A Day in the Life of an Operations Manager

Pursuing a career as an Operations manager means you’ll be the Jack of all trades. It’s no longer necessary to make clothes thanks to the people who work in factories and the machines people invented we no longer have to make our own clothes. We interviewed Frans Truter, an operations manager at a clothing factory. He makes sure the entire process runs smoothly – from the clothing’s manufacturing to its delivery and placement on the shelves of shops.

Career in a Nutshell 

Do you need a qualification to pursue this career?

I studied at CPUT Bellville to obtain a National Diploma in Operations Management. The qualification duration is 3 years full-time, but the course is also available for part-time studies. At a later stage you can do your BTECH in Operations Management through UNISA, or the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). CPUT is currently not able to accommodate BTECH operations students.

Junior position (0-2 years’ experience):  ±R250,000.00 CTC per Annum

Skilled Position (2-5 years’ experience): CTC ±R300,000.00 CTC per Annum

Senior Position (5-10 years’ experience): ±R800,000.00 CTC per Annum 

Executive Position (10 years or more experience): ±R1,200,000.00 CTC per Annum

You can work in the private or public sector, this will also determine the outcome of your salary.

Is it a critical skill needed in South Africa? Do you have the following interests?

• Leadership
• Conflict Management
• Business Negotiation
• Organization
• Decision-Making

If you’ve selected two or more of these interests, why not scroll down and read more. Or if you’re too lazy to read, watch the video below. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The thing I really enjoy about my job is that every day has its own set of problems. It’s like walking into a new job every single day. Getting to solve problems on a regular basis… every problem is unique, so you don’t get bored.

What do you enjoy least about your job?

The working hours. There are days where you are really pressed for time and need to get things done, and normally you will be required to work over-time. Sometimes the nights can get long. So getting a good night’s rest is very rare.     

Is there a qualification required to perform this job? Where and what did you study?

Yes there is. I studied at CPUT Bellville to obtain a National Diploma in Operations Management. The qualification duration is 3 years full-time, but the course is also available for part-time studies. At a later stage you can do your BTECH in Operations Management through UNISA, or the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). CPUT is currently not able to accommodate BTECH operations students.

Is there any training provided by the organization once you come on board?

Yes, the company has offered some leadership skills workshops to help develop leaders within the company.

What type of person would be well suited to this job?

Any person that can think outside the box, is able to manage time correctly (crucial), is a people’s person, and last but not least, is a leader (people will look up to you, and you as the operational manager need to lead by example). To become an operations manager, you must have a passion for business and be open minded. You as an operational manager should be able to visualise the outcomes and consequences for each move you make and take on full responsibility of the consequences.

How long have you been in this position and how did you get there?

I’ve been working for the manufacturer company for about four months now and got the job through my university contacts that knew people (they were really helpful).

Do you have any additional advice for someone interested in pursuing this career?

Read a lot of business-orientated books. Start your research with Henry Ford (person behind Ford Motors) by reading how he revolutionised the production line. Henry Ford is one of the many founding fathers of Operations Management. If you have what it takes to change and improve an organisation, then I would recommend you go study Operations Management.

Do you have some quirky advice for our readers?

Bear in mind, you will never walk straight from university into a company expecting to become the COO straight away. Patience is and determination is key.

Visit our library of all the institutions available to you both in South Africa and abroad. Download application forms and contact the institutions directly to find out more on what they have to offer.[/vc_cta][vc_column_text]As you have just heard, a lot of responsibility comes with the title. The people above you expect you to make sure everything runs smoothly and perfectly and that all hiccups are handled quietly and without any expense or loss to the company.

This is why Frans jokes that, “being OCD (partly) will count in your favour.” It will ensure that you naturally make sure things are perfect and that anything less than perfect must be fixed ASAP. Of course being too OCD would mean that nothing ever gets done. So make sure you like perfection, just not too much.

FundiConnect 2cents

An Operations Manager has a lot of responsibility and a simple mistake could lead to chaos. Every day brings different problems and situations so you can be assured that things will not be the same.

What does a typical working day involve? What are your day-to-day activities?