Shirley Langver, Product Manager
Basic Facts
Employer: Boeing Canada
Typical Education: College Diploma
Salary Range: $50,000 - $85,000
Skill Type: Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities (NOC 9)
Industry Sector: Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33)
NOC Code: 0911
NOC Occupation: Manufacturing Manager
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Personal Interaction
Personal Interaction(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"What I like about the job the most is interacting with many different people, the opportunity to meet your final customer, to have the opportunity to actually see what happens at the end of the line when they put these parts together.
"It's just amazing. I'll never get over that."
My Job
MY JOBTitle: Product Manager III
Key Tasks & Responsibilities:
- oversee manufacture of structural aircraft parts
- coordinate a staff of 50 people
- ensure safety and health standards are maintained
Started Job: 1985
Supervises:
- stores keeper
- scheduler
- plastics technicians
- assembly technicians
- inspectors
- manufacturing engineer/planner
Works with:
- internal and external suppliers
- other department managers
- customers
Reports to: Senior Manufacturing Manager TOC
Production Schedules
Production SchedulesI'm responsible for meeting 100 percent of my master production schedules. I do that by maintaining what we call an Order Status that I review first thing every morning to make sure we're on track.
I share that information with the rest of the crew to make sure they're up to speed on what our due date for shipping is.
I spend a fair bit of time on the computer system that helps make all this happen.
Managing the Team
Managing the TeamMy main job is to bring together a very diverse group of people and get them to work and think as a team to produce our products.
It's not always easy, because of course no two people are the same and we don't all come to work in the same mood or have the same opinions every day.
But I believe in seeing the talent in everyone and their ability to produce the end product.
Internal Suppliers
Internal SuppliersMy area of responsibility is making certain structural parts for Boeing 737s and 777s. In order to manage this area, I get support from what I call my internal suppliers. They provide us with what we need to do our jobs; parts, equipment, staff, etc.
There's a lot of interacting to do with the managers of those groups to make sure my product flows through their areas in a timely manner and to support what I need to get the job done.
Where I Work
Where I WorkBoeing manufactures 75% of the aircraft flown worldwide.
Boeing Canada Technology - Winnipeg is part of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Fabrication Division which manufactures various parts including struts and engine doors for the wings and body for several models of aircraft.
Products manufactured in Winnipeg are sent to Boeing's main assembly plants in Washington and Kansas.
Parts We Make
Parts We Make(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"The majority of the parts that we make are for basically in the underbelly of the plane, the wing-to-body structure and the wing structures and that includes all your forward struts and the door package we recently acquired.
"That's the landing gear doors as well as blocker doors that are around the engine. And those are also a big product here."
About Me
ABOUT MEBackground
- grew up in Winnipeg and Germany
- went to high school in St. James
- married with one daughter
- still living in St. James
Interests/Activities
- spending time with family
- travelling, camping
- fishing TOC
Lots of Travel
Lots of TravelMy Mom and Dad have taken us quite a few different places.
We've been down to Disneyworld in Florida and to Anaheim and Vegas a few times. We've been to a lot of places in the States and I guess that's why I enjoy the camping part of it so much.
It's great just to be able to get away and travel and have someone else cook breakfast sometimes!
Big On Family
Big On Family(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"I have a large family and to me that's one of the most important things.
"The camping and everything that I enjoy doing, a lot of the family activity that I enjoy doing is because of my mom and dad, because they always taught us that family was important.
"So I'm pretty big on family."
Pick Up and Go
Pick Up and GoWe have a trailer so we can just pick up and go wherever we want.
We used to go to Ontario a fair bit but in the last few years we've spent more time at Grand Beach. We enjoy it there a lot and the beach itself is a beautiful beach.
I like to visit different places but because Grand is so close to Winnipeg, we can get back to the city for anything that comes up.
My Day
MY DAY6:30 am: Arrive, deal with email and voice mail
7:00 am: Do check of production areas
7:30 am: Hold stand up meetings with floor staff to establish priorities for the day
8:00 am: Fill out an Order Status for required parts and equipment
8:30 am: Break
8:45 am: Report corrective action on faulty part
9:30 am: Performance Impact Review meeting with Senior Manager
10:30 am: Do floor check; make sure production is going smoothly
11:30 am: Lunch
12:00 pm: Check and deal with email and voice mail
12:30 pm: Work out overtime schedule with other department managers
1:30 pm: Present cost reduction proposals a management meeting
2:30 pm: Do final floor check of the day
3:30 pm: Draft job targets for the next day
4:00 pm: Go home! TOC
Strict On Safety
Strict On SafetyWe conduct safety audits weekly and mandatory safety meetings monthly.
If employees miss a meeting their manager will get notified about it. They're very strict on safety here.
I hold all the safety meetings for my crew and I can proudly say that our crew just celebrated a 2 year accident free safety record.
Standup Meetings
Standup Meetings(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"I have a standup meeting every morning with folks that work with me, basically to explain what we're looking at for the day. And if there's any shortage of people, we might have to move some people around, things like that.
"Or there might be a hot part that might have come up over night, or a problem with a part that happened the day before that we'd have to tackle, or could be a part that we never got built the day before that we need to ensure that it's built today."
Transforming the Process
Transforming the ProcessWe're going through a transformation program right now to improve efficiency in all our processes.
We hold workshops called 'Kaizens', based on Japanese production principles that examine how things are done and that look for ways to improve and streamline methods and procedures.
We get some of the people actually building the product to get together and brainstorm ways to improve production and then put those ideas into action. These are the production experts we use to achieve our goals for the plant.
Many Meetings
Many MeetingsI'll have several meetings every week that keep me busy. There are staff meetings and management meetings that also involve people from the shop who build the product.
Then I have performance impact reviews with my manager to review how we're doing and cost reduction proposal meetings to work out the details with customers when a contract is coming up for review.
Comfortable Pace
Comfortable PaceI find it a very even pace. Sometimes it's hectic; sometimes it's stressful. But I find overall that it's manageable.
I think the amount of pressure you feel depends on your ability to organize. If you possess good organizational skills, the day will be less hectic.
It won't necessarily be slower but just a more comfortable pace.
Me and My Job
ME AND MY JOBLikes
- definitely the people
- the physical environment
- the generous wages and benefits
Challenges
- meeting scheduled deadlines
- multicultural diversity TOC
Helping Change
Helping ChangeWe're implementing a new way of doing business, and like any change, when you're asking someone to do something in a different way it can be challenging for them.
We're asking for things like timings, pace production, Takt flow which is the rate of assembly, things that for years, they've never had to deal with.
The most difficult part for me is helping the people work through and understand the need for change.
Approachable
ApproachableI feel good that employees are comfortable coming to me at any time.
That they feel I'm approachable and can tell me anything that's on their mind or that's bothering them, or ask me about ways that I can help them with their career moves and things like that, is probably the biggest job reward I've have.
Better Ergonomics
Better ErgonomicsWe've just recently hired an ergonomic specialist.
We're working with the folks in the shop to make their job easier by trying different rotating tables, lift tables and things like that. The tables move and tilt so that when it comes to drilling it's not so awkward for the worker.
The company is very committed to keeping the staff healthy protected from injury on the job.
Personal Pressure
Personal Pressure(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"At times there's a lot of pressure on me because I'm reporting to people that I work for and I'm reporting to people I work with.
"I'm the type of person that I like to excel in whatever I attempt to do so it could be the pressure I put on myself too. It's just that you want to be successful and you want your team to be successful.
"You see I'm proud that I work here and I want it to be successful."
MY RÉSUMÉ
Education
Certificate in Management Studies, Cdn Inst. of Mgmt.
Lean Manufacturing Training
Several management development courses, including Health & Safety, Problem Solving & Communications
High School Diploma, St. James Collegiate
Experience
1985-Present: Level Three - Product Manager, Boeing
1981-1985: Level Two - Production Manager, Boeing
1978-1981: Level One - Production Supervisor, Boeing
1977-1978: Production Line, Boeing
1973-1977: Various jobs in processing/manufacturing
Back To School
Back To SchoolI've completed the 2 year program in Supervisory Management which is a prelude to the Certificate in Management (CIM).
I'm currently enrolled in the CIM and I will graduate in June 2004. I'm really looking forward to that. It's a big accomplishment for because I've been out of school now for quite a while.
To commit to doing this program was a big deal for me.
Getting Ahead Faster
Getting Ahead FasterAlthough I got where I am with just a high school education to start with I'd advise others who want to get into management to take some business and communication skills courses after high school.
Some management training, along with work experience to learn about building relationships and working with all kinds of people will help you move ahead faster in your career than just starting from high school.
People Skills
People Skills(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"You've got to like working with people. I know a lot of what we do is hands on, putting the pieces together and everything, but a lot of it's interacting with people.
"And I really believe that for this job, you have to possess some type of people skills that enable you to do that, because some days you've got to be really tolerant and some days you've got to be very firm."
What It Takes
What It TakesIf I was looking to hire someone for my job, I'd look for someone who has strong people skills, knows how to communicate well, both verbally and in writing, and who is very organized.
They'd also need to have some background technical knowledge, like how to read blueprints and specs, can understand the manufacturing processes we use and is also familiar with computers and the tools available on them.
My Future
MY FUTUREChallenges Ahead
The transformation project we're undertaking will mean lots of changes. We're using just one product as a testing ground, but eventually the way we build everything will change in some way.
So it's going to be challenging for a while as we work through all the different modifications.
I'm proud that one of my department's products has been chosen to break this new ground and I'm looking forward to seeing the results of our hard work. TOC
Experience Counts
Experience CountsBoeing is looking at a combined Bachelor of Arts in Business with the U of M. so that employees can go for their degree while still working.
We'll see how many people at will be interested in doing what will be a shorter course, but with the same end result.
The management courses I'm taking now would play a big part, and so would my years of experience in management. It's something I'm really interested in doing.
Human Resources
Human ResourcesTwo of the courses that I've already taken as part of the Certificate in Management I can roll over into what they call HRM, or Human Resource Management.
I'll have to take two more courses and then I'll have the complete HRM certificate.
They're combining the two programs to enable people out in the workforce to grow in their jobs without losing them by going back to school.
It's The People
It's The People(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)
"I love doing what I'm doing. I guess the people part of it is probably my biggest thing. I enjoy working with people and this let's you do that.
"I know there's opportunity, but that opportunity takes me out of the factory and I'm not sure I want that. But I don't want to say I've reached the end of my rope either!"
Useful Links
Shirley's path to management started on the production line but a degree or certificate in management could set you on a more accelerated path to senior management positions.
One of Shirley's strengths is knowing how to motivate people and that can only come from experience on the job.
Courses and programs that can help put you on the path to a management career are found below, along with links to information about careers in management and manufacturing.
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Job Market Info
The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career. The official name for Shirley's occupation is "Manufacturing Manager" and its NOC* code is 0911.
Job Futures
Who Hires - Manitoba Labour Market Information
*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupational Classification' code or 'NOC'.
Education
High School
Useful High School Subjects*
- Industrial Arts
- Business
- English
*Source: Job Futures.ca
For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to 4 free courses.
High School Subjects
University of Manitoba
Faculty of Management/Asper School of Business
Business Administration - Management Development Programs
Labour and Workplace Studies
Continuing Education, Management Development Programs
University of Winnipeg
Management Certificate Program
Human Resource Management Diploma Program
Business Computing and Administrative Studies
Red River College
Business Administration
Intro to Business Administration
Collège Universitaire de Saint Boniface
Les Programmes techniques et professionnels
Assiniboine Community College - Brandon
Business Administration
Management Skills Certificate
Human Resources Certificate
University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson
All Programs (PDF)
Business Administration - page 27
Brandon University
Industry Association
Industry AssociationCanadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Manitoba Division is Canada's Leading Business Network and senior business association. CME members account for 75% of Canada's industrial output and 90% of its exports. Over the past seven years, they have been responsible for over 45% of the new jobs created in the Canadian economy.
CME has established alliances and linkages with universities, community colleges and training organizations throughout Canada. These alliances help ensure the availability of adequately skilled labour and enable Canadian companies to compete in today's global economy.
Related Careers
Related CareersSome related careers from the Human Resources Development Canada web site:
Supervisors, Assembly and Fabrication (NOC 922)
Human Resources Managers (NOC 0112)
Senior Managers - Goods Production (NOC 0016)
Professional Associations
Professional AssociationsThe Canadian Institute of Management is Canada's senior management association. It's a non-profit organization and is dedicated to the enhancement of managerial skills and professional development. They offer nationally recognized courses and seminars as well as networking, mentoring opportunities. The Human Resources Management Association of Manitoba provides working in the HR field with peer support, professional development and networking opportunities.