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Production Worker Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Production Worker, or Production Operative, works in a production plant and handles the manufacturing of goods including food, drink and pharmaceutical products. Their main duties include feeding the raw materials into the production machinery, operating different parts of the machinery and packaging the finished goods before they are distributed.

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Production Worker duties and responsibilities

It’s important for a Production Worker to fulfill the following duties and responsibilities to excel at the position: 

  • Measuring and classifying all raw materials in preparation for production
  • Monitoring the production process
  • Feeding the raw materials into the machinery
  • Operating the production machinery as required, such as lifting equipment and forklift trucks
  • Performing quality assurance and testing checks
  • Assembling, packing and labelling the finished goods in preparation for shipment
  • Cleaning the machinery and other parts of the production space
  • Maintaining an inventory of the goods and raw materials in the factory or warehouse
  • Noting machine faults and reporting to maintenance officers as required
  • Maintaining work areas and equipment
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Production Worker Job Description Examples:

What does a Production Worker do?

A Production Worker handles the production and packaging of goods, ensuring that the final goods meet the required standards. They work in factories where these goods are produced and in warehouses, where the goods are prepared for distribution. Production workers usually deal with the food and drink industry, or clothing, clothing accessories and the fashion industry.

There are General Production Workers who work anywhere from the production floor to the warehouse and there are Production Workers who only work in manufacturing. There are also Senior Production Workers who have more years of experience and work in a supervisory capacity.

Production Worker skills and qualifications

A successful Production Worker will have the following prerequisite skills and qualifications to fulfill their duties:

  • Ability to work in a high-pressure environment
  • Strong sense of organisation
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Strong team spirit
  • Good physical strength and dexterity, capable of lifting 50 pounds unassisted
  • Working knowledge of word-processing software tools
  • Able to work on foot for extended periods of time
  • Excellent verbal communication
  • Should have a reliable mode of transportation

Production Worker experience requirements

Typically, a Production Worker needs at least one year of experience working in a manufacturing plant or at a warehouse. They need to be familiar with operating the relevant machinery, such as lifting equipment , forklifts and working with the raw materials available. Experience working with a production team and assembling goods on a production line is also important.

Production Workers with several years of experience may qualify to be Senior Production Managers. In addition to carrying out their tasks on the production floor, Senior Production Workers also supervise other workers on the floor.

Production Worker education and training requirements

A Production Worker only requires a secondary school education at the most, so five GCSEs are adequate. Production Workers can also do apprenticeships, which can run from one to five years, so they can learn the basics while gathering experience. Training programs include the Manual Handling Program, by Training Express Limited, which teaches best practices to mitigate injury from the manual handling of materials. A forklift training certificate can also be useful.

Production Worker salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, Production Workers earn an average salary of £8.88 per hour. This figure depends on the number of years they have worked in production or in similar roles. Salary expectations are also influenced by geographical location, industry and the type of company.

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Production Worker job description FAQs

What qualities make a good Production Worker?

A good Production Worker pays great attention to detail, manages their time efficiently and is well-organised. They are able to follow a routine, are great team players and diligent. They should also be physically fit and able to stand for long hours.

Who does a Production Worker report to?

A Production Worker reports to the Production Supervisor, Production Leader or the Senior Production Worker, depending on the company and industry.

Do Production Workers have different responsibilities in different industries?

Not entirely. Though they may work with different raw materials, Production Workers generally have the same responsibilities across industries. However, Production Workers in some industries may not be responsible for quality assurance checks.

How can you make your Production Worker job description stand out?

Use clear language and avoid terminology or acronyms that will be unfamiliar to candidates. Ensure that you include experience requirements so that your job description will attract the most suitable candidates.

Outline the responsibilities the Production Worker will undertake and let them know the skills they will need to fulfill these responsibilities successfully. In addition, if you’re looking for a Production Worker with a particular specialisation, be sure to mention it in your job description.

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