Manufacturing operator

You would work as part of a team making goods or parts in industries like pharmaceuticals, food and drink, construction and engineering.

For example, you might operate a conveyor line in a canning factory. Or you could put together goods on a production line. This could involve fitting circuit boards into items such as computers. You would need to work quickly and methodically.

You would:

• Measure and grade raw materials

• Feed raw materials into production machinery

• Operate production line equipment

• Assemble goods on a production line

• Report equipment faults to maintenance staff

• Finish products, for example by applying protective coatings

• Monitor the production process and carry out basic testing and quality checks

• Store goods and raw materials in the factory or warehouse

• Use lifting equipment and forklift trucks

• Pack goods ready for shipment in crates or other containers

• Clean and maintain work areas and machinery

You would usually work as part of a team under the supervision of a shift leader, carrying out several tasks within the same shift.

Working with machinery means you would need to follow health and safety rules carefully. You’d also need to be able to concentrate for a long time whilst doing repetitive tasks.