The most common factory jobs are assemblers or general laborers. These workers are responsible for assembling machinery or other products that the factory manufactures, and they may also be responsible for packaging finished products as well. These factory jobs are generally entry level positions and pay less than other jobs in the factory. Other jobs in a factory may include machinists, maintenance workers, janitors, handlers and packers, and supervisors. Each job focuses on a certain task, and the pay generally fluctuates according to the responsibilities one must take on while working at a certain position.
Handlers and packers are workers who take the finished products created by assemblers or laborers and pack them in boxes or other containers for transport. The packers will ensure the products are not damaged during transport while in the packaging, and they may be responsible for packing several boxes of product onto a pallet to be moved to trucks or other transportation. Some handlers must be certified to drive forklifts and other units used for transport of packages, and other handlers and packers must be trained in using the different packing machinery. These factory jobs may or may not pay more than an assembler's position.
Maintenance factory jobs involve installing, repairing, and otherwise maintaining machinery throughout the factory. A maintenance worker often needs special training to work on certain machines, so the pay for this position is usually higher than an assembler's pay or a packer's pay. The maintenance workers face the risk of injury when working on heavy machinery, and they must be knowledgeable of the inner workings of the machinery. They also need to be able to work on machines safely to avoid risk of injury to themselves or others.
Machinists operate the machinery within the factory. These factory jobs also sometimes require specific training, so machinists can make more money than assemblers. Highly specialized machinery is often present in factories, so machinists are trained to operate the machines safely and efficiently. They must also be able to recognize when the machine is not working properly.
Supervisors oversee the daily operations of the factory, and they are sometimes responsible for the hiring and firing of employees. A supervisor must attend to many different jobs throughout the day, from payroll to employee complaints. If a machine breaks down, the supervisor is responsible for organizing the repair of the unit. Supervisors must also keep track of all the product produced by the factory, and he or she will be responsible for improving productivity.