If you’re considering a career in the manufacturing industry, becoming a production associate can be an excellent entry-level opportunity. But what does a production associate do all day? What skills and experience do you need to get started? Let’s dig deeper into this position.
The Role
Production associates work in teams under the supervision of a production manager. As a production associate, you’ll assist with all aspects of production operations, from organizing work orders to performing quality control checks. As you gain experience, you might even take on a leadership role, assigning daily tasks to assembly line workers and resolving issues that occur on the line.
Required Skills
Production associate can be a great option for those who are good at planning and project management. Skills you’ll need include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Communication
- Organization
- Leadership
- Attention to detail
- Ability to see both the big picture and the finer details
- Basic computer skills
- Report writing
- General mechanical aptitude
How to Become a Production Associate
In most cases, production associates are trained on the job. If you have the basic skills detailed above, you are likely to be a strong candidate. However, you may also be competing against those who hold a college degree in an area such as manufacturing technology. While degrees are not required, you might want to pursue a two-year or four-year degree either before you apply or as you move up the career ladder, in order to remain competitive.
Production associate is an excellent way to start your manufacturing career, especially if you see yourself as more of a planner than a hands-on employee. You’ll gain some hands-on experience, especially at the lower levels, but over time you will move into more of a leadership and organizational role.
Looking for A New Job?
Phillips Staffing has been matching job seekers with open positions in manufacturing, distribution, and other industries for 55 years. We also offer soft skills training that can help you land and succeed in almost any job. If you’re in Upstate South Carolina and are looking for your next role, get started today!