Production Engineers, also known as Manufacturing Engineers, perform a variety of tasks that are vital to the successful production, shipment and quality of a manufactured product. While the duties of Production Engineers can vary by type of manufacturing company, in general they could be responsible for any or all of the following tasks:
- Scaling up production processes to meet customer demand
- Incorporating inspection and testing requirements into a production plan
- Ensuring machine and equipment design is adaptable to factory and production conditions
- Creating specifications for new equipment and working with purchasing and engineering departments to procure equipment to those specifications.
- Performing cost/benefit analyses of process improvement ideas and making recommendations based on those analyses.
- Creating and organizing documentation necessary for new applications, process changes and equipment upgrades.
- Performing root cause analysis and other problem-solving techniques to resolve internal or customer production issues.
- Acting as a liaison between business units at a production facility and the production floor and/or the customer.
- Writing technical reports and proposals; developing work instructions.
Production Engineers can either be hired as an entry level engineer from outside the company, or internal company production floor personnel can obtain certifications/degrees (sometimes paid for by the employer) to be eligible for a promotion to a Production Engineering position. Following are the typical requirements for a Production Engineer’s job:
- Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Engineering or a technical discipline preferred
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in quality and/or manufacturing processes
- Strong communications and writing skills
- Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
Entry level Production Engineers make $50,000 – $80,000 per year, with experienced Production Engineers making well over $100,000 per year in addition to receiving benefits such as 401k plans, and medical/dental benefits. Many Production Engineers move up the career ladder to Engineering Manager, Plant Manager or Chief Operating Officer (COO) positions.
If you are a hard-working individual seeking a long term, good paying career with lots of upward potential, you may consider a Production Engineer position as a stop on your career pathway.
