Industrial Production Manager Interview Questions & Answers

Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Time-management skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal skills

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Industrial Production Manager positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Interpersonal skills

Why interviewers are interested in your interpersonal skills:

Industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills so they can work well with other managers and with staff.

Leadership skills

Why interviewers are interested in your leadership skills:

To keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct the employees they manage.

Learn more about leadership interview questions and how to answer them!

Problem-solving skills

Why interviewers are interested in your problem-solving skills:

Production managers must identify problems immediately and solve them. For example, if a product has a defect, the manager determines whether it is a one-time problem or the result of the production process.

Related: Manufacturing Production Manager Interview Questions & Answers

Time-management skills

Why interviewers are interested in your time-management skills:

To meet production deadlines, managers must carefully manage their employees’ time as well as their own.

Learn more about time-management interview questions and how to answer them!

(source: bls.gov)

Industrial Production Manager Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Industrial Production Manager Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Industrial Production Manager Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond to get the job done.
2. Give me an example of a time you had to work under the pressure of a tight deadline. How did you manage to meet it?
3. How would you rate your problem-solving skills? Can you give me a recent example of a challenging problem you solved on the production site?
4. Describe a time you had to handle a conflict in the workplace. How did you handle it?
5. How would you handle a situation where you saw employees not using their required protective equipment? Can you give me an example?
6. Give me an example of an industrial project you managed that demonstrates your ability to manage time effectively.
7. How do you deal with disruptive or undisciplined employees? Can you give me an example?
8. What is your strategy to cus costs in a production that you’re managing? Can you give me an example?
9. Give me an example of how you ensure quality in all areas of production.
10. Tell me about a time you led a team that missed a production deadline. What happened? What did you learn from it?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.