A production technician is someone who is in charge of overseeing product assembly during the manufacturing process. Typical duties include operating factory equipment, ensuring that safety procedures are followed in the workplace, and inspecting final products for defects or errors. Maintaining the quality of the final product is the main responsibility of a production technician. In order to become a production technician, you must become proficient in each of these areas.
If you do not already have a high school degree or a General Education Development (GED) degree, that is the first step to take if you want to become a production technician. Basic mathematics and computer literacy are common job requirements in the manufacturing field. High school GEDs can be earned through GED completion programs available through local high schools or community colleges. If you cannot complete high school at one of these locations because of time or monetary constraints, you can complete GED courses online.
For those who have manufacturing experience, a high school diploma or GED may be all the education required to become a production technician. Manufacturing experience includes time spent working on the line in a factory or doing related work which would give you familiarity with factory layouts and procedures. Experience is helpful in general, and it is especially useful if you are already working in a factory and looking to advance within the same factory. Some employers may still require additional education or certification.
Some production technicians also have a managerial role overseeing other workers and ensuring that work orders are met on time. These production technicians also handle manufacturing related paperwork such as logs, time sheets, and work orders. Jobs with more responsibility usually garner a higher pay rate, but these jobs almost always require a two year technical degree or equivalent training. Other production technician jobs consist largely of manual labor, maintaining equipment, and product testing. If you intend to become a production technician, it is important to remember that the jobs that require less training are usually more physically demanding and pay less than other positions.
Attending a technical school is a good way to obtain education and certification to become a production technician. Most areas have a local technical college that offers a two year associates degree in manufacturing or something similar. Community colleges usually offer night and weekend classes to accommodate students who are working full time, so a two year program is achievable even if you already have a busy schedule.