5 Things to Know About Working in Manufacturing

When picking your career path or deciding to change jobs, it’s important to be clued up on the ins and outs of the industries you have in mind.

You’ll always want to enter an industry and career that ticks all the boxes – long-term growth, job stability, great pay, and benefits.

One such industry that might meet your expectations is manufacturing. Of course, this encompasses a wide range of positions to suit many different skillsets. If you’re interested in working in manufacturing, here are some important things to know.

Understand the Work Environment

As mentioned, the manufacturing industry is wide-reaching in terms of available roles. You could work in safety, assembly lines, quality assurance, engineering, or design. No matter what you do, you’ll know you’ll be fulfilled because you’ll be contributing to something bigger than yourself.

However, the wide array of jobs means your work environment depends heavily on what you’ll be doing. You might be in an office, a factory, or a warehouse. If you’re working in a warehouse, joining a union for warehouse workers can help you protect your rights and ensure a safe working condition.

Skills Development and Career Growth

In manufacturing, you’re more than likely to receive on-the-job training and opportunities for skills development in the form of courses and workshops to keep you updated on the latest tech, industry innovations, and business skills.

The massive variety of positions and opportunities in manufacturing means you’ll also have plenty of room for growth and change. You may be able to move across departments as your skills and interests develop – shifting from production to inventory or maintenance.

Technological Advancements

The manufacturing industry is growing – even as we speak! New tech is constantly being introduced to boost productivity, efficiency, and safety.

What’s exciting about all of this is that working in the industry will put you at the forefront of these innovations – from 3D printing and robotics to analytics and IoT. Being in the frontline of learning new tech will boost your skills and give your CV an edge on your competition when you’re looking to advance in your career.

The Importance of Teamwork

Working in manufacturing means you’ll be working closely alongside your team and will have the opportunity to build strong, long-lasting working relationships.

Working with like-minded and driven individuals can make any job feel more fulfilling. However, the nature of this work also means you’ll need to become accustomed to working closely with others, relying on your team, and collaborating on everything you do, which can be tough for more introverted and independent workers.

Job Stability and the Economy

Manufacturing is, without a doubt, an in-demand job. This means you’ll have job stability and security for years to come – likely for your entire career!

While manufacturing is an industry in and of itself, it’s also the backbone of every other industry, which means you’ll be able to align your skills and knowledge with your passions by working within the manufacturing of another area you’re interested in – medicine, technology, food, fashion, or anything else!

Roberta Silverglate, California Business Journal