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- Manufacture goods and parts in variety of industries, such as pharmaceuticals
- You'll need good practical skills and to work accurately at speed
- You could progress to shift supervisor or move into quality control
As a production worker, you'll be responsible for producing products that range anywhere from pharmaceuticals to food and drink.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Measuring, grading and feeding batches of raw materials into production machinery
- Operating production line equipment like a conveyor line in a canning factory
- Assembling goods on a production line like fitting circuit boards into computers
- Reporting equipment faults to maintenance staff
- Finishing products
- Monitoring the production process and carrying out basic testing and quality checks
- Storing goods and raw materials in the factory or warehouse
- Using lifting equipment and forklift trucks
- Packing goods ready for shipment
- Cleaning and maintaining work areas and machinery
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually work as part of a team under the supervision of a shift leader, carrying out several tasks within the same shift. You'll mainly work in a factory on a production line, and may need to wear protective clothing.
You'll need
To be a production worker, you'll need thoroughness and attention to detail, the ability to work well with others, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, flexibility and openness to change, physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace, the ability to work well with your hands, and excellent verbal communication skills.
You could take an intermediate apprenticeship in engineering manufacturing.
Direct application is possible; some employers may expect you to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent qualifications. Experience of production line work would also be useful. At interview there may be a test to assess practical skills.
For some jobs, a forklift truck training certificate could be useful.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could be promoted to shift supervisor or move into quality control.