What Does a Production Worker Do?
Production workers perform manual labor tasks in manufacturing or production environments. Assembling, packaging, and inspecting products may be part of their daily duties on an assembly line. They may also operate manufacturing machinery or equipment. Productivity and quality are the primary goals of a production worker.
The ability to work quickly and accurately is essential for production workers. As well as being able to stand for long periods of time, they must also be capable of performing physically demanding tasks. Detecting defects or problems with products and taking corrective action requires meticulous attention to detail. These professionals must also be capable of working in a team environment and interacting effectively with other team members to ensure they meet their production targets.
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National Average Salary
Production worker salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Production Worker is:
$29,900
Production Worker Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a production worker. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
The Feeder/Folder continuously grasps, sorts, and grades clean textiles and then either folds by hand or feeds into an ironer or folding machine for final finishing. Performs other tasks as required.
Essential functions
- Grasp textiles from a cart/bin then sort, inspect, and grade according to quality standards
- Fold, assemble, and package by hand different types and sizes of textiles
- Feed different types and sizes of textiles into ironers or folding machines
- Place finished product onto conveyors or into carts, dump slings of product onto work tables
- Move loaded or empty carts/bins within the production area
- Process textiles according to type and written packing instructions
- Continuously meet efficiency and safety standards for the position
- Follow instructions as directed by supervision
- Keep work area neat and clean
Additional functions
- Work in other production positions as needed
Qualifications
- Recognize colors and sizes, count, and sort accurately
- Recognize, inspect and grade product
- Comprehend and follow written packing instructions
- Comprehend and follow direction
Typical physical activity
- Physical Demands consist of standing, walking, reaching overhead, pushing, pulling, grasping, lifting up to 25 lbs., and stooping
- Physical Requirements consist of being able to meet the physical demands for the entire shift
Typical environmental conditions
- Production areas of a typical industrial laundry facility, which includes variations in temperature, odors, humidity, lint, and dust
Example 2
ABC company is the premier provider of material processing and environmental services to the global steel and metals industries. Our onsite mill services and resource recovery services offer sustainable solutions that maximize environmental benefits and return valuable raw material into production. We also have developed a range of by-products for specialized applications across industry, construction, and agriculture.
Responsibilities
Responsible for ALL general day-to-day production activities, bagging, load-out, front-end loader operations, hauling material in trucks, unloading of all rail cars, etc. at plant locations.
Employee will be completing daily production activities in a warehouse setting, Bagging, Housekeeping, Operation of Front End Loader – Skid Steer, Loading of Bulk and bagged Freight shipments both truck and rail. Operate plant equipment and packaging equipment, Employee will need to have the ability to assist with plant repairs as needed
Essential duties
- Load trucks and railcars as per shipping requirements
- Inspect all trucks and railcars before loading; internally and externally in compliance with Safety practices
- Install and record seals in the rail book and on the order pick slips on all railcars
- Load vehicles evenly with material to proper weights
- Keep loading areas clean
- Fill out railcar/truck checklist
- Complete track check lists and turn into the office daily so rail logs can be matched against office records
- Perform general clean up
- Keep loadout plant area clean of material and debris making sure all trash cans are emptied weekly from the office and plant area
- Assist other production personnel in cleaning other areas of the plant when necessary
Bagging operation
- Operate bagging equipment to bag and palletize bag material
- Perform pre start up checks of equipment and fill out any forms or inspections associated with the bagging operation
- Load trucks with bagged material making sure that the product being loaded matches the material being placed on each truck and care is taken in placement of all pallets
- Operate forklift making sure all mobile equipment logs are filled out daily for each piece of machinery
- Complete quality testing as required and log all analysis properly on the respective pick slips
- Notify the plant operator when the proper materials for bagging production are needed. If blends are performed make sure the blend is logged for the duration of the blend and proper Q.C. standards are followed
Report potential problems
- Notify management and office administrator’s in a timely manner of material shortages for daily shipments
- Notify management of any gradation problems or loading time changes
- Notify management and maintenance of any unusual noise or potential mechanical problems
- Assist maintenance in repairing any mechanical equipment when necessary
Paperwork
- Complete and maintain all related paperwork as directed by management daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly
- Other duties may be required to maintain a safe and efficient operation, as assigned by Management
Requirements
- Must be able to pass company physical, and drug/alcohol screening.
- Prior experience in manufacturing is preferred
- Forklift and front-end loader certification is a plus
Basic qualifications
- Employee should be able to lift up to 100lbs., twist bend stand for long durations, hold general computer skills, Mathematical skills along with basic production skills
Preferred qualifications
- Machinery Operations, Forklift Operation, Mechanical Aptitude/Abilities, Problem Solving Skills
Education
- High School or equivalent
Example 3
Looking for a challenging yet rewarding career with a company that produces the world’s most recognizable products? Join us in (city, state) where we are passionate about the products we make, the people we work with, and the city we live in. You’ll collaborate with many diverse people and perspectives, and be a part of the united values and winning culture at ABC company! Our culture boasts a strong safety record, a high level of accountability, and great developmental opportunities.
Responsibilities
- Making things Happen – Producing high-quality finished goods and ensuring efficient and safe machine operation
- Setting the Pace – Inspecting equipment and performing basic adjustments and preventative maintenance when needed
- Always Accountable – Following all Company Safety Rules and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
- Connecting – Hanging out with the cool kids in a collaborative team environment
Required qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to operate machinery
- Ability to follow instructions, verbal and written
- Physically must be able to stand for long hours and be able to lift at or above the waist at a maximum of fifty pound
- Night shift
Bonus points
- Previous experience in a manufacturing setting or a related position
- Experience in a food manufacturing industry
- Mechanical aptitude
- A great sense of humor
Sample Interview Questions
- How have you met production deadlines when under pressure?
- When it comes to manufacturing your products, how do you ensure that they meet quality standards?
- When assembling a complex product, what steps did you take to ensure it was correctly assembled?
- What safety procedures do you follow while working on the manufacturing line?
- Do you have any procedures in place to deal with equipment breakdowns or malfunctions during production?
- What steps do you take to measure the success of your production work?
- Imagine that you repeatedly found a coworker not being productive during their shift hours. How would you handle that?
- What would you do if there were consistent defects in the products your team was manufacturing?
- Are you familiar with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software?
- What steps would you take if it was discovered that defective products had already been prepared for shipping?
- What are the steps you take to troubleshoot production issues during production?
- When it comes to maintaining and operating manufacturing equipment, how do you ensure that it is operated safely?
- When it comes to meeting production targets, how do you communicate with other team members?
- How do you handle materials and components to minimize waste and maximize efficiency?
