Manufacturing professionals assist with the production of products, materials, or components, depending on the company’s niche. Typically, their days can involve many activities, including anything from assembly to packaging to shipment preparation to quality control.
If you’re wondering whether a manufacturing job is the right fit for you, knowing what a typical day in the life of a manufacturing professional looks like can help you determine if it’s a match. Here’s a look at a day in the life of a manufacturing worker.
Starting the Workday as a Manufacturing Professional
When a manufacturing employee arrives on-site at the beginning of their shift, the first step is to secure any belongings. Next, it’s common to clock in and put on any personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to work in their role safely. While employees may have specific PPE – like work boots – on before they arrive, most won’t add earplugs, safety glasses, and similar PPE until it’s time to head to the floor.
Once that’s handled, the workday may start in a few different ways. Employees might get their daily assignments and go straight to their workstations or attend a daily meeting or safety briefing before beginning their tasks.
How the Workday Progresses at a Manufacturing Facility
After an employee handles the activities above, it’s time to focus on their responsibilities. Their exact nature can vary in a manufacturing environment, but most professionals handle a specific portion of the production process.
Throughout a workday, most manufacturing professionals need to hit various productivity targets. These could be individual goals that align with strong personal performance or team-based ones related to joint priorities. As the day progresses, manufacturing workers may shift into different workstations based on a company’s needs, allowing them to help address productivity issues or bottlenecks if they occur.
As with any full-time job, manufacturing employees get shorter breaks during the day and a longer one for lunch. These occur may vary by facility, but they always align with legal requirements.
Wrapping Up the Workday in a Manufacturing Position
Once the end of the workday draws near, manufacturing professionals typically handle a few specific tasks as they wind down before the next shift arrives. Usually, they’ll finish up any duties they are currently tackling. Then, they’ll ensure their work area is cleaned and relay any relevant information to their shift supervisor.
After completing those steps, manufacturing employees will leave the floor, remove any PPE, and clock out for the day. Typically, that’s followed by heading home to rest or taking the time to handle personal responsibilities for turning in for the night, ensuring they’ll get enough rest to arrive the following day energized and focused.
Ultimately, manufacturing jobs are relatively straightforward, but the variety in the daily tasks and the nature of the work make them highly engaging. If you’re interested in finding a new manufacturing position, GSG Talent Solutions wants to hear from you. Contact us today.