Long-term, I would hope to go into a management role, but right out of school, I would prefer to work in a more technical role. Through working in a technical role, it gives an individual the opportunity to grow in their technical abilities as well as learn valuable skills that can be applied to management roles in the future. Growing in technical abilities is particularly important if the management position is in the same industry. For example, if an individual works within a manufacturing department in a medical device company and then moves into a project management role within a different medical device, they will be able to lead the team effectively as a result of their experience. That individual will have a good understanding of how medical devices are developed and the timeline required, which will allow for a good project plan to be put in place. They will understand what the project team will need to succeed since they would have been in the position of the members of the team. Additionally, within a technical role, an individual can learn other, non-technical skills such as better communication skills, how to work effectively with different individuals, as well as gain exposure on leading teams and projects. 

I work as an analyst in a manufacturing company that specializes in flavors and fragrances. For me, having a sense of what is going on in the lab is important. Being an engineer/analyst/tech first will be ideal so you can better understand your team. You need some hands on the project so you can be a leader and not just a boss. That way any issue relating to the manufacturing process that might occur could be easily fixed.