What does a Print Production Manager do?
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The job of a print production manager involves supervising the bid and negotiation process with suppliers and vendors of print jobs. Print production managers are in charge of tasks like sales collateral, seasonal promotions, direct mail, and any other printed media. They are the ones who approve the print production priorities and schedules, budgets, and print specifications. It is their responsibility to ensure the efficiency and reliability of operating the manufacturing processes.
Print production manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real print production manager resumes:
- Manage print production of service manuals for electric hand tools and various in-house print runs.
- Manage operations of a 15 employee in-house 4/C print shop scheduling and controlling operations within the plant.
- Manage manufacturing of CD's and DVD's (including purchasing, offset and screen printing, and packaging).
- Manage a team of production managers and coordinators while performing regularly assign duties.
- Manage operations of a high-precision machining facility consisting of state-of-the-art CNC machine tools.
- Improve Rock-Tenn's UV capabilities.
- Review all desktop files, separations, blue-lines, and photography.
- Produce technical PC user manuals, promotional brochures, and various desktop retail packaging.
- Develop and maintain print and bindery standards for large format offset UV printing department.
- Double check customer orders to troubleshoot any foreseeable issues that can appear in the workflow.
- Proofread, edit and offer recommendations for client ads to prepare advertising material for press division.
- Design, shoot negatives, make plates, and print on sheet-f presses and do bindery or collating as needed.
- Light administration work, including organizing production for the embroidery studio.
- Develop PowerPoint presentations for conferences and seminars by gathering information through research.
- Proofread corporate collateral materials for clients in the residential and commercial construction industry.
Print production manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Print Production Managers are proficient in Customer Service, Production Schedules, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Print Production Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 19%
Run photo lab/digital service bureau, including customer service, production, machine repair/quality control, accounting, ordering/delivery and installation.
- Production Schedules, 9%
Flexed production schedules and reordered priorities as necessary to accommodate changing market needs.
- Project Management, 7%
Handle client interface and all project management and communication for several overlapping/reoccurring in-depth electronic newsletters as well as all print projects.
- Graphic Design, 5%
Ensured that all marketing collateral was properly managed between cross-functional departments including graphic design, sales, publications and printers.
- Press Checks, 4%
Scheduled and supervised all press checks/approved final color of collateral materials.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 4%
Prepare press ready files utilizing the full Adobe Creative Suite.
Common skills that a print production manager uses to do their job include "customer service," "production schedules," and "project management." You can find details on the most important print production manager responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a print production manager to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what print production managers do because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, a print production manager resume shows how print production managers use interpersonal skills: "maintain good interpersonal skills with qa and department directors to identify and implement opportunities for improvements. "
Leadership skills. Many print production manager duties rely on leadership skills. "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees.," so a print production manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways print production manager responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "provided leadership, coaching, mentoring and personal development for 7 production lines that consisted of 71 direct reports. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of print production managers is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday print production manager duties, as "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "interact with multiple project owners, offering solutions to print production needs. "
The three companies that hire the most print production managers are:
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Print production manager vs. Lead operator
Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations. They handle and move objects, monitor processes, and inspect materials, structures, and equipment. Also, they may serve as mentors for the new production employees concerning occupational health and safety. They must be skilled in safety procedures, heavy equipment, preventive maintenance, and other things related to machine operations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a print production manager are more likely to require skills like "graphic design," "press checks," "adobe creative suite," and "pdf." On the other hand, a job as a lead operator requires skills like "hr," "process improvement," "shipping receiving," and "continuous improvement." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that lead operators earn slightly differ from print production managers. In particular, lead operators are 3.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a print production manager. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Print production manager vs. Supervisor
Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the daily functions of employees in a specific team, department, or even a work shift. They create work schedules, organize work processes and workflows, train new hires, provide necessary reports related to the team function and the employees, monitor and evaluate employee performance, and ensure that goals of the specific team or department are met. When needed, supervisors also provide guidance to employees in terms of their career or even personal challenges. They also help in fostering harmonious work relationships by resolving interpersonal conflicts at work. To be successful in their role, they must have leadership skills, time management skills, decision-making capabilities, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, print production manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "graphic design," "press checks," and "adobe creative suite." Meanwhile, a supervisor has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety procedures," "sales floor," "direct supervision," and "payroll." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Supervisors earn similar levels of education than print production managers in general. They're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Print production manager vs. Leader
Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights. They set the direction of the organization, much like how a captain sets the sails of the ship. They are responsible for coming up with main strategies and alternatives should there be challenges along the way. Leaders ensure that the company is guided by its vision and mission and that the employees emulate company values. They do so through leading by example. Leaders should have strategic skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, print production managers are more likely to have skills like "production schedules," "graphic design," "press checks," and "adobe creative suite." But a leader is more likely to have skills like "strong time management," "excellent interpersonal," "pet," and "digital transformation."
Leaders typically earn higher educational levels compared to print production managers. Specifically, they're 6.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Print production manager vs. Processing supervisor
A processing supervisor is responsible for overseeing the overall operational processes of a department and ensuring that the team members adhere to the highest quality standards and efficiency. Processing supervisors strategize efficient techniques to maximize the productivity and performance of the staff to deliver customer satisfaction and increase the company's brand reputation to the public. They also coordinate with clients, respond to inquiries and concerns, and resolve any complications related to the process and project management procedures.
Types of print production manager
Updated January 8, 2025