Updated March 14, 2024
5 min read
A factory worker is responsible for manufacturing products using appropriate machinery and equipment. Factory workers' duties include processing the products based on the required quantity and specifications, labeling and safely packaging the merchandise, ensuring that the items are free of any defects before distribution, monitoring the supply inventories, reporting defected machines and equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of the production area. A factory worker must have excellent time-management skills to produce high-quality products within a specific time frame.
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Factory worker responsibilities
Factory workers often maintain a safe working environment by adhering to current safety regulations. They also assist machine operators in their daily production and check products for defects as they move down the line. Their responsibilities can include removing damaged products, completing forms, and verifying quality standards. They may operate machinery and power tools within established safety guidelines, and perform a variety of other tasks like line assembly, quality checks, and material handling. They may also pull orders, scan shipments, and move finished products with a pallet jack.
Here are examples of responsibilities from real factory worker resumes:
- Assemble automotive windows for Honda and Toyota
- Assemble HVAC systems & furnaces.
- Perform landscaping, HVAC, assemble tanning beds, and other duties as assigned.
- Assemble parts to mowers as line move, keep parts ready to assemble and cardboard and trash clear away.
- Maintain seasonal grounds work, lawn mowing, trimming shrubs flowerbeds, spraying pesticides, and other landscaping elements.
- Keep production areas in compliance with sanitation standards set by HACCP, FDA, USDA, and customer's requirements.
- Inspect parts to make sure the front and rear bumpers are not damage before they get sent over to Chrysler.
- Assemble automotive parts for the Honda corporation
- Assemble speedometers and tachometer clusters for Toyota.
- Clean and sanitize processing equipment in preparation for USDA inspections.
- Operate RF scanning equipment to account and inventory manufacture products.
- Require a basic knowledge of the companies ISO policies as well as customer standards for each part that are manufactured.
- Load and unload items from machines, carts, and dollies, feed or place items onto equipment for processing.
- Fasten together seats, wires, and instrument panels with bolts, screws and clips.
- Assist company by making sure drainage clips are placed appropriately to back door on the right side of car.
Factory worker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Factory Workers are proficient in Line Assembly, Production Process, and Safety Regulations.
We break down the percentage of Factory Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Line Assembly, 25%
Line assembly, Computer Tags, Lead Supervisor, Trainer, load and unload trucks
- Production Process, 19%
Operated machinery/power tools used in the production process within the established safety guidelines.
- Safety Regulations, 18%
Created and maintained safe working environment adhering to current safety regulations.
- Pallet Jack, 8%
Put the finished cardboard on a pallet, and wrap them, and move them with a pallet jack.
- Temp Service, 5%
Worked in various temp service locations as a general labor factory worker.
- Quality Checks, 5%
Pull orders, done quality check, scanned shipments in shipping and receiving and also filled in for material handler.
"line assembly," "production process," and "safety regulations" are among the most common skills that factory workers use at work. You can find even more factory worker responsibilities below, including:
Most common factory worker skills
The three companies that hire the most factory workers are:
- Closet Factory14 factory workers jobs
- The Advance Group10 factory workers jobs
- Closets By Design7 factory workers jobs
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Factory worker vs. Line assembler
A line assembler is responsible for connecting various mechanical components to create products depending on the employer's industry. Line assemblers must have excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially reading and analyzing schematics and blueprints to guide the construction process using hand tools and equipment. They inspect joint parts, ensuring its consistency and troubleshooting for any defects and malfunctions that may affect its optimization. A line assembler must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and analytical and critical-thinking skills to follow specifications.
The annual salary of line assemblers is $2,024 lower than the average salary of factory workers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between factory workers and line assemblers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like line assembly, production process, and safety regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between factory workers and line assembler. For instance, factory worker responsibilities require skills such as "temp service," "machine operators," "cnc," and "production lines." Whereas a line assembler is skilled in "hand tools," "work ethic," "safety policies," and "safety procedures." This is part of what separates the two careers.
line assemblers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $30,547. On the other hand, factory workers are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $37,061.The education levels that line assemblers earn slightly differ from factory workers. In particular, line assemblers are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a factory worker. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Factory worker vs. Woodworking shop hand
A woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency. They also work closely with woodworkers, accept customized requests from clients, and strategize on minimizing material costs without compromising the quality of wood products. A woodworking shop hand must have excellent organizational skills, as well as strictly adhering to the production's safety processes and regulations at all times.
A career as a woodworking shop hand brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a factory worker. In fact, woodworking shop hands salary is $2,503 higher than the salary of factory workers per year.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that factory worker responsibilities requires skills like "line assembly," "production process," "safety regulations," and "pallet jack." But a woodworking shop hand might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "shop hand," "cdl," "load trucks," and "general shop."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Woodworking shop hands tend to reach similar levels of education than factory workers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Factory worker vs. Production assistant
Production assistants are employees in show business, working behind the scenes. They work in film, television, or even theatre sets primarily to provide support. They usually work directly under directors or producers. Production assistants are responsible for ensuring that the day will run smoothly, be it for a television or film shoot or a performance at the theatre. They should be familiar with all the scenes, ensure that the cast and crew are ready, and cue them when it is their time to go on. They should also be able to anticipate needs that may arise and should be able to quickly mitigate any challenges. Production assistants should be flexible and have quick decision-making skills.
An average production assistant eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of factory workers. The difference in salaries amounts to production assistants earning a $4,062 higher average salary than factory workers.Using the responsibilities included on factory workers and production assistants resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "production process," "quality standards," and "customer orders.rdquo;
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, factory workers are more likely to have skills like "line assembly," "safety regulations," "pallet jack," and "temp service." But a production assistant is more likely to have skills like "video production," "teleprompter," "audio board," and "purchase orders."
production assistants make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $33,794. On the other hand, factory workers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $37,061.Most production assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to factory workers. For example, they're 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Factory worker vs. General machine operator
General machine operators average a higher salary than the annual salary of factory workers. The difference is about $3,071 per year.While their salaries may vary, factory workers and general machine operators both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "production process," "safety regulations," and "pallet jack. "
Even though a few skill sets overlap between factory workers and general machine operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a factory worker might have more use for skills like "line assembly," "machine operators," "production lines," and "customer orders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of general machine operators require skills like "math," "safety procedures," "troubleshoot," and "machine operation. "
general machine operators enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,435. For comparison, factory workers earn the highest salary in the automotive industry.general machine operators reach similar levels of education compared to factory workers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Types of factory worker
- Warehouse WorkerAverage Salary: $33,010High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 214,625
- Production WorkerAverage Salary: $30,847High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 117,584
- 6-12 monthsAssembly Line WorkerAverage Salary: $27,929High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 67,085
- 6-12 monthsLine Up WorkerAverage Salary: $27,868High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 32,994
- Assembly WorkerAverage Salary: $30,331High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 19,267
- 6-12 monthsLabour WorkerAverage Salary: $30,080High School DiplomaAvailable Jobs: 14,694
Updated March 14, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
What a Factory Worker Does FAQs
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What Similar Roles Do
- What an Assembly Line Worker Does
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- What a Line Assembler Does
- What a Line Up Worker Does
- What a Manufacturing Assembler Does
- What a Manufacturing Associate Does
- What a Production Assistant Does
- What a Production Associate Does
- What a Production Internship Does
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- What a Production Specialist Does
Factory Worker Related Careers
- Assembly Line Worker
- Assembly Worker
- General Machine Operator
- Generator Worker
- Industrial Worker
- Labour Worker
- Line Assembler
- Line Up Worker
- Manufacturing Assembler
- Manufacturing Associate
- Production Assistant
- Production Associate
- Production Internship
- Production Line Worker
- Production Specialist
Factory Worker Related Jobs
- Assembly Line Worker
- Assembly Worker
- General Machine Operator
- Generator Worker
- Industrial Worker
- Labour Worker
- Line Assembler
- Line Up Worker
- Manufacturing Assembler
- Manufacturing Associate
- Production Assistant
- Production Associate
- Production Internship
- Production Line Worker
- Production Specialist
Resume For Related Jobs
- Assembly Line Worker Resume
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- Industrial Worker Resume
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- Line Up Worker Resume
- Manufacturing Assembler Resume
- Manufacturing Associate Resume
- Production Assistant Resume
- Production Associate Resume
- Production Internship Resume
- Production Line Worker Resume
- Production Specialist Resume