Jobs in Manufacturing: Various and In-Demand

The global economy is constantly changing and the demand for certain jobs has shifted in response to those changes. Industries such as material handling are growing at a rapid rate and offer a steady flow of career opportunities. However, most people have no idea about the vast number of careers available in manufacturing or have a misconception of what a manufacturing career looks like. In reality, many of these careers don’t fit the stereotypical image of the industry.  

Manufacturing is defined as “the making of articles on a large-scale using machinery.” It is the production of goods through labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. Material handling is defined by MHI ( a trade association for the supply chain industry) as “the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal.”

The U.S. Census Bureau divides manufacturing industries into various sectors, such as:  

• Textiles, Leather, and Apparel 
• Wood, Paper, and Printing 
• Petroleum, Coal, Chemicals, Plastics​, and Rubber 
• Nonmetallic Mineral 
• Primary Metal, Fabricated Metal, and Machinery 
• Computer and Electronics 
• Electrical Equipment, Appliances, and Components 
• Transportation 
• Furniture 
• Miscellaneous Manufacturing 

Hytrol falls under the miscellaneous manufacturing sector and supplies products to a wide range of industries in this and other sectors. 

These sectors provide the world with products that improve lives, from necessities like groceries and medications to the birthday present delivered to your doorstep. People are needed to fulfill various jobs, from product conception to production to sales. Within manufacturing, you can find a surprisingly wide variety of careers, each requiring different skillsets and levels of education. These industries have something for everyone.  

Production 

The majority of jobs available in manufacturing exist within the production sector. Here, one can find a multitude of career opportunities and the potential for growth and upward momentum.  A high school diploma or an associate’s degree is the typical required educational background for those entering production.  

If you find it interesting to work with your hands and build things, this career path might interest you. These individuals will work closely with a team and will enjoy the added benefit of camaraderie. In addition, these jobs allow you to work closely with products, which can open the door for new opportunities in other areas of the business. 

Production careers include: 

• Assemblers and fabricators  
• Quality control analysis 
• Welders 
• Tool and die makers 
• CAD technicians  
• Painters 
• Operators 
• Supervisors  
• Mechanics  
• Machine maintenance  
• Training personnel 
• Administration 

Business 

Of course, manufactured products must make it to the market, which is where the industry’s business side comes into play. This group is responsible for marketing and distributing the product. Business personnel are also part of daily operations, such as budgeting and human resources. These positions typically require a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, depending on the area of service and job responsibilities. Some companies offer internal training allowing career advancement for their employees. 

Someone interested in this area of manufacturing likely enjoys working with others, thinking of new ideas, and creating exciting content for their company. Also, these people might enjoy working with numbers and data to figure out companies’ spending habits or safety measures. 

Careers on the business end of manufacturing can include: 

• Business executives 
• Accountants 
• Human resources 
• Customer care 
• Scheduling 
• Billing 
• Safety and environmental Marketing
• Designers 
• Strategic planners 
• Public liaisons 

Engineering and IT 

The development of products begins on the drawing board. In this sector of manufacturing, individuals work to create and experiment with products to ensure they are effective before sending them to production, and may even have a hand in process and departmental flow. Those wanting to enter this area of the industry should study engineering or computer sciences. Entrants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Again, some companies may offer internal training to employees who wish to work in this sector. In fact, these positions are often filled by people with significant experience working in production and a desire to move their career forward.   

Someone who likes to work with equations and technology should consider this careers path. These people will work to create new products and technology that help both their company and the overall industry. Individuals looking to pursue this path should easily understand technical terms and be able to configure problems quickly. 

Engineering and IT careers include: 

• Design engineers 
• Research and development personnel 
• Technical support personnel 
• Control engineers 
• Technical engineers 
• System engineers 
• Quality personnel 
• Technical Writers 

Other 

Most organizations also have employees who are not directly associated with the products being made. However, these jobs are vital to the organization and contribute to supporting both internal and external stakeholders. These positions require a range of educational backgrounds and can be found in different parts of the company. Depending on a person’s skill set, desire to work with data or people, and a host of other factors, these opportunities can lead to a fulfilling career.  

Careers here can include: 

• Custodial staff 
• Cafeteria staff 
• Transportation staff 
• Switchboard operators 
• Administrative assistants 

For organizations to be successful and to keep up with the demanding growth, the manufacturing industry requires many individuals with a variety of skill sets and interests. Currently, Hytrol has a staff of nearly 1,500 employees working together to move the world with our technology. We have implemented internal training to help individuals accomplish their career goals and provide a diverse set of opportunities.  Click here to learn more about career opportunities at Hytrol or go to careers.hytrol.com to apply for our latest job openings in Jonesboro or Fort Smith, Arkansas.