A production analyst manages computer programs and processes in large organizations, with tasks including scheduling and running jobs, managing resources, and performing system maintenance. This is a mid-level position with significant responsibility, and errors can have a major impact on the organization’s technical infrastructure.
A production analyst is a member of the information technology department of a large organization. They are responsible for managing the computer programs and processes running in the background on large computer systems. A person in this role requires a combination of mainframe, technical, and processing training. In many organizations, a production analyst is also known as a production controller.
There are four main tasks of a production analyst: scheduling jobs, running jobs, managing resources, and performing system maintenance. The exact type of skills required depends on the computer’s infrastructure, operating system, and related security protocols. This function is central to the continuous processing of computer programs and is usually requested 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Scheduling of computer jobs is based on different processors, time required for each job, priority, and data accessed. System developers or the functional manager submit requests for tasks to be added to the schedule. Typically, multiple jobs are scheduled concurrently, but it’s important to ensure that each program is updating unrelated systems.
Running jobs requires updating variants with the correct data, monitoring progress, and controlling output. The production analyst is responsible for informing the user of any issues with the job and managing the process to ensure the best use of existing resources.
Resource management includes database optimization, system cloning and hard drive partitioning. Additional processes may include infrastructure reconfiguration, installation of network switches and load balancing tools. This is a very important function, as it is more efficient to maximize existing resources than to buy new ones.
Maintaining performance involves regularly reviewing usage reports, downtime statistics, and general system maintenance. All operating system software packages have regular patches or additional code used to fix known issues or enhance existing security. Applying these patches requires a skilled production analyst who understands the implications of the changes and can manage the entire process.
The production analyst usually reports to the technical manager. There are usually two or three people in this role, due to the need for a resource to be constantly available. This is a mid-level position as it has significant responsibility.
An error can cause important systems to fail or harm the organization’s technical infrastructure. The vast majority of technical managers have worked as a production analyst at some point in their career. This experience is needed to really understand the impact of decision making on a large computer system.
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