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AI exposure Management

Will AI replace industrial production managers?

Industrial Production Managers. US occupation 11-3051.

1.3%

of the time industrial production managers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of industrial production managers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 333 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 55% of them.Further along than 55% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

Around the middle of the pack.Keeping pace with the average job.

What AI already does for industrial production managersWhat industrial production managers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 116 tasks for industrial production managers. AI use at work shows up in 3 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Confer with marketing and sales departments to define client requirements and expectations.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  2. Evaluate power production or demand trends to identify opportunities for improved operations.Core task mostly automated 0.87
  3. Compile and record operational data on forms or in log books. automated and assisted 0.72

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

113 of the 116 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of biofuels to maintain processes at required levels.Core task
  • Analyze quality control test results and provide feedback and interpretation to production management or staff.Core task
  • Approve proposals for the acquisition, replacement, or repair of biofuels processing equipment or the implementation of new production processes.Core task
  • Check hydroelectric operations for compliance with prescribed operating limits, such as loads, voltages, temperatures, lines, or equipment.Core task
  • Collect and analyze production samples to evaluate quality.Core task
  • Communicate geothermal plant conditions to employees.Core task
Show the other 107
  • Communicate quality control information to all relevant organizational departments, outside vendors, or contractors.Core task
  • Conduct cost, material, and efficiency studies for biofuels production plants or operations.Core task
  • Conduct field inspections of biomass plants, stations, or substations to ensure normal and safe operating conditions.Core task
  • Conduct well field site assessments.Core task
  • Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting biofuels plant safety, operational efficiency, and product quality.Core task
  • Coordinate or recommend procedures for facility or equipment maintenance or modification, including the replacement of machines.Core task
  • Coordinate the selection and implementation of quality control equipment, such as inspection gauges.Core task
  • Create and implement inspection and testing criteria or procedures.Core task
  • Develop budgets or approve expenditures for supplies, materials, or human resources, ensuring that materials, labor, or equipment are used efficiently to meet production targets.Core task
  • Develop operating plans and schedules for geothermal operations.Core task
  • Develop or implement policy evaluation procedures for hydroelectric generation activities.Core task
  • Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.Core task
  • Develop or implement projects to improve efficiency, economy, or effectiveness of hydroelectric plant operations.Core task
  • Develop or manage budgets for geothermal operations.Core task
  • Develop or review budgets, annual plans, power contracts, power rates, standing operating procedures, power reviews, or engineering studies.Core task
  • Direct operations, maintenance, or repair of hydroelectric power facilities.Core task
  • Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.Core task
  • Direct product testing activities throughout production cycles.Core task
  • Direct the tracking of defects, test results, or other regularly reported quality control data.Core task
  • Document testing procedures, methodologies, or criteria.Core task
  • Draw samples of biofuels products or secondary by-products for quality control testing.Core task
  • Evaluate new testing and sampling methodologies or technologies to determine usefulness.Core task
  • Generate and maintain quality control operating budgets.Core task
  • Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.Core task
  • Identify and communicate power system emergencies.Core task
  • Identify and evaluate equipment, procedural, or conditional inefficiencies involving geothermal plant systems.Core task
  • Identify critical points in the manufacturing process and specify sampling procedures to be used at these points.Core task
  • Identify opportunities to improve plant electrical equipment, controls, or process control methodologies.Core task
  • Identify quality problems or areas for improvement and recommend solutions.Core task
  • Initiate or coordinate inventory or cost control programs.Core task
  • Inspect biomass gasification processes, equipment, and facilities for ways to maximize capacity and minimize operating costs.Core task
  • Inspect geothermal plant or injection well fields to verify proper equipment operations.Core task
  • Inspect hydroelectric facilities, including switchyards, control houses, or relay houses, for normal operation or adherence to safety standards.Core task
  • Instruct staff in quality control and analytical procedures.Core task
  • Instruct vendors or contractors on quality guidelines, testing procedures, or ways to eliminate deficiencies.Core task
  • Maintain current knowledge of the quality control field, relying on current literature pertaining to materials use, technological advances, or statistical studies.Core task
  • Maintain records of hydroelectric facility operations, maintenance, or repairs.Core task
  • Manage operations at biofuels power generation facilities, including production, shipping, maintenance, or quality assurance activities.Core task
  • Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants.Core task
  • Manage safety programs at power generation facilities.Core task
  • Monitor and operate communications systems, such as mobile radios.Core task
  • Monitor development of new products to help identify possible problems for mass production.Core task
  • Monitor geothermal operations, using programmable logic controllers.Core task
  • Monitor meters, flow gauges, or other real-time data to ensure proper operation of biofuels production equipment, implementing corrective measures as needed.Core task
  • Monitor or inspect hydroelectric equipment, such as hydro-turbines, generators, or control systems.Core task
  • Monitor performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.Core task
  • Monitor transportation and storage of flammable or other potentially dangerous feedstocks or products to ensure adherence to safety guidelines.Core task
  • Oversee geothermal plant operations, maintenance, and repairs to ensure compliance with applicable standards or regulations.Core task
  • Oversee workers including supervisors, inspectors, or laboratory workers engaged in testing activities.Core task
  • Participate in the development of product specifications.Core task
  • Perform or direct preventive or corrective containment or cleanup to protect the environment.Core task
  • Perform or direct the performance of preventative maintenance on geothermal plant equipment.Core task
  • Plan and schedule plant activities, such as wood, waste, or refuse fuel deliveries, ash removal, and regular maintenance.Core task
  • Plan or coordinate hydroelectric production operations to meet customer requirements.Core task
  • Plan or manage hydroelectric plant upgrades.Core task
  • Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.Core task
  • Prepare and manage biofuels plant or unit budgets.Core task
  • Prepare and manage biomass plant budgets.Core task
  • Prepare reports on biomass plant operations, status, maintenance, and other information.Core task
  • Produce reports regarding nonconformance of products or processes, daily production quality, root cause analyses, or quality trends.Core task
  • Provide direction to employees to ensure compliance with biofuels plant safety, environmental, or operational standards and regulations.Core task
  • Provide technical direction in the erection or commissioning of hydroelectric equipment or supporting electrical or mechanical systems.Core task
  • Provide training to subordinate or new employees to improve biofuels plant safety or increase the production of biofuels.Core task
  • Record, review, or maintain daily logs, reports, maintenance, and other records associated with geothermal operations.Core task
  • Respond to problems related to ratepayers, water users, power users, government agencies, educational institutions, or other private or public power resource interests.Core task
  • Review and approve quality plans submitted by contractors.Core task
  • Review and update standard operating procedures or quality assurance manuals.Core task
  • Review biomass operations performance specifications to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.Core task
  • Review logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels and safe production environments or to identify abnormalities with power production equipment or processes.Core task
  • Review logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels or to identify abnormalities with biofuels production equipment or processes.Core task
  • Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.Core task
  • Review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes.Core task
  • Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.Core task
  • Review quality documentation necessary for regulatory submissions and inspections.Core task
  • Review statistical studies, technological advances, or regulatory standards and trends to stay abreast of issues in the field of quality control.Core task
  • Select and implement corrosion control or mitigation systems for geothermal plants.Core task
  • Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.Core task
  • Shut down and restart biofuels plant or equipment in emergency situations or for equipment maintenance, repairs, or replacements.Core task
  • Stop production if serious product defects are present.Core task
  • Supervise biomass plant or substation operations, maintenance, repair, or testing activities.Core task
  • Supervise employees in geothermal power plants or well fields.Core task
  • Supervise hydropower plant equipment installations, upgrades, or maintenance.Core task
  • Supervise operations or maintenance employees in the production of power from biomass, such as wood, coal, paper sludge, or other waste or refuse.Core task
  • Supervise or monitor hydroelectric facility operations to ensure that generation or mechanical equipment conform to applicable regulations or standards.Core task
  • Supervise production employees in the manufacturing of biofuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol.Core task
  • Verify that raw materials, purchased parts or components, in-process samples, and finished products meet established testing and inspection standards.Core task
  • Adjust equipment controls to generate specified amounts of electrical power.
  • Audit and inspect subcontractor facilities including external laboratories.
  • Conduct site audits to ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations.
  • Create or enforce hydrostation voltage schedules.
  • Develop or enforce procedures for normal operation of manufacturing systems.
  • Implement operational and emergency procedures.
  • Maintain records to demonstrate compliance with safety and environmental laws, regulations, or policies.
  • Monitor permit requirements for updates.
  • Monitor the operating status of biomass plants by observing control system parameters, distributed control systems, switchboard gauges, dials, or other indicators.
  • Negotiate interconnection agreements with other utilities.
  • Negotiate materials prices with suppliers.
  • Obtain permits for constructing, upgrading, or operating geothermal power plants.
  • Operate controls to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
  • Operate energized high- or low-voltage hydroelectric power transmission system substations, according to procedures and safety requirements.
  • Optimize operational costs and productivity consistent with safety and environmental rules and regulations.
  • Prepare environmental permit applications or compliance reports.
  • Prepare reports on operations and system productivity or efficiency.
  • Shut down and restart biomass power plants or equipment in emergency situations or for equipment maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
  • Supervise subordinate employees.
  • Test, maintain, or repair electrical power distribution machinery or equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and testing devices.
  • Troubleshoot and make minor repairs to geothermal plant instrumentation or electrical systems.

How that compares

Among the 35 management occupations, industrial production managers rank 25. The group averages 9.8%, and its most exposed job is Financial Managers at 39.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 328Physical Therapists 1.7%
  2. 331Roofers 1.6%
  3. 332Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1.5%

Just below

  1. 334Childcare Workers 1.2%
  2. 334Cooks, Restaurant 1.2%
  3. 334Genetic Counselors 1.2%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.