Manufacturing Job Titles and Descriptions

Manufacturing Job Titles and Descriptions

Because manufacturing is such a broad field, there are many manufacturing job titles which encompass a variety of job descriptions. Manufacturing involves creating new products, either from raw materials or from pre-made components. Typical jobs might involve working on the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials to create these new products. Manufacturing plants and factories need more than just people who work on a production line; an efficient operation requires employees in numerous roles, including management and quality assurance.

Technology Could Replace Some Workers

Due to technological advances reducing the need for workers, this is one of the sectors where the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to decline slightly. The median annual wage for production occupations was $33,990 in May 2017, which was lower than the median annual wage for all occupations: $37,690. Some positions are higher paying union jobs – usually skilled positions – while other unskilled positions typically pay lower wages.

Educational requirements vary significantly based on the job. Some positions may provide on-the-job training, while others may require a college degree. Although technology may contribute to the decline in some positions, education or certification in a technical areaimproves your chances of job security.

Since the industry is evolving, it’s important to keep your technical skills current. Workers who keep manufacturing trends in mind while orchestrating their career path will have a more successful experience in this field.

Common Manufacturing Job Titles

Read below for a list of some of the most common manufacturing job titles. Use this list of job titles when searching for a job in manufacturing. You might also use this list to encourage your employer to change the title of your position to fit your responsibilities. For more information about each job title, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Assembly
Assemblers and fabricators put together pieces of products and also assemble finished products. They use their hands, as well as tools and machines. Most assemblers and fabricators work in manufacturing plants. Most of these positions require a high school diploma, but many employees also get on-the-job training.

Assembler

Boiler Operator





Boilermaker





Bookbinders and bindery workers





Electronic Assembler





Expediter





Fabricator





Fiberglass Laminator/Fabricator





Floor Assembler





General Laborer





Material Handler





Packaging Engineer





Painting and Coating Worker





Photographic Processor





Precision Assembler





Processing Worker





Production Painter





Production Worker





Semiconductor Processor





Tool and Die Maker





Tool Crib Attendant





Tool, Die, and Gauge Maker





Warehouse Associate





Warehouse Worker





Woodworker

Brazer/Welder
Welders, solderers, cutters, and brazers use equipment to cut and/or join metal parts. Most of these positions require some technical education, through high school courses, vocational schools, community colleges, or similar programs. They also receive on-the-job training. These positions require an eye for detail, the ability to operate equipment, and the ability to read blueprints and diagrams.

Brazer

Cutter





Metal Workers





Solderer





Structural Metal fabricator





Welder

Machinist/Operator
Machinists and tool and die makers set up, maintain, and operate computer and mechanically-operated machines that are used to create parts for the manufacturing process. These positions require training, either in apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, or community or technical colleges. These employees also receive lots of on-the-job training.

Aircraft Mechanic

Chemical Plant Operator





CNC Machinist





CNC Operator





Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Operator





Computer Control Programmer/Operator





Configuration Analyst





Controller





Dairy Processing Equipment Operator





Design Engineer





Designer





Electrician





Electromechanical Technician





Electronic Technician





Equipment Technician





Field Service Technician





Food Technologist





Industrial Engineering Technician





Machine Operator





Machine Tool Cutting Operator/Tender





Machinists





Manufacturing Technician





Mechanical Technician





Millwright

Operator

Plant Operator





Plastic Machine Worker





Power Plant Operator





Printing Machine Operators





Process Operator





Production Technician





Safety Technician





Silicon Wafer Fabrication Operator





Surface Mount Technology Machine Operator





Wafer Processing Technician





Waste Treatment Plant Operator 

Production Manager
Production managers oversee the day-to-day operations at manufacturing plants. They ensure that production stays on schedule, they hire and manage workers, and they fix any production problems. Many production managers will have a bachelor’s degree, typically in business or industrial engineering.

Assembly Supervisor

Assistant Plant Manager





Chief Manufacturing Executive





Chief Quality Control Executive





Civil Engineering Supervisor





Controls Engineer





Director of Quality Management





Distribution Manager





Division Manager





Engineer





Estimating Manager





Facilities Manager





Floor Assembly Supervisor





General Manager





Industrial Engineer





Machine Shop Maintenance Supervisor





Machine Shop Production Supervisor





Manager or Supervisor





Manufacturing Engineer





Manufacturing Process Engineer





Manufacturing Production Manager





Master Scheduler

Materials Management Supervisor

Materials Manager





Materials Planner





Mechanical Designer





Mechanical Engineer





Operations Clerk





Operations Manager





Plant Accountant





Plant Human Resources Manager





Plant Manager





Power Plant Dispatcher





Power Plant Distributor





Powerhouse Supervisor





Process/Product Design Engineer





Process Engineer





Processing Equipment Operations Supervisor





Product Development Engineering Manager





Product Manager





Product Marketing Analyst





Production Control Clerk





Production Control Manager





Production Engineering Manager

Production Foreman

Production Manager





Production Planner/Scheduler





Production Supervisor





Project Manager





Purchasing Agent/Buyer





Safety Manager





Safety Manager/Coordinator





Stationary Engineer





Supplier Quality Engineer





Test Engineer





Tool Room Supervisor





Warehouse Manager

Quality Control Inspector
Quality control inspectors examine materials and products for any hazards, defects, or deviations. They generally work in manufacturing plants, inspecting products. Most quality control inspectors require a high school degree and receive on-the-job training. If they are required to use technical equipment and computer programs to inspect products, they might need a higher degree, such as an associate’s degree in quality control management.

Customer Service Representative

Inspector





Quality Assurance Engineer





Quality Assurance Manager





Quality Control Analyst





Quality Control Inspector





Quality Engineer





Quality Inspector





Quality Manager





Reliability Engineer





Senior Buyer





Shift Supervisor





Shipping and Receiving Manager



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