Job sheet: Production Worker
Job title
Production Worker
Job description
Production workers within the food and beverage
manufacturing sector have a varied and interesting role. At Frucor
they're responsible for anything from the measuring and mixing of
ingredients (processing) to operating machinery for the packaging
of canned or bottled beverage lines, through to packaging the
finished product ready for distribution.
Qualifications required
Employees at every level of the production team at Frucor
train toward their National Certificate in Competitive
Manufacturing (Level 2 - 4). This qualification introduces and then
expands upon the principles of 'lean' manufacturing and continuous
improvement within a manufacturing environment.
The Level 2 qualification is entry-level i.e. typically completed by people who have just started a role as a production worker. his training allows the learner to become actively involved in the development and implementation of processes and systems that will improve the reliability, availability and condition of equipment while also significantly improving production capacity and product quality.
More specialist knowledge and skills can be introduced in the Level 3 and Level 4 certificates specific to the beverage production processes the company is involved in, and their employees' specific role/s in that production environment.
Typically a Team Leader at Frucor would be required to be
trained to Level 4 in Competitive Manufacturing (facilitation
strand) as a minimum. Achieving this qualification recognises
a team leader's knowledge and the skills required to lead change,
implement a competitive manufacturing system and ensure process
improvements are sustained within any manufacturing
environment.
Training costs
This is determined at the time of sign-up, and is
depending on what other learning support (such as literacy and
numeracy) or prior learning an employee has.
Because the training is given on the job, the employer meets the costs of the training and it is subsidised by Competenz, the industry training organisation (ITO) for the food and beverage manufacturing industry sector.
Contact Competenz for more information.
Location
Frucor's major production plant is based in Manukau, Auckland.
Similar roles in the broader food and beverage manufacturing
industry can be found throughout New Zealand.
Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Canterbury are key
regions where food and beverage production related operations are
based, and roles for production workers are most prevalent.
Career path
Initially production workers learn on the job about the
core skills and knowledge sets to work across the production floor.
With more experience, production workers can progress their careers
in a number of ways and earn more as they learn.
Those who show an aptitude for the role can move on to become process or technical 'champions'. Those who demonstrate leadership qualities can move into team leader or other supervisory roles, taking responsibility for a team of production workers for a set shift or process, and their on-job training.
Salary range
Production workers in the food and beverage industry
usually earn between $12.75 and $13.50 per hour when they enter the
job, with pay increases as you gain more experience.
Team leaders can expect to earn anywhere between $40,000 -
$60,000 (possibly even more), depending on experience, training,
and the area they specialise in.
Other careers this profession could lead to
Production workers may move into Team Leader roles,
supervising production line or packaging teams, or managing and
assessing the on-job training of a team on the production
floor. Other roles are also possible in other areas of the
business with further training and experience on the job.
At Frucor, there are a number of possible career pathways employees can move into with further training and experience, including sales roles, and roles within their Quality Department or Research and Development team, for example.
How to increase the chances of successfully entering
this industry
NCEA Level 1 Maths and English as a minimum are a good
start, as numerical accuracy and good communication skills are
essential in this role.
Most important though is a desire to continuously learn and
improve, and to work in a team-based environment.
Places to source information about this job
For more information on the National Certificate in Competitive Manufacturing (Level 2 - 4), and to view a video case study on a career as a Production Worker (with Frucor), visit the Competenz website - www.competenz.org.nz
