Production Sorter Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Who is a Production Sorter?
Production sorters are individuals who classify and arrange products on a production line in manufacturing and agricultural facilities. They operate machinery for the production line, sort goods on a conveyor belt, load and unload goods onto trollies, and keep the factory clean and orderly. They also use a variety of equipment or tools to create or assemble finished goods.
As a production sorter, you may be tasked with classifying, arranging, and separating various goods and materials. The work is primarily physical, and standing for extended periods of time while performing monotonous tasks may be required. Employees may be required to complete the same task multiple times due to the repetitive nature of the work.
A production sorter manages manufacturing in a factory or industry during the processing and packaging of goods. They operate and maintain manufacturing machinery and assembly equipment. A production sorter also monitors the machinery, electrical devices, and surroundings to ensure that they are only used by authorized personnel and that safety regulations are followed.
A minimum of one year of experience working in a warehouse or manufacturing facility is required for a production worker. Previous experience assembling products on a production line and working with a production team is also required.
Production sorter positions typically require a high school diploma or a general education degree. One of the most important requirements is the ability to perform the physical demands of the job, which may include climbing ladders, using forklifts, moving carts or other heavy objects, or standing as well as sitting for extended periods of time.
Production Sorter Job Description
What is a production sorter job description? A production sorter job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a production sorter in an organization. Below are the production sorter job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a production sorter job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The specific responsibilities of production sorters vary depending on the organization they work for and their level of experience. However, there are some responsibilities that are unique to this position. They include but are not limited to:
- Operating production-line machinery and tools such as conveyor belts.
- Examining the work orders to determine the contents of the packing list.
- Examining all materials before placing them in boxes or other shipping containers to ensure they meet quality standards.
- Delivering items to the packaging area and assisting loaders in loading and stacking goods on delivery vehicles.
- Implementing simple maintenance procedures, such as lubricating equipment or changing lightbulbs.
- Observing all health and safety regulations.
- Participating in training programs to teach new employees proper safety techniques and procedures.
- Cleaning up the entire production line, including the workspace, tools, and machinery, by transporting materials within a warehouse or plant between departments or workstations.
- Ensuring that the products are free of damage, immediately report any damage to your supervisor, and replace any damaged products.
- Labelling the selected items with relevant information, such as price, expiration date, and address, in accordance with the established guidelines and standards.
- Assisting on the factory assembly line
- Ensuring that all equipment runs smoothly and assisting in the shipment of goods.
- Identifying and repairing production equipment and machinery problems as needed.
- Keeping track of the supplies and materials needed to ensure smooth production.
- Receiving shipments and comparing them to delivered documents while adhering to supervisory work instructions.
Qualifications
- GED or high school diploma required.
- Ability to operate industrial machinery.
- Prior production sorting experience is preferred.
- The ability to lift and transfer heavy loads manually.
- Excellent manual dexterity and physical endurance.
- Knowledge of the machinery and production lines.
- Excellent understanding of safety regulations and how to apply them on a daily basis.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- The ability to detect problems or flaws in machinery and equipment.
- Ability to demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities necessary for identifying and resolving production issues.
- Physical dexterity is required to assemble small and delicate product parts.
- Attentive to details.
- Abilities in both written and verbal communication.
- Physically fit and capable of lifting and moving heavy objects, operating machinery, and standing for long periods of time.
Essential Skills
The majority of the skills necessary to work as a production sorter can be learned on the job. Some soft skills, on the other hand, will help you complete your tasks more successfully. To be successful in this position, you should have the following abilities:
- Physical fitness:
Physical stamina is the ability to engage in sustained physical activity. Production sorters must frequently stand for long periods of time and work in fast-paced environments.
To perform this job, production sorters must be physically capable and moderately strong. This is because they stand and move around the facility for extended periods of time. They also spend a lot of time pushing and pulling objects as well as lifting heavy boxes. Maintaining good physical stamina allows you to work on the production line while remaining alert and focused.
- Leadership Skill:
production Sorters frequently work in groups, so having leadership skills will help you collaborate with others to complete your tasks. Furthermore, strong leadership qualities can inspire and encourage others to work efficiently. Leadership skills can also be used to delegate tasks and motivate others to complete them.
- Mechanical Aptitude:
Working on production lines can benefit from having a basic understanding of how machines work. This can help them solve problems and determine when a machine needs to be repaired. Additionally, production line workers may be required to operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other machinery.
- Organization Skills:
Production sorters frequently use organizational skills to keep their workspace tidy and clutter-free. Having good organizational skills will also allow you to properly arrange things. Maintaining orderly stacking and order separation is critical. Make certain that all necessary items are packed.
- Technical knowledge:
Production sorters operate machinery and equipment in a safe and skilled manner while producing and assembling high-quality parts. They accomplish this by utilizing their technical abilities. Technical skills are especially important for production workers who assemble tiny, delicate parts. They can use this skill to fix minor issues and troubleshoot machine issues.
- Problem-Solving Ability:
With problem-solving abilities, you can identify problems and find solutions. When problems arise, it is critical to find solutions as soon as possible. Thinking outside the box may be required to generate novel solutions.
As a sorter, you may encounter issues with the sorting system, such as a machine breaking down or a box falling off the conveyor belt. You can maintain productivity and ensure workplace safety by recognizing and addressing these issues.
- Communication Ability:
Communication refers to the ability to convey information to others in a clear and understandable manner. Because production sorters frequently interact with customers and coworkers, communication skills are essential. Because of this ability, production sorters can effectively communicate information to their coworkers and supervisors. Production line workers use their communication skills to read and understand production schedules, checklists, and other documents. Listening, or the ability to hear and understand what another person is saying is a component of communication. It’s critical to double-check that the correct items are going into the correct bins when sorting.
- Teamwork:
Production Sorters frequently group items and packages. Working closely with and trusting your coworkers is essential.
Your ability to work well in a team will assist you in completing your tasks and ensuring that all of the items and packages are properly sorted.
Furthermore, you should be able to quickly and amicably resolve any disagreements that may arise between you and your team.
- Active Listening:
Production sorters receive instructions from their supervisors throughout their shifts. Because of their ability to understand instructions, they can produce excellent work while remaining safe. Active listening allows them to collaborate more effectively with their colleagues and increases output rates.
- Efficiency:
As a production sorter, you should set priorities to ensure that everything is completed on time.
By being efficient, production sorters can work more quickly and to a higher standard. Because of their time management and organization skills, these professionals can complete work efficiently and accurately. By doing so, they can also save resources and energy.
How to Become a Production Sorter
A career as a production sorter can be an excellent way to break into the manufacturing industry. Those interested in this career path should begin by taking the following steps:
- Education
A high school diploma or general education degree is the only educational requirement for the majority of production sorter jobs. For production sorters interested in highly technical jobs, such as engineering facilities for the automotive or aerospace industries, an associate’s degree may be required. Aspiring production sorters with an Associate of Applied Science in Machining and Product Development or an Associate of Applied Science in Manufacturing Technology may find it easier to land a skilled production sorter position.
- Training
When starting a new job, most production workers receive on-the-job training. They may receive group training for new hires or individualized instruction from a more experienced production worker. On-the-job training is provided to new production employees to familiarize them with their responsibilities, organizational procedures, and safety practices, including safe machine operation.
Some technical industries require pre-employment training for production workers. Aspiring production workers must pass an aptitude test before being accepted into one of these community colleges or technical schools. Through a combination of classroom instruction and practical experiences, these programs teach students about industry regulations and practices, such as how to manufacture sterile medical equipment in an aseptic environment.
- Obtain Certifications
Production sorters who are certified can demonstrate their abilities and land higher-paying jobs. Most of the time, certification is not required. Some extremely technical industries, on the other hand, require that their production staff complete difficult tasks.
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) provides the Certified Production Technician certification as one of the credentials available to those working in this field. The training program includes lessons on safety, manufacturing processes, production and maintenance awareness, as well as quality practices and measurement.
The requirements for these certifications vary. To receive their certificate, production workers must pass an exam testing their understanding of the subjects covered after completing the coursework. Most certifications must be renewed on a yearly basis. Exams and participation in continuing education may be required for renewal.
- Review your resume
As you apply to different companies, consider updating your resume. Most of the time, you do not need to change the entire document. Instead, tweak a few things to reflect each company you’re considering. Organizations may have different keyword or skill requirements, for example. These various elements should be reflected in your document. If you’re applying to a clothing manufacturing company and have retail experience at a clothing store, try to emphasize that experience. Even if you’re tailoring your resume to each company, be honest about your skills and experience.
- Start Online Job Search and Application Process
After completing your application materials, you can begin your job search. Searching online is a common method for accomplishing this. There are numerous websites that list open positions at various companies. You can apply for positions directly through the job postings on some of these websites. You could look for open positions using your search engine. Try typing “open production jobs” into your search engine to find positions in your area. When looking for a job, research each company to ensure that your professional goals are compatible with the one.
Once you’ve identified open positions, you can apply for them. Most job posting websites include instructions on how to apply for the position. Most company websites have a careers page with a list of available positions. These pages also include instructions for applying for jobs. To determine what to include in your application, carefully read the job description.
Where to Work as a Production Sorter
As a Production sorter, you can work in large warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other industrial settings to receive and store products. In these work industries, you may be required to lift heavy boxes and containers while moving and stacking products with various machines.
Production Sorter Salary Scale
The pay of production workers is affected by their level of education and experience, the size of the business, and their location. They may also be paid overtime as additional compensation. However, the average annual salary for a production sorter in the United States is $44,000.More so, salary levels range from $35,300 to $57,800 per annum.