control manager is responsible for the coordination and scheduling of production activities in a manufacturing or industrial environment. The production control manager ensures that materials and resources are available when needed and that production activities are completed according to schedule.

The production control manager must be able to work with other members of the production team to ensure that all activities are coordinated and that the production process runs smoothly. The production control manager must also be able to troubleshoot problems that may arise during the production process.

If you are interested in a career as a production control manager, you will need to be able to answer production control manager interview questions. These questions will assess your ability to coordinate and schedule production activities, as well as your knowledge of the production process.

Are you familiar with the concept of lean manufacturing?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the latest manufacturing trends. This is because lean manufacturing has been a popular concept in production control for several years now, and many companies have implemented it into their operations. In your answer, try to explain what lean manufacturing is and how you would use it if you were hired by the company.

Example: “I am familiar with the concept of lean manufacturing, although I haven’t had much experience using it myself. Lean manufacturing is essentially an approach to production that focuses on eliminating waste from the process as much as possible. For example, instead of producing large batches of products that sit around before they’re sold, lean manufacturing emphasizes making small batches of products that are immediately shipped out to customers.

In my last role, I was tasked with implementing lean manufacturing principles at one of our facilities. We started by analyzing all aspects of the production process, including the materials we used, the equipment we operated and the employees who worked there. After identifying areas where we could reduce waste, we made changes to our processes and saw improvements in both efficiency and profitability.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a production control manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you possess the qualities they look for in a production control manager. Use your answer to highlight some of the skills and abilities that helped you succeed as a production control manager.

Example: “I believe one of the most important qualities for a production control manager is organization. Production control managers need to be able to keep track of all the information about their projects, including budgets, timelines and employee performance. Organization helps me stay on top of everything I need to do each day. Another quality I think is important is communication. Production control managers are responsible for communicating with employees, clients and other stakeholders. This requires strong interpersonal skills and an ability to clearly convey ideas.”

How would you describe your management style?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of how you would interact with your team members. Your management style is an important part of your overall leadership skills, so it’s important to be honest about what type of manager you are and why.

Example: “I am a very hands-on manager who likes to work alongside my team members. I believe that by being involved in all aspects of production control, I can better understand the challenges my team faces and provide support where needed. I also think it’s important for managers to give their employees autonomy over their tasks as long as they meet deadlines and quality standards.”

What is your experience with using technology in the workplace?

Technology is an important part of the production control manager’s job. The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with using technology in a professional setting and how you use it to benefit your team. Use your answer to describe two or three examples of when you used technology to improve your work performance.

Example: “In my previous role as a production control specialist, I was responsible for monitoring the company’s inventory levels and communicating any issues to management. One day, I noticed that our stock levels were low on several items. After investigating, I realized that we had accidentally ordered twice as many units of one product than we needed. Using my computer, I was able to quickly communicate this issue to management so they could fix the problem before it impacted customers.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a difficult employee.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation and how you handled it.

Example: “In my last role as production control manager, one of my employees was consistently late for work. I had a conversation with him where we discussed the importance of being on time. He agreed to try his best to arrive earlier, but he continued to come in late. After our second meeting, he still wasn’t arriving on time, so I decided to let him go. It’s important to hold people accountable when they make promises.”

If hired, what would be your priorities as a production control manager?

This question helps employers understand what you would focus on if hired. Priorities can vary depending on the company, but it’s important to show that you have a plan for how you will improve production control at your new job.

Example: “My first priority as a production control manager would be to ensure all employees are working efficiently and effectively. I believe this is best accomplished by creating an open-door policy where anyone can come to me with questions or concerns. I also think it’s important to make sure everyone understands their role in the production process so they know what to expect from their jobs. Finally, I would want to implement new technology into our production processes to help streamline operations.”

What would you do if you noticed a decrease in productivity among employees?

This question can help the interviewer assess your leadership skills and how you would handle a challenging situation. Your answer should show that you are willing to take action, communicate with employees and find solutions to improve productivity.

Example: “If I noticed a decrease in productivity among my team members, I would first try to understand why this was happening. If it was due to an issue within the company, I would work with management to solve the problem as quickly as possible so we could get back to our normal production levels. If it was due to personal issues, such as illness or family problems, I would make sure they were aware of any resources available to them and encourage them to use those resources if needed.”

How well do you communicate with other departments, such as sales and marketing?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to collaborate with other departments and teams. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully communicated with other departments or teams, such as marketing or sales.

Example: “In my current role, I work closely with the sales team to ensure that we have enough inventory for our customers’ needs. The sales team provides me with information about how many units they sold each month, which helps me determine how much product we need to produce. Marketing also provides me with valuable information, like customer feedback on our products. This information helps me make decisions about what changes we should make to our production process.”

Do you have experience managing budgets?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial management. As a production control manager, you will be responsible for managing the company’s budget and ensuring that it stays within the limits of what is allowed by the company. Your answer should include an example of how you managed budgets in previous roles.

Example: “In my last role as a production control manager, I was responsible for creating monthly budgets for each department. I would meet with managers to discuss their needs and expectations for the month. Then, I would create a budget based on these discussions. After submitting the budget, I would monitor spending throughout the month to ensure that we stayed within our allotted funds.”

When was the last time you updated your knowledge on industry trends?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you stay up to date with industry trends and changes. It also shows them that you are willing to learn more about your field, which can be beneficial for your career development. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific instance where you researched an important topic or read an article on a recent development in your industry.

Example: “I try to keep my knowledge of current trends updated by reading articles online and subscribing to newsletters from relevant companies. I recently subscribed to a newsletter from our company’s main supplier, and they sent out an email detailing some new developments in their production process. I found this information very useful because it helped me understand why we were experiencing delays in our shipments last month.”

We want to increase productivity. What production process improvements would you make?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of production control and how you would apply it to increase productivity. Use examples from your previous experience or explain what you would do if you had no prior experience in this field.

Example: “I would first analyze the current process for each department, including the time spent on inventory management, order processing and shipping. Then I would implement a system that streamlines these processes by combining them into one integrated system. This will allow employees to complete all necessary tasks within the same platform, which should reduce errors and save time.”

Describe your process for handling employee complaints.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership style and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you handled an employee complaint effectively.

Example: “When I receive an employee complaint, the first thing I do is listen carefully to what they have to say. Then, I try to understand their perspective and empathize with them. After that, I determine if there’s anything I can do to help resolve the issue or make the employee feel better. If not, I will speak with my manager to see if we can find a solution together. In my previous role, I received an email from an employee who was upset because her coworker took credit for her work. I listened to her concerns and then spoke with my manager about the situation. Together, we decided to give the employee a promotion so she could take on less responsibilities.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you compare to other applicants. Before your interview, make a list of the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Consider including any certifications or training you have completed in the past five years.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me a great fit for production control management. I also have experience managing a team of employees, so I know what it takes to lead others effectively. In my previous position, I had to manage a large group of employees who were working on different projects at once. I learned how to delegate tasks and motivate my team members to work hard.”

Which industries do you have the most experience in?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level and how it may relate to their company. If you have relevant experience, share that information with them. If you don’t have any experience in their industry, consider sharing a similar industry or discussing what skills you have that could be transferable.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily in manufacturing for my entire career, but I also have some experience working in construction. In both industries, I’ve had to manage large teams of employees and coordinate complex projects. These experiences have helped me develop valuable leadership and communication skills.”

What do you think is the most important role of a production control manager?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what a production control manager does and how important their role is. You can answer this question by explaining what you think is most important about being a production control manager, but it’s also helpful if you give an example of when you’ve done something similar in the past.

Example: “I believe the most important role of a production control manager is to ensure that all employees are working efficiently and effectively. I once worked for a company where we had a lot of issues with employee morale because they didn’t have a good production control manager. I volunteered to help train new employees on our system and make sure everyone was using it correctly. This helped me build relationships with my coworkers and improve overall productivity.”

How often do you make production reports?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use production reports to make decisions and keep track of your team’s progress. Use examples from your experience to explain how you create, read and interpret production reports.

Example: “I usually make production reports at least once a day or more often if there are any changes in our production schedule. I find that making regular reports helps me stay organized and on top of my responsibilities as a production control manager. In my last role, I made daily reports for my team so they could see what was expected of them each day. This helped us communicate effectively and resolve issues before they became major problems.”

There is a new technology that could improve productivity. Would you be open to trying it?

This question can help the interviewer determine your willingness to try new technologies and methods that could improve production. Use examples from past experience where you were open to trying a new technology or method, even if it was risky.

Example: “I would be willing to try any new technology that could increase productivity in our department. In my last role as a production control manager, I implemented a new software program that helped us track inventory levels more efficiently. The system required some training for employees to learn how to use it, but once they did, we found it saved time by eliminating manual tracking of inventory. We also discovered ways to reduce costs by using the software.”