| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Plant Head |
| Direct reports | Production Manager, Tool Room Manager, Shift Manager, Industrial Relations Officer |
| Experience | 12 to 18 years in engineering shops, including 5+ years managing a shop or production block |
Works Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Works Manager
Department: Production
Reports to: Plant Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Works Manager is in charge of the works: the production shops of a factory, especially in engineering, foundry, forging and heavy fabrication companies. They run the machine shop, fabrication, assembly and allied sections, manage shop superintendents and supervisors, and handle discipline and relations with a large blue-collar workforce. A good works manager keeps the shops productive and orderly, and keeps worker relations steady through fair and consistent decisions.
Key responsibilities
- Run day-to-day operations of all production shops, including machining, fabrication, heat treatment, painting and assembly.
- Set monthly production targets for each shop from the order book and review daily output against them.
- Hold shop superintendents and supervisors accountable for output, discipline and housekeeping in their shops.
- Deal with worker discipline, attendance problems and grievances together with the plant HR team, following the standing orders.
- Take part in meetings with the union or works committee on productivity, overtime and working conditions.
- Control shop overtime, idle time and job work, and approve the movement of workers between shops.
- Coordinate with the tool room, maintenance and quality so shops have tools, running machines and approved processes.
- Enforce safety in heavy operations such as crane handling, welding, grinding and furnace work.
- Plan shop layouts and material flow for new jobs, and approve small machine purchases and relocations.
- Prepare shop-wise production, cost and manpower reports for the plant head every month.
Requirements
- Degree in Mechanical or Production Engineering (BE or BTech)
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with long shop experience is common
- A diploma in labour laws or personnel management is an advantage
- 12 to 18 years in engineering shops, including 5+ years managing a shop or production block
KRAs and KPIs for a Works Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Shop output | Monthly output of each shop at 95 percent or more of its target |
| Labour productivity | Standard hours earned per worker per shift raised to the yearly target |
| Industrial relations | No work stoppage or go-slow, and no grievance left unresolved beyond 30 days |
| Overtime control | Shop overtime hours within the approved monthly limit |
| Heavy operations safety | Zero lost time injuries in crane, welding and furnace work |
| Housekeeping | 5S audit score of every shop at or above the year's target |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: ERP production and job card reports, Standard hours sheets, Excel, Crane and lifting tackle registers, Shop layout drawings.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Plant Head, Factory Manager, General Manager Production
Interview questions for a Works Manager
- The fabrication shop is behind schedule and the union has refused overtime. What do you do?
- How do you measure labour productivity in a machine shop that runs mixed jobs?
- A worker is found sleeping on the night shift for the second time. How do you handle it under the standing orders?
- How would you plan the layout for a new heavy job that needs a bigger crane?
- Describe a negotiation with a union or works committee that you were part of.
- How do you get supervisors to own discipline instead of passing it to HR?
Managing a Works Manager in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your production team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a works manager do?
A works manager runs the production shops of a factory, usually in engineering, foundry or fabrication companies. They set shop targets, manage superintendents and supervisors, handle discipline and grievances with HR under the standing orders, take part in union discussions, control overtime and enforce safety in heavy operations. The role reports to the plant head or general manager.
Is a works manager the same as a factory manager?
Not quite. A works manager runs the shops and the workforce within them. A factory manager is responsible for the whole factory, including stores, dispatch, statutory visits and cost, and often reports directly to the owner. In smaller companies one person may carry both responsibilities under either title.
What skills does a works manager need?
A works manager needs sound knowledge of machining, fabrication and assembly, experience with standing orders and discipline, and the confidence to deal with unions or works committees. Productivity measurement, overtime control and safety in heavy operations are core. Fairness and consistency with workers matter as much as technical skill.