What is an Operations Manager: A Guide for Small Manufacturing Businesses
Do you need an Operations Manager? We discuss what they do and how they can help your business.
Scaling a small manufacturing business solo can feel overwhelming: one day you’re counting stock, the next you’re handling a customer query on social media.
If you’ve reached the point where you need to delegate some of the day-to-day, hiring an Operations Manager may be the next step to support your growth.
In this guide we’ll look at what an Operations Manager can do for your small manufacturing business, and how they can help you succeed.
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What Does an Operations Manager Do?
Let’s start with the basics.
An Operations Manager is the person on your team responsible for keeping your supply chain and manufacturing processes reliable, predictable and — above all else — sustainable.
The role typically covers budgeting, production scheduling, inventory control, quality assurance, and employee relations.
They make sure all activities stay on schedule and within budget. They set production targets and follow through to see them met. When problems crop up in the production process, they find and fix them fast.
What Skills Does an Operations Manager Need?
A good operations manager covers a lot of ground. Strong communication is essential — they’ll work across marketing, sales, and finance, so moving between those conversations is part of the job.
Sharp analytical thinking matters too. Spotting a problem before it blows up takes attention to detail. Being organized and able to manage multiple tasks at once is non-negotiable.
Experience with project management and inventory software is a real asset (we’ll cover a typical tech stack for an Operations Manager later in this article). Strategic thinking rounds it all out — creative problem-solving is central to the role.
What is the Job Description of an Operations Manager?
A typical job description for an Operations Manager in a small manufacturing business might include:
- Overseeing day-to-day operations, including production, supply chain management, inventory control, quality assurance and customer service.
- Developing, overseeing, and monitoring budget and production targets.
- Analyzing production data and creating manufacturing dashboards to identify any problems or potential improvement areas.
- Maintaining an accurate inventory of materials and products.
- Making sure staffing needs are met on time, and that all employees have the training and resources to do their jobs well.
- Coordinating with other departments, such as finance, marketing, and sales.
- Developing policies and procedures to keep operations running smoothly.
What is a Typical Tech Stack for an Operations Manager?
Most operations managers need to be comfortable with a range of software tools. That usually means a spreadsheet program like Excel, inventory management software like Craftybase, and project management tools like Monday, Trello or Asana.
Free Download: Production planning template for Excel and Numbers
Depending on the shipping and fulfilment integrations you need to manage, some experience with programming or no-code tools can also come in handy — particularly for automated processes or custom reporting.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Operations Manager?
Hiring an experienced Operations Manager gives your small manufacturing business a solid foundation to grow from.
They’ll clean up the clutter in your day-to-day so you can spend more time on the parts of the business that move the needle — sales, marketing, product development.
A good operations manager keeps production targets on track and costs under control. The position can genuinely pay for itself over time, since protecting profit margins is what makes growth sustainable.
Once quality processes are in place, they’ll also catch potential issues before they turn into costly delays or disruptions.
How can Craftybase MRP help supercharge your new operations hire
Craftybase is a software solution designed to help small manufacturing businesses manage their manufacturing processes more efficiently.
The software tracks inventory, costing, and production schedules, giving you real-time data to make better decisions. Your newly hired Operations Manager can quickly find what they need to manage production and keep things running well. Craftybase also syncs with many popular e-commerce and POS systems, so orders, customers, and inventory levels all live in one place.
With its powerful features and user-friendly interface, Craftybase can be a great asset to your business and help supercharge the effectiveness of your operations hire. Try our free 14 day trial today!
Wrapping Up
An Operations Manager is a crucial role for small manufacturing businesses. Pair that hire with software like Craftybase and your business has what it needs to grow sustainably.
