Production job titles

Current trends impacting production jobs

The data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics may seem disheartening at first. It predicts a 4% fall in the industry’s employment rates by the year 2029. This is no surprise, considering how certain aspects of manual work are rapidly being replaced by automation. However, this is not as adverse for the sector’s employment rates as it appears at first glance.

The increasingly technical nature of the jobs in the industry has also created a skill gap which individuals with the right skills can take advantage of. According to a 2018 report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, executives find it difficult to find talented individuals who display the right amount of digital skills, technical knowledge, and managerial capabilities to become productive manufacturing industry members. With the talent shortage being 5% higher than in 2015, the industry appears to continue providing jobs for individuals who possess the right skills.

Six of the top soft skills needed for production jobs

Jobs in the production sector require a diverse set of both technical and soft skills. This is because the production sector uses complex machinery to carry out its manufacturing processes. As a result, any worker employed in this industry needs to possess the technical skills to work with such industrial equipment. Moreover, since working with heavy-duty, industrial-grade equipment will always have a certain amount of risk, production industry employees must adhere to and stay up-to-date with the safety policies. It’s also beneficial to know first aid since accidents can occur when working with machinery despite safety measures. In terms of soft skills, production workers must be effective communicators, and team players as most of them work in groups or are in charge of one.

Though the specific skills required to become a production sector worker depend on your actual job, here are some of the common soft skills that all production workers must possess:

• Attention to detail

  Successfully producing products to the expected quality by following instructions carefully requires you to be highly accurate and attentive to small details. This skill is important because superb attention to detail is necessary to produce work of exceptional quality. On top of this, because production workers are around heavy machinery all day, workers need a lot of focus and precision to work with such highly technical equipment. Any slip-ups can cause serious accidents that may include major injuries and damaged products and equipment. As a result, production workers must always be highly vigilant to ensure that the operations are carried out smoothly without posing any unnecessary risks. Inspecting the product being moved for shortages, damage, quality, or deterioration of packing and reporting to your supervisor is also expected of you.

• Safety consciousness

  There are certain preventive measures and safety standards that workers in production must strictly adhere to. All roles in this sector must strictly follow safety rules, procedures and policies to reduce the potential for accidents and injuries. Prioritizing safety while working is essential since certain risks cannot be eliminated. Tasks like maintaining a clean and organized work area and performing preventive maintenance on the tools and equipment are ways to maintain safe operations. In short, following the appropriate safety rules and policies can help prevent many severe accidents. Workers can gain knowledge about these safety measures through the training provided by their employers or by completing various certifications offered by OSHA.

• Effective communication

  Production sector employees usually work in large numbers, whether they are machinists or forklift operators working on the manufacturing floor or supply chain managers who are more concerned with the supply chain logistics. Because of this, you need excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate clearly and concisely with co-workers and management. Moreover, production is a department that lies in the middle of the supply chain, resulting in the need to communicate with departments before and after production so that the organization’s operations are carried out smoothly. Hence, effective communication is vital for production industry workers.

• Interpersonal skills

  As mentioned above, production roles work as part of a team, for which you also need good interpersonal skills. This skill is useful in helping you be an effective team player who excels in a collaborative environment and gets along with others to achieve successful outcomes. Strong collaboration also aids in the prevention of accidents and poor quality output. Furthermore, in management roles, you won’t just have to work as part of your team, but you must also partner with cross-functional teams within and outside the company to source, allocate and coordinate resources.

• Physical endurance

  Many production jobs ask that you work long hours, on holidays and weekends, do frequent overtime and call-ins as required. On top of having the capacity to work long hours, you must also be physically strong because most jobs in the sector require you to lift between 25-75 pounds. Standing and walking for extended periods and being able to twist, bend and squat periodically are also expected.

• Problem-solving

  During the production process, you must apply problem-solving skills independently or as part of a team to proactively address and resolve conflicts and issues that may arise. Sometimes machines break down, parts come out wrong, and materials are missing. Regardless of the situation that comes up, you must identify a course of action that’ll get the production process back on track. Depending on your job, that may include determining the correct tool to fix an issue, reporting to your supervisor, or making quick and sound decisions.

Educational requirements for production jobs

Jobs in the production industry usually do not require educational qualifications above a high school or technical diploma, or completing the appropriate training, certification and licensing. This is because jobs in this sector require technical skills learned through hands-on practice more than through theory.

While most production jobs only require graduating high school or an equivalent degree such as the Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) as the minimum educational qualification, many employers prefer candidates who graduated from a trade school or a technical program. It’s possible to substitute any kind of educational requirement with experience in the job you’re applying for, whether gained through an apprenticeship or specialized courses leading to a certification or license.

A bachelor’s degree is usually uncommon in production sector employees unless working in a management or supervisory role. However, a small portion of production workers on the workshop floor get technical diplomas or associate degrees in production-related fields. Most employers, however, provide the necessary technical training to newly hired candidates so that they learn the skills they need to do the work. One method for production workers to gain or hone their skills is to complete certification courses. Gateway Technical College, for example, has certification programs for roles in production like CNC Operator, Quality Control Technician and Technical Supervisor.