Best manufacturing jobs

The best manufacturing jobs include manufacturing engineers, metal fabricators, and electromechanical technicians. Manufacturing has long been a bastion of well-paid blue-collar jobs, but the industry isn't limited to that. While many manufacturing jobs involve skilled labor, management, engineering, and human resources positions exist. If you're looking for a career in the manufacturing industry, here are ten positions to consider:

1. Manufacturing Engineer

   Average Salary: $78,522

   Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.

2. Metal Fabricator

   Average Salary: $38,047

   A metal fabricator manipulates metal for construction and manufacturing companies. They are required to cut, shape, position and align different metals. They must also understand assembly instructions, ensure required parts are available, and ensure parts meet quality control standards. They attend product development meetings, test products for functionality, troubleshoot and stress test products to determine possible shortcomings, make detailed reports outlining product malfunctions, verify product dimensions, and maintain the product schedule.

3. Electromechanical Technician

   Average Salary: $50,706

   An electromechanical technician works with everything concerning electrical wiring and circuitry. The electromechanical technician regularly monitors, inspects, and evaluates all electrical circuits in a building and does the necessary repairs when needed. This person also provides reports to management concerning the status of all electrical wirings in a given property. The electromechanical technician also suggests upgrades.

4. Assembler

   Average Salary: $30,849

   An assembler's general responsibility is to assemble parts and pieces of an item to create a full-length component. An assembler's duties also include checking inventories for correct quantities of components, following blueprints and acknowledging assembly instructions, verifying resources and supplies before assembly, and inspecting tools and equipment necessary to get the job done. Assemblers must also have extensive knowledge of machines, especially troubleshooting and maintenance, and ensuring the quality of the items without compromising the standard safety regulations of the production.

5. CNC Machinist

6. Process Engineer

   Average Salary: $82,443

   A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.

7. Plant Manager

   Average Salary: $113,843

   In general, plant managers are responsible for the entire operations in a manufacturing plant. Plant managers plan, direct, organize, and run the optimum operations of the plant daily. They create and execute organizational or departmental goals procedures, and policies. They aim to increase the manufacturing production and the capacity and flexibility of its assets while keeping its current quality standards and unnecessary costs. They are expected to have a better understanding of the manufacturing industry like equipment use and mechanical aptitude.

8. Forklift Operator

   Average Salary: $34,213

   Forklift operators are skilled workers responsible for operating heavy equipment machines called forklifts. They are in charge of operating forklifts, a type of industrial or heavy equipment truck/machine that moves materials from one place to another through prongs protruding from the machine. Forklift operators are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, operating the machine to ensure that the cargo reaches its destination, and complying with safety protocols. They are also in-charge of maintenance work on the machine and reporting any challenges or issues that may be encountered. Forklift operators must be physically fit and alert at all times.

9. Maintenance Technician

   Average Salary: $43,293

   Maintenance technicians are technicians who specialize in the preservation of office facilities. They have in-depth knowledge of how various office equipment or fixtures work so that they can immediately identify how to repair them in case of breakdowns. Maintenance technicians perform diagnostics and routine maintenance activities to ensure that everything in the office is running well. They immediately repair problems in fixtures or equipment to avoid any further damages or safety concerns. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health standards to ensure that the office is a safe place to work.

10. Welder

    Average Salary: $39,696

    Welders are skilled workers who primarily work on metals and other metalworks. One of the most commonly known activities that welders do is fusing materials that are made of metal. They usually work on buildings, large pipes, and cars. They also fix holes or any other imperfection on metal materials. They do these by applying heat using welding torches or any other special tools that they have. Welders are also responsible for studying blueprints related to the items they will work on, ensuring that all needed materials are available, practicing occupational safety and health protocols, and maintaining the welding tools they use.