Manufacturing Production Technicians

Employers usually prefer to hire manufacturing production technicians with an associate's degree or vocational-technical school certificate or apprenticeship training, as well as one to two years of prior work experience.

Technicians should have a strong and broad knowledge of machinery and manufacturing operations. Keen analytical and organizational skills are needed. Technicians must be able to pay close attention to details and gather information about both machinery and machine operators to identify problems and make decisions about appropriate solutions. They must have strong knowledge of engineering science and technology and design techniques and tools. Technology skills are also essential, as technicians use various software programs to perform their work, such as analytical software and computer-aided design and manufacturing software programs.

Manufacturing production technicians must be responsible, reliable, and have sound decision-making abilities. They are entrusted with monitoring valuable equipment and are often called on to exercise considerable independent judgment. They must keep up with the newest technologies in order to effectively and correctly maintain new machines and production techniques. People who do best in this type of work are adaptable, flexible, and honest and ethical.