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Production assemblers put components together into finished or sub-assembled products, working to a documented build sequence at a bench or along a line. The work is deliberately repetitive, because consistency is what keeps a product inside specification. Assemblers also make first-line checks and pull anything that does not fit or measure correctly.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Machine operators set up, load, run, and monitor production machinery that cuts, forms, fills, or finishes material. Much of the skill is in noticing when a machine drifts off settings and correcting it before a batch goes wrong. Operators usually run a defined set of machines and hand anything beyond routine adjustment to maintenance.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
CNC machinists produce precision metal and plastic parts on computer-controlled lathes, mills, and grinders. They read engineering drawings, set the machine and tooling, prove out the program, and inspect the result against tight tolerances. Much of the craft is in workholding, tool selection, and knowing how a material behaves as it is cut.
ApprenticeshipManufacturing, production and quality
CNC programmers turn a part drawing or CAD model into the toolpaths and machine code that will cut it. They choose cutting strategies, tooling, and speeds and feeds, then simulate the program to catch collisions before it reaches the shop floor. The role sits between design and production and usually involves close work with machinists.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Tool and die makers build and repair the cutting tools, dies, moulds, jigs, and fixtures that other machines use to make parts. The tolerances are finer than most production work and the parts are usually one-offs, so a great deal of the job is fitting, hand-finishing, and problem-solving. They also diagnose why a tool is producing bad parts and put it right.
ApprenticeshipManufacturing, production and quality
Production supervisors run a shift, line, or cell: allocating people, keeping the schedule moving, and dealing with whatever interrupts it. They sit between operators and plant management, so the job mixes hands-on troubleshooting with coaching, safety enforcement, and reporting. Most supervisors come up from the floor and keep detailed knowledge of the process.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Plant managers hold overall accountability for a manufacturing site: safety, quality, output, cost, and the people who deliver them. The role is largely about setting priorities, resolving conflicts between departments, and making decisions when production, maintenance, and quality want different things. It combines operational depth with budget and regulatory responsibility.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Manufacturing technicians keep production equipment and processes running to specification, sitting between operators and engineering. They set up equipment, run trials, chase down faults, and implement small changes that improve yield or reliability. The work is diagnostic: much of it is figuring out why a process that worked yesterday is drifting today.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Quality control inspectors check materials, in-process work, and finished product against a written specification and decide whether it passes. They use measuring instruments, gauges, and visual standards, and record what they found so a defect can be traced back to a batch or machine. The job depends on consistency: applying the same standard on hour eight as on hour one.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Quality assurance technicians look after the system that is supposed to prevent defects, rather than only catching them at the end. They maintain procedures and records, run internal audits, follow up corrective actions, and pull together the data that shows whether a process is under control. The role leans on documentation discipline and clear written communication.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Calibration technicians check and adjust measuring instruments and test equipment so that the numbers a plant relies on can be trusted. They work to documented procedures traceable to national measurement standards and record the as-found and as-left condition of every instrument. When equipment is found out of tolerance they help assess what work may have been affected.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Process technicians run and monitor continuous or batch production processes, often from a control panel or system as well as at the equipment itself. They watch temperatures, pressures, flows, and yields, make controlled adjustments, and respond when a process alarms. The role carries real safety weight because process upsets can escalate quickly.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Packaging operators run the equipment that fills, seals, labels, cartons, and palletises finished product. They keep the line fed with packaging materials, clear stoppages, and check that codes, labels, and pack counts are correct. Accuracy matters because a labelling or coding error can force a batch to be held or recalled.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Materials handlers move raw materials, components, and finished goods between stores, production lines, and despatch. They pick to work orders, feed lines so they do not run dry, and keep stock records matching what is physically there. Powered equipment such as forklifts and pallet trucks is usually part of the job, with its own training requirements.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Production planners decide what gets made, on which line, in what order, and with which materials. They balance customer demand against capacity, material availability, and changeover cost, then re-plan whenever a machine goes down or a delivery slips. The work is analytical but highly interruptible, since the plan rarely survives contact with the shop floor unchanged.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Industrial maintenance technicians keep production machinery working, covering planned servicing as well as breakdown repair. The work spans mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and often electrical and control systems, so diagnosis is a core skill. Breakdown work can be pressured, because the line is usually stopped while the fault is found.
ApprenticeshipManufacturing, production and quality
Maintenance planners turn maintenance demand into an executable schedule: scoping jobs, ordering parts, booking access to equipment, and sequencing work so technicians are not waiting. They also maintain the asset records and preventive routines that the plan is built from. The role reduces reactive work by making planned work easy to do.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Continuous improvement specialists study how work actually flows through a plant and lead structured projects to remove waste, variation, and rework. They gather and analyse process data, facilitate improvement events with the people doing the job, and make sure changes are standardised rather than drifting back. Influence matters as much as analysis, because the changes land on other people's teams.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Occupational health and safety officers help an organisation identify hazards, control risk, and meet its legal duties. They inspect workplaces, investigate incidents, deliver training, and keep the documentation that shows controls are working. The role needs credibility with both front-line workers and management, since it often involves asking for work to change or stop.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Food production workers prepare, process, and pack food and drink products in a manufacturing environment. The work is hands-on and governed by strict hygiene, allergen, and traceability rules, so procedure discipline is as important as speed. Conditions are often cold, wet, or noisy depending on the product.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Food safety technicians verify that a food or drink plant is producing safely: sampling product, checking critical control points, auditing hygiene, and keeping the records that prove it. They work to a documented food safety plan and escalate quickly when a control is out of limits. Part laboratory, part shop floor, the role depends on precise record keeping.
Certificate or college diplomaManufacturing, production and quality
Garment manufacturing workers cut, sew, press, and finish clothing and other textile products to a set pattern and quality standard. Most operate industrial sewing or cutting machines and specialise in particular operations within a garment. Consistency, fabric handling, and hand skill determine how good the finished piece looks.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
Printing press operators set up and run presses that print packaging, labels, publications, and commercial print. They mount plates, mix and control ink, set registration, and watch colour and quality through the run. Waste is expensive, so getting the press up to standard quickly and holding it there is the core of the job.
Varies by employer or jurisdictionManufacturing, production and quality
Woodworking machine operators run saws, planers, moulders, sanders, and CNC routers to cut and shape timber and board into components. They set the machine, check sizes against the cutting list, and keep an eye on material defects and grain. Guarding, dust extraction, and safe feeding technique are central because the machinery is unforgiving.
Short course or on-the-job trainingManufacturing, production and quality
