What does a manufacturing assistant do?
Manufacturing assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real manufacturing assistant resumes:
- Manage a team of QC inspectors for inspecting automotive components from manufacturing line
- Create and maintain payroll records.
- Time & attendance entry for payroll processing.
- Process and assemble surgical instruments and spinal implants utilizing ISO [] standards.
- Programe and help the CNC operator to manufacture parts per drawings or instructions.
- Skil in all areas of shipping to include singles, multiples, LTL, allocation, and accessory shipment.
- Participate in an investigation regarding interferon variability's by operating bench top bioreactors and analyzing data.
- Certify to run plastics extruders, plastics expanders and high tech all-in-one expand/cut to length machines.
Manufacturing assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Manufacturing Assistants are proficient in Safety Procedures, Quality Standards, and GMP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Listening skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Manufacturing Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Safety Procedures, 8%
Maintained equipment sanitized, in accordance with food handling and safety procedures.
- Quality Standards, 8%
Maintain accurate documentation to meet quality standards.
- GMP, 7%
Comply with cGMP / GMP's / SOP's, Clean Room Experience
- Data Entry, 7%
SAP Data entry for Manufacturing and Purchasing Codification.
- ISO, 6%
Maintained a clean and safe work environment while staying within the perimeters of ISO 9001-2000.
- Clean Rooms, 5%
Perform duties in a clean room while fully gowned with goggles, gloves, masks, and coveralls.
Common skills that a manufacturing assistant uses to do their job include "safety procedures," "quality standards," and "gmp." You can find details on the most important manufacturing assistant responsibilities below.
Hand-eye coordination. One of the key soft skills for a manufacturing assistant to have is hand-eye coordination. You can see how this relates to what manufacturing assistants do because "most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions." Additionally, a manufacturing assistant resume shows how manufacturing assistants use hand-eye coordination: "supported generation, approval, and coordination of standard operating procedures and manufacturing procedures. "
Listening skills. Many manufacturing assistant duties rely on listening skills. "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them.," so a manufacturing assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways manufacturing assistant responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated labor availability, logistic needs, production schedules, and process changes between multiple departments. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of manufacturing assistants is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday manufacturing assistant duties, as "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assemble, package & ship products of various perscription strengths utilizing strict fda guidelines in a controlled, sterile setting. "
Customer-service skills. A big part of what manufacturing assistants do relies on "customer-service skills." You can see how essential it is to manufacturing assistant responsibilities because "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical manufacturing assistant tasks: "filled manufacturing orders for kits to be assembled in production, while continuing to fulfill customer orders. "
The three companies that hire the most manufacturing assistants are:
- Ernst & Young21 manufacturing assistants jobs
- System One3 manufacturing assistants jobs
- Colgate-Palmolive2 manufacturing assistants jobs
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Manufacturing assistant vs. Shop foreman
A shop foreman is responsible for monitoring the daily operations of a shop, ensuring that the staff members perform their duties to address customers' needs. A shop foreman manages staffing schedules, trains new employees, and distributes tasks. They often work in manufacturing, automotive, and warehouse industries, which require knowledge of operating equipment. A shop foreman must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially on addressing customers' inquiries and complaints and performing clerical tasks as needed.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between manufacturing assistants and shop foreman. For instance, manufacturing assistant responsibilities require skills such as "quality standards," "gmp," "data entry," and "strong work ethic." Whereas a shop foreman is skilled in "customer service," "preventative maintenance," "cdl," and "shop equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Shop foremen tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $76,003. In contrast, manufacturing assistants make the biggest average salary, $40,669, in the automotive industry.On average, shop foremen reach similar levels of education than manufacturing assistants. Shop foremen are 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing assistant vs. Lead person
A lead person or lead worker is an employee who provides leadership and instructions to others in a group to complete tasks quickly and effectively. Lead workers plan and organize meetings with supervisors and the management to discuss a particular project's progress and development. Lead persons would often participate in the training of new employees about their job duties. As the group leader, lead persons must also ensure that employees are following company policies and adhere to all standards and guidelines.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, manufacturing assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "gmp," "data entry," "strong work ethic," and "clean rooms." Meanwhile, a lead person has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety rules," "safety regulations," "pallet jack," and "safety standards." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, lead people earn a higher salary than manufacturing assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, lead people earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $92,105. Whereas manufacturing assistants have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $40,669.lead people earn similar levels of education than manufacturing assistants in general. They're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing assistant vs. Leader
Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights. They set the direction of the organization, much like how a captain sets the sails of the ship. They are responsible for coming up with main strategies and alternatives should there be challenges along the way. Leaders ensure that the company is guided by its vision and mission and that the employees emulate company values. They do so through leading by example. Leaders should have strategic skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from manufacturing assistant resumes include skills like "safety procedures," "quality standards," "gmp," and "data entry," whereas a leader is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "strong time management," "excellent interpersonal," and "pet. "
Leaders typically earn higher educational levels compared to manufacturing assistants. Specifically, they're 5.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Manufacturing assistant vs. Operations team leader
An operations team leader is an individual who manages teams, encouraging cooperation, productivity, and teamwork. Operations team leaders foster team unity and enhance the daily efficiency of the companies or any business establishment. They manage a diverse workforce in companies to make sure that the organizational operations are efficient. Also, they implement programs and processes and oversee building maintenance. It is also their responsibility to manage mechanical and human resources and establish a team budget.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between manufacturing assistants and operations team leaders, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a manufacturing assistant might have more use for skills like "data entry," "strong work ethic," "clean rooms," and "production equipment." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of operations team leaders require skills like "customer service," "continuous improvement," "excellent interpersonal," and "sales floor. "
Operations team leaders reach similar levels of education compared to manufacturing assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 3.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of manufacturing assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











