Hi there! I am not the best person for small talk or talking about myself. But at the same time, I suppose my experience can help many people to get the job they are looking for. So here I am, and here is my story of getting a production associate job. I will share the required skills, requirements, and basic production associates job description in this article. This way, you can decide whether you like it or not.
What Is a Production Associate? What Do Production Associate Employees Do?
The production associate job belongs to the manufacturing industry. In its core essence, this role consists of five key elements:
- Assembly line worker
- Production support
- Quality assurance and employee supervision
- Logistics and material handling
- Reporting
Hence, you cannot find a standard production associate definition as this work requires many core skills. However, you can get the profession’s meaning through its key roles.
What is a manufacturing associate? Five key roles explained
If you have no clue what the roles above mean and what is a production associate, I will explain in more detail.
- Assembly line worker
First, working as a production associate, you must assemble and inspect products. You will do that when the new equipment tools come under your maintenance and at the start and the end of each shift. The first time, you check whether the new detail fits and works well. Later, the production associate briefly checks the plant’s environment and all lathe machines.
- Production support
Second, production associates have responsibilities that include a lot of assistance. It means that you would clean the area if needed, load or unload materials, or help with repairing tools. Supporting the production means ensuring that the working process goes smoothly and uninterrupted.
- Quality assurance and employee supervision
Manufacturing associate employees inspect finished products for defects and perform the supervising role for their colleagues. If needed, the production associate conducts standard operating procedure training (safety check) and any other required educational activities.
- Logistics and material handling
Typically, working as a production associate holds you responsible for ordering, shipping, and receiving all working materials and machines. That is the reason why, to get product associate jobs, you must be a responsible person.
- Reporting
What does a production associate do? I personally fill in a lot of documentation sections every day. Manufacturing associates’ employers want everything clean and neat, so you have to maintain reports for all working processes.
Production associates have a few key roles at once. We maintain all functional machines, do the clerical work, and work with employee’s qualifications.
Which Qualifications Are Typical for a Manufacturing Career? How Did I Get Into Jobs for Production Associates?
When I first started looking for jobs, I did not particularly know what is production associate profession. I love mechanical engineering, so I looked for something based on the job’s relatedness to something I am good at. I am quite keen on machines, technical processes, and professional equipment, so I searched the relevant topics. That’s how I defined what I wanted to be.
I do not know what particular place you will apply to, but I will tell you which qualifications are typical for a manufacturing career. Here are the most common production associate skills you will need.
Hard skills:
- Basic understanding of machinery and equipment. Of course, every field has different machines, tools, and mechanics. You may not know the details of a plastic sheet molding machine before applying for the job. However, you have more chances if you understand how a car engine, drill press, or electric saw work.
- Mathematical skills. A significant part of my schedule goes to keeping a record of what we buy, what we need to buy, what materials we are running on, and what the cost is. If you can’t create a clear picture of all these processes, it’s not a good role for you.
- Being a handyman. Fixing a water faucet at your home is not directly related to a manufacturing associate’s job. However, these skills will help you get used to the profession.
Soft skills:
- Being a team player and having strong communication skills. What is manufacturing associate main role? Caring about machines, equipment, safety, and cleanliness. But to perform these roles, you have to stand on good terms with the team.
- Being an organized and responsible person. What is a manufacturing associate main difficulty? Being responsible for a lot of things. But that is part of the job. If you are doing well, you will grow in your profession really fast.
Manufacturing Associate Job Description. My Cover Letter Experience
The manufacturing production associate profession may sound confusing when you look at it for the first time. Even with all the processes explained, you may wonder what to add to your resume or CV to apply for jobs. Next, I will share my personal recommendations of what to look at in your manufacturing associate job description.
Manufacturing associate job description. A typical sample
Production associate salary, education, experience, and skills requirements differ depending on the company, field, and state. Most of the product associate jobs require no previous experience or special education, which is good if you are a student. For instance, here are the requirements for one of the good manufacturing associate propositions I have found on LinkedIn:
As you see, nothing is too complicated. The proposed salary in this role is $21/hr. I cannot tell my own salary due to the company’s policy, but the average product associate hourly wage in the US is $30.
Production associate job description. What to pay attention to
You decided to become a production associate. You started looking for jobs like the one listed above and found a good proposition. What do you do now?
First, answer the following questions to make sure that this work will be good for you:
- “Do I know anything about this field? Are there any requirements for physical form and health?” For instance, I recommend you avoid chemical manufacturing as your first workplace. If the company has appropriate safety measures, you will be the one responsible for their upholding.
- “Are there any particular skills I have right now for that work?” For instance, a metalworking facility job will require the following skills: knowledge of materials, machine setup, blueprint reading, and tool proficiency. If you have any related hobbies, like model building, this field will be good for you.
Second, pay attention to the job description. Whats a production associate job’s worst quality? Multitasking. As I said before, I do a lot of different things in my shifts. You get used to it quite fast, but make sure that you are ready for the load.
As a production associate, I recommend you search for the field that aligns well with your physical form and interests. For example, do not start working in the woodworking industry if you have never heard anything about wooden crafts.
Production Worker Education Requirements
Production worker education requirements are usually low. Typically, employers require just a high school diploma and only basic math and English skills. Some jobs look for bilingualism as the prospective employee has to get along with diverse team members. As every manufacturer has its own standard operating procedures, you can learn everything only by working with it.
For instance, a woodworking company can expect a person who has worked as a builder for some time. This gives a person the experience of working with different materials. However, this practice is uncommon. Usually, you can easily enter the profession.
What Is Production Associate Job’s Main Benefit?
I can say that the main benefit of the production associate job is its entry-level requirements. While completing your tasks, you learn a lot. I mean, really, a lot. You learn to work with many people simultaneously and with technical matters. You get the basic knowledge of logistics, documentation, reporting, and fixing things.
If you are a management student, I recommend you start with something like a production associate.
It’s no secret that it’s hard to find employment for students. With a job like that, you can easily get your first official employment and gain experience. From that point, you will have a lot to put into your CV.
Moreover, this work is good for your mental health. There is no overwhelming competition or harsh responsibilities. You can have job stability and flexible shifts while also having time for yourself.