Find out about the perfect apprenticeship for those interested in manufacturing and production
Are you looking to get hands -on training in the manufacturing industry? Then the Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship could be the perfect choice for you. It can be difficult deciding where to go in your career, but there are so many advantages to choosing an apprenticeship. You get to develop your skills on the job, learn from experts in your field – all without paying expensive fees! Plus, the UK is in real need of people with skills in the manufacturing sector. This means that you’ll be sure to be in high-demand when you finish your training.
What is a Manufacturing Process Leader?
Being a Process Leaders can be exciting and varied because they can be found in organisations with both high- and low-volume manufacturing. That means you could work in teams working on advanced manufacturing processes, or artisanal craft production. Not only can the role change depending on where you work, but the role itself is also incredibly varied. This apprenticeship will therefore help you develop a number of different skills and gain plenty of knowledge.
What does being a Process Leader in manufacturing involve?
A Process Leader is responsible for managing and leading operations. The primary goal will be working to achieve the company’s core production Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). As the name suggests, you will get to lead and manage large teams. However, the role also includes technical knowledge and sharing guidance with your own and other teams.
Project management is a core part of the role. You’ll become familiar with industry tools to manage projects, making sure everything is running smoothly and within budget. As a part of this, Process Leaders are always figuring out how projects and processes could be improved. In the industry, they call this ‘continuous improvement’. Resource management will also be included here, as using resources ineffectively – whether that be staff or materials – can have an impact on profits.
In a production environment, health and safety is also important to the role, to make sure that everyone stays safe. The company will have policies that everyone must follow. They’ll also have quality management regulations, to make sure that the product is of the highest quality.
While there are technical aspects to this role, there is also plenty of people management involved as well. Process Leaders will manage a team, which involves building a team, developing their skills, and motivating team members. As a team leader, you’ll be responsible for the success of the whole team, and that includes making sure key targets are met.
Effective communication is also key, whether conveying strategy or driving management decisions. You can’t just understand the data and information – you’ll have to explain to others what it means and why it’s important. In daily work, Process Leaders interact with various stakeholders, including team leaders, Quality Managers, HR Managers, and top-level management.
To summarise: Process Leaders make up one part of the production team and are responsible for delivering core production KPIs, managing people, budgets, equipment, materials, supplies, health, safety, environment, and risk.
What skills will you learn?
With such a varied role, this apprenticeship will help you develop a lot of knowledge, skills and behaviours. This will include:
- Production and manufacturing techniques.
- Budgeting and cost forecasting.
- Safe and professional working practices.
- Project management and team leadership.
- Stakeholder management.
- Problem solving through data analysis.
- Workplace risk assessments.
What are the key behaviours for this job?
While you will develop all of these on the job, this could be the perfect apprenticeship for you if you’re keen to develop your behaviours in a number of different areas. You’ll need to be a strong decision-maker, while also being agile, embracing change and innovation. Fostering inclusivity and trust is essential in the people leadership aspect. Finally, resilience, accountability, and professionalism are also crucial, particularly when problem solving on the job.
What comes next?
With industry recognition by Professional Engineering Institutions, this apprenticeship will set you up for success in the manufacturing industry. The apprenticeship will typically last 2 years, at which point you’ll then be able to apply for long-term jobs. There are plenty of different job titles that are applicable to this apprenticeship, including Process Lead Manager, Production Lead and Section Leader.
If you’re interested in a role that combines technical capabilities, people skills and project management, then this could be perfect for you. The application process for apprenticeships can sometimes feel daunting, but we’re here at Apprentice Tips to support you along the way. Sign up to our newsletter for a weekly update on all our new content!