RAMIRA, ROMMEL MIKKO C.

BS in ACCOUNTANCY II
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AND TQM SYNTHESIS NO. 17

Project Management Trends in Manufacturing for 2019

The Fourth Industrial Revolution revolves around technology, smart sensors that collect real-time data, artificial
intelligence that increases production efficiency, and better manufacturing quality, security, and transparency.
Developments in computing ensure seamless connectivity and large-volume data processing. Acting as a
powerful economic driver, Industry 4.0 is expected to add between $500 billion and $1.5 trillion to the global
economy between 2018 and 2022. However, despite all the positive trends, industrial manufacturers can no
longer rely on stability and cost advantages from manufacturing in a certain country or sourcing from particular
suppliers. Continue reading to learn about project management trends that have proved efficient at tackling
existing challenges in global industrial manufacturing.

1. Increasing Operational Efficiency

To compete in a rapidly developing environment, manufacturers have no choice but to work smarter and faster.
According to a recent PwC survey, 81% of CEOs in industrial manufacturing plan to improve efficiency – and
thereby competitiveness – in order to grow. At the dawn of Industry 4.0, operational optimization, predictive
maintenance, robotics, additive manufacturing, safety improvements, inspections, and testing are what
manufacturers are focusing on.

2. Agility and Hybrid PM Methods

Nearly half of the business leaders who participated in a recent Global CEO Survey by PwC feel there is more
uncertainty around their companies now than there was three years ago. The Association for Project
Management points out that the landscape for delivering projects is changing, highlighting that changes are
happening faster and faster. The world now is characterized as VUCA: volatile, uncertain, complex, and
ambiguous. In more and more cases, project managers and organizations are looking for methodological
flexibility when trying to adjust to quickly changing project environments. In the image below, KPMG
International highlights the percentage of CEOs who believe that agility is the new currency of business:This is
another proof to the increasing popularity of agile project delivery approaches, which prioritize speed to market
and readiness over processes, plans, and documentation.

3. Data – Good; Real-Time Data – Even Better

The ability to collect, combine, and analyze the data generated by new technologies to return actionable insights
to consumers and businesses is vital for project effectiveness and the efficiency of factories of the
future.Knowing the impact real-time data makes on projects, manufacturing leaders have come up with several
ways to benefit from it:

 Developing cross-company collaboration: IT and OT (operational technology) departments can

collaborate in real-time and thus switch to intelligent manufacturing, which secures production
efficiency and offers better visibility of operational performance.

 Going digital: More companies are getting into automation and AI, giving project managers an
opportunity to manage projects more effectively. Digitalization also brings transparency to bottlenecks
and tackles project inefficiency. With PM systems like Epicflow, you can be aware of potential resource
constraints in real-time and have time to fix them.
Source: Andriiuk, A. (August 6, 2019). Project Management Trends in Manufacturing in 2019.
https://www.epicflow.com/blog/project-management-trends-in-manufacturing-in-2019/

Project Management vs. Operations Management: What’s the Difference?

By Kelsey Miller | May 9, 2019
Industry Advice Management
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If you’ve ever considered entering a career in management of any kind, you’ve probably come across
job descriptions referencing “project management” and “operations management” in your research.
At first glance, these jobs may seem deceivingly similar. Both positions support the business functions
by planning, coordinating, and executing tasks in pursuit of an organizational goal. There are, though,
some very important, fundamental differences between the two careers.
Below, we explore these differences so that you have all of the information that you need to determine
which career makes the most sense for you—and so that you can form a plan to get there.

What is a Project Manager?

At a high level, a project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects.
Typically, these projects have a set start and end date, with a defined scope and set of resources that
must be allocated to bring about project completion. It is the job of the project manager to coordinate
these resources in order to execute the tasks needed to complete the project within time and budget
constraints.

What is an Operations Manager?

An operations manager is in charge of making sure that a business is running as smoothly and
efficiently as possible. They are a key part of any management team, as they oversee the various
departments in a company to help them coordinate with one another to work towards shared business
goals.

Download Our Free Guide to Breaking Into Project Management

A guide to what you need to know, from today’s in-demand skills to the industry’s growing job
opportunities.

How Do Project Management and Operations Management Differ?

The key difference between these roles comes down to the definition of a project versus operations.
The Project Management Institute, better known as PMI, defines a project as a temporary endeavor
undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Business operations, on the other hand, are
ongoing activities that produce long-term, repetitive outputs, such as manufacturing products or
supplying services.
Therefore, an operations manager’s role is ongoing, whereas a project manager’s role—in regards to a
specific project—is temporary in nature.
Other key differences between the two positions are focused around specific responsibilities, skills, and
education required for success.
Roles and Responsibilities
As part of their everyday roles and responsibilities, project managers are expected to:
 Manage teams
 Plan and define projects
 Coordinate and oversee the execution of projects
 Manage the schedule
 Monitor the budget
 Measure and report progress
The responsibilities of operations managers often include, but are not limited to:
 Overseeing daily operations
 Identifying and addressing problems and opportunities
 Managing the budgeting, planning, reporting, and auditing
 Ensuring regulatory compliance
 Developing operational policies and procedures

Job Growth and Salary

As with any profession, salary varies substantially depending on a number of factors, such as how
much experience you have, where in the country you are employed, and the industry that you work in.
On average, however, project managers typically earn between $47,000 and $110,000 annually, with
the national average salary falling at $72,675 per year. Operations managers, meanwhile, can earn
between $40,000 and $100,000 per year depending on their location and the industry in which they
work. The national average salary for operations managers across all industries is $63,925 annually.
Project managers are compensated well for the crucial role they play in meeting business objectives. As
project managers move through their careers, their skills become more developed with each project that
is completed. As such, experienced project managers are highly sought after and are often offered
higher wages in return for their expertise. Like project management professionals, operations managers
can expect their compensation to increase as they gain more experience and fine-tune their skills
throughout their careers.
The demand for skilled project managers is on the rise as various industries are realizing the value that
these professionals bring to organizations. In fact, PMI projects that more than 2.2 million project
management jobs will be added to the workforce annually through 2027. With more businesses than
ever before looking to add project managers to their teams, it is an opportune time to enter the growing
field. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that job opportunities for general and operations
managers are expected to increase at a rate of seven percent from 2014-2024. This rate is about average
in comparison to all other occupations in the United States.
Important Skills
In order to be effective, project managers and operations managers must both have certain essential
skills. While the list below is by no means exhaustive, it accurately reflects the skills that are necessary
for both positions:
 Effective communication between team members, key stakeholders, vendors, and everyone
else involved in a project or operation
 Time management to keep tasks and activities on track and according to schedule
 Leadership skills to effectively manage a team and offer coaching or motivation when required
 Organizational acumen to keep track of all of the various complex moving pieces involved in
a project or ongoing operations of a business
 Problem solving and adaptability required to be flexible and make adjustments as necessary
 Technical expertise in your specific domain or industry, to help anticipate problems and
solutions before they occur
Although the skills required for each of these positions are similar and overlap, the application of these
skills is where the differences lie. It is also important to remember the skills required for a specific role
will naturally depend on the industry and business in which a project or operations manager is working.

Education
There are many ways to break into the field of project management. In general, most employers will
look for a bachelor’s degree in project management or other business-related fields for entry-level
positions.
Many people seeking to become a project manager will choose to earn a Project Management
Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Becoming PMP
certified shows potential employers that you are well-versed in the standardized practices of project
management and are knowledgeable in the key areas of the discipline.
Oftentimes, project managers will also choose to pursue an advanced degree, such as a Master of
Science in Project Management, in order to demonstrate mastery of the concepts involved in the field
and gain additional experience that can help them advance their careers.
Christopher Bolick, assistant academic specialist for the Master of Science in Project Management
program at Northeastern University, encourages potential students to find a program that leverages
faculty who work in the industry:
“A great benefit of our program is that our courses are taught by experienced project
management professionals who have a minimum of ten years of practitioner experience in
addition to their professional project management certification (PMP). This allows for a
broad and dynamic representation of the industry as well as methodology exposure in the
classroom for our students.”

He also notes, “Northeastern focuses on experiential learning by allowing opportunities for learners
with varying degrees of work experience to practice their knowledge globally and collaboratively. In its
simplest terms, experiential learning offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge through real-
world experience, reflective observation, and active experimentation in the classroom.”
The process of becoming an operations manager is similar to becoming a project manager in many
ways. To enter the field, most employers require a bachelor’s degree in business management or a
similar field (at a minimum). As with project management, gaining real-world experience is just as
important for standing out from the competition when it comes to job hunting. For those looking to
climb to managerial positions, graduate degrees are often preferred. For example, most Chief Operating
Officers, or COOs, hold a Master’s in Business Administration, or even a PhD.

How are Project Management and Operations Management Similar?

Given the differences in project management and operations management, it is also important to
consider the areas in which they overlap.
Bolick provides some insight: “There are instances where the role of a project manager will intersect
with operations management. First, when a need arises to significantly change a component of business
operations then the change will often be managed as a project. Once the project has delivered the
change, operations will resume focus on maintaining, operating, and supporting the products or
services produced as a result of the project. Second, project managers and operations often collaborate
at a project’s closeout phase to begin transitioning responsibility of any ongoing maintenance and
operations associated with the deliverable or service.”

Getting Started
When deciding which career you want to pursue, it is important to make sure that your desired
profession aligns with your personal goals. If you think a career in project management is right for you,
consider the steps you can take to break into the field and set yourself apart from the competition.
Depending on your aspirations, earning a Master of Science in Project Management or Master’s in
Business Administration could be your first step on the path to success.