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What does a production helper do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

Production helpers must have a knowledge of production processes, physical fitness, computer literacy, and attention to safety, teamwork, and time management in order to be successful. Those who choose this career path will be called on to carry out factory floor tasks, supply materials, hold tools, clean their respective work areas and equipment, load and run various machines, as well as make minor adjustments and repairs.

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Production helper responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real production helper resumes:

  • Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
  • Set up wire to be run.
  • Used safety ppe and follow safety quidelines.
  • Promote to the extrusion department as an assistant press operator.
  • Weld wire together to be run through furnace and keep a watch on it.
  • Unclamp and hoist full reels from braiding, winding, and other fabricating machines, using power hoists.
  • Maintain cleanliness in production area.
  • Complete documentation to ensure regulatory compliance and meet GMP practices.
  • Restructure and improve organization, attitude, and cleanliness through encouragement and a positive, energetic attitude.
  • Execute production activities as directed by supervisor, including performing GMP cell culture of biologic products using closed-system device.
  • Operate the stitching machine and shrink wrapper and assist on the folding machine.
  • Set up an operate a high volume flexo machine, perform complete change overs.
  • Plant & pick up geophones.
  • Confirm proper implant of geophones.

Production helper skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Production Helpers are proficient in Cranes, Hand Tools, and Production Process. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.

We break down the percentage of Production Helpers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Cranes, 16%

    Certified Over head crane operater-inspector.

  • Hand Tools, 12%

    Experience usage of soldering iron, gas torches, and electric ultra sonic as well as small/large electrical hand tools equipment.

  • Production Process, 9%

    Offer knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, other techniques.

  • Cleanliness, 9%

    Maintained cleanliness of molds throughout shift Assisted maintenance technicians in troubleshooting repairs Received perfect attendance award

  • Pallets, 5%

    Stack bags on pallets* Clean work area at end of day

  • Food Handling, 4%

    Followed all standard food handling, sanitation, and health department guidelines.

"cranes," "hand tools," and "production process" are among the most common skills that production helpers use at work. You can find even more production helper responsibilities below, including:

Color vision. One of the key soft skills for a production helper to have is color vision. You can see how this relates to what production helpers do because "construction laborers and helpers may need to be able to distinguish colors to do their job." Additionally, a production helper resume shows how production helpers use color vision: "simplified and coordinated customer orders and deliveries by supervision of work unit teams and ensuring optimal functioning of equipment. "

Math skills. Another essential skill to perform production helper duties is math skills. Production helpers responsibilities require that "construction laborers and some helpers need to perform basic math calculations while measuring on jobsites or assisting a surveying crew." Production helpers also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "attended several college classes to expand my abilities such as industrial math, problem solving and lean workforce practices. "

Mechanical skills. This is an important skill for production helpers to perform their duties. For an example of how production helper responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "construction laborers are frequently required to operate and maintain equipment, such as jackhammers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a production helper: "performed electrical and mechanical assembly of complex parts, components and subassemblies on four different production lines. ".

Physical stamina. For certain production helper responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical stamina." The day-to-day duties of a production helper rely on this skill, as "construction laborers and helpers must have the endurance to perform strenuous tasks throughout the day." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what production helpers do: "developed excellent physical stamina for repetitive and demanding tasks. "

Physical strength. Another common skill required for production helper responsibilities is "physical strength." This skill comes up in the duties of production helpers all the time, as "construction laborers and helpers must often lift heavy materials or equipment." An excerpt from a real production helper resume shows how this skill is central to what a production helper does: "practiced good gcmps and sops in a fda approved facility organized team strengths to exceed company's production schedule. "

See the full list of production helper skills

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Compare different production helpers

Production helper vs. Assembly line worker

Assembly line workers are factory or production floor employees who work on putting together company products. They are assigned to work on a specific part of the product. Once they are done, they should hand it over to the next person on the line. They ensure the quality of the product by doing their part consistently. They also manage the inventory of the features they handle. Assembly line workers should work conscientiously so that the assembly line will remain unbroken. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health practices to ensure that the production floor remains safe for all the workers.

We looked at the average production helper salary and compared it with the wages of an assembly line worker. Generally speaking, assembly line workers are paid $4,404 lower than production helpers per year.Even though production helpers and assembly line workers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require production process, safety procedures, and safety guidelines in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a production helper are more likely to require skills like "cranes," "grinders," "hand tools," and "cleanliness." On the other hand, a job as an assembly line worker requires skills like "assembly line production," "pallet jack," "hand-held tools," and "quality standards." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Assembly line workers earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $33,465. On the other hand, production helpers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $33,750.The education levels that assembly line workers earn slightly differ from production helpers. In particular, assembly line workers are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a production helper. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Production helper vs. Generator worker

A Generator Worker is in charge of operating generator systems on a daily basis, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing installations and adjustments, understanding blueprints and schematics, and performing regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency. There are also instances when they perform clerical support tasks such as answering inquiries, organizing files, and preparing progress reports for managers. A Generator Worker must maintain an active communication line with staff for a safe and smooth workflow.

Generator worker positions earn higher pay than production helper roles. They earn a $318 higher salary than production helpers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both production helpers and generator workers have skills such as "safety procedures," "dollies," and "safety guidelines. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that production helper responsibilities requires skills like "cranes," "grinders," "hand tools," and "production process." But a generator worker might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pallet jack," "safety rules," "safety standards," and "food preparation."

Generator workers may earn a higher salary than production helpers, but generator workers earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $37,605. On the other hand, production helpers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,750.In general, generator workers achieve similar levels of education than production helpers. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Production helper vs. Line up worker

The Responsibilities of a Line-Up Worker varies upon the organization or industry. Still, most of the tasks revolve around doing manual work such as loading and unloading heavy shipments, operating various devices and machines of different sizes, assist in maintenance and assembling, and coordinating with teammates and reporting to supervisors. Furthermore, the duties of a Line-Up Worker may involve climbing up and working at high platforms, monitoring inventory of items, and maintaining a well-organized and neat working environment.

On average scale, line up workers bring in lower salaries than production helpers. In fact, they earn a $4,465 lower salary per year.production helpers and line up workers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "production process," "safety procedures," and "safety guidelines," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a production helper is likely to be skilled in "cranes," "grinders," "hand tools," and "cleanliness," while a typical line up worker is skilled in "line assembly," "pallet jack," "perform routine maintenance," and "food preparation."

Line up workers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $44,764. Comparatively, production helpers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $33,750.Most line up workers achieve a similar degree level compared to production helpers. For example, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Production helper vs. Packing line worker

Packing line workers typically earn lower pay than production helpers. On average, packing line workers earn a $2,943 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, production helpers and packing line workers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "machine operators," "gmp," and "quality checks. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A production helper uses "cranes," "grinders," "hand tools," and "production process." Packing line workers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "defective products," "pallet jack," "individual packages," and "lunch meat. "packing line workers enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $31,354. For comparison, production helpers earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.packing line workers reach similar levels of education compared to production helpers, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of production helper

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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