How to Advance Your Manufacturing Career

It can sometimes be hard to build a successful career. The manufacturing and supply chain industries are no exception to this. Yet it can be difficult to create a plan to advance your career when you’re just trying to keep up with modern technology or new business practices. However, there are ways that you can position yourself to be a better candidate for management or executive roles within your organization or another, only if you know where to look, what to do, and be ready to do the work. Here are a few tips on how to advance your manufacturing career. We’ll offer a variety of options so that everyone can change or advance their manufacturing career path.

Ask for More Responsibilities

If you’re doing just enough to get by, you’ll keep your current job, but you won’t be considered for anything bigger. A good first step is to ask for more responsibilities. This is one of the best ways that you can stand out in the eyes of upper management and increase your chances of landing a promotion.

As you tackle additional tasks, you’ll also be able to build new skills. This will also show that you’re interested in doing and being more. At a minimum, it can lead to better performance reviews and pay raises. At best, it will get you on the track to a better job in the organization. You could also start this process by giving advice on how things can be done better. Do what you can to solve problems and get credit for it.

Earn a Related Degree

If you’ve completed a technical undergraduate degree, you’ve mastered everything you need to know related to the technology you work with. However, this limits you to working as a subject matter expert.

One thing a lot of people do is complete a business degree like an MBA. An MBA could allow you to cultivate soft skills and develop the strategic thinking needed to head a team or department. Or you could get your lean manufacturing degree online from an accredited college like Kettering University.

You’ll learn the skills needed to improve quality, reduce waste and streamline processes. The master of science degree in lean manufacturing has more weight with employers than a Six Sigma or Lean certification. In fact, the Kettering program teaches you the concepts behind both Lean and Six Sigma. You can also customize the degree so that you receive a certificate in operations management or supply chain management. And the best part is that the program also allows you to earn an MBA at the same time while adding only five additional courses. You’ll then be able to fill all sorts of different positions, whether it’s within your organization or in a totally unrelated industry/company.

Become a Perpetual Learner

Be aware of technological advancements in your profession. Then seek new training to gain these skills. For example, data analytics is becoming a big deal in inventory management. Take an online class in data analysis skills, and you’ll be better able to do your job. Use online courses and programs to learn skills in the supply chain, and you could move to a better paying job in that department. This is a good choice for people with an engineering or management background who don’t understand the key elements of supply chain management.

Build Your Digital Profile

You probably know that the job search process has moved online. Your next job will probably be found through an online search. The application process and networking mostly take place online, too. Unfortunately, the same technology that makes it easier for you to find and apply to dozens of jobs has done the same for many others, as well.

You need to leverage technology where you can and understand how it affects the application process. For example, use the filters in job sites to find the jobs for which you’re ideally suited. You also need to apply the concepts of search engine optimization to your resume. This must be done if your resume is to be flagged as a match by employers using AI to search the masses of resumes they receive.

You do this by ensuring that your digital resume has all of the relevant information like certifications and skills before submitting it. Remember that soft skills matter as much as technical skills. Find ways to mention leading projects or heading teams in your resume to demonstrate these soft skills. And don’t forget to list every online certification and credential you’ve earned. Make sure to have your resume reviewed by a professional or professionally made. This will all be worth it at the end, trust us.

Change Paths

You may not be able to advance your career in an industry that’s in decline. You also have limited opportunities for advancement in a department that’s downsizing. This means that you may have to change paths to be able to advance. You might move from engineering to supply chain management to have more opportunity than heading an engineering team. You may need to move to a growing industry to have more job opportunities over the long term. Mastering quality and process improvement methodologies may let you move into general management from the shop floor. Work at a startup and you’ll be on the ground floor to a growing organization.

Make Connections

Consider finding a mentor. A mentor can help you refine your approach to your career or improve your performance at work. They are also an invaluable connection to a broader professional network. For example, a mentor can help you find unadvertised job promotions or recommend you for a promotion when you’d otherwise be overlooked. If you’re already an experienced employee, offer to mentor others in the organization. This can lead to a management position or becoming a trainer.

Conclusion

We’ve shared a variety of ways you can grow professionally. You can use one or more of them to move into a new role, whether it is in a new department, a new company or a new industry.