what does a Manufacturing Production Technician do
#Manufacturing Production Technicians #laboratory #electrical-engineering
3 answers
Todd’s Answer
Anthony,
While I'm not a manufacturing engineer or technician, I'd still like to give my 2 cents on this question because I've, at least, been around manufacturing clients and done engineering designs for them. A typical manufacturing building is filled with machines that help automate the manufacture of products or facilitate moving the product or materials around on the factory floor. A surprisingly high percentage of these machines are unique -- custom made -- just for that one application. They will have motors, solenoids, switches, sensors of every sort, valves, control panels, hoses, gauges, levers, rollers, and more. They will connect to electrical power, communications, water, compressed air, sanitary sewer, natural gas, and other utilities. They may be as simple as a toaster or as complex as a modern car with IC's, PC boards, or computers. Who will design, assemble, maintain, repair, modify, or improve these one-of-a-kind machines? The manufacturing production technician will of course!
In order to do this, the technician needs to be an electrician, a plumber, a machinist, a mechanic, and more. Knowledge and use of many different tools and test instruments is important as is a comprehensive understanding of many areas of physics. It's the crossroads of many skill sets in one person so the technician that can master so many areas of expertise are very desirable to have on staff.
J.’s Answer
At the end of the day a Manufacturing Production Technician is just a hired hand. There is not much career advancement or opportunities unless you get more education or land a really good internship.
You have to build yourself up from the ground floor. Some people get really lucky and advance into management but that is rare. Remember, the more you know the more you grow.
Best of Luck