Factory hand

Factory hands assist machine operators and product assemblers. They clean the machines and the working areas. Factory hands make sure supplies and materials are replenished. They undertake work that enables more senior production workers to get their more complicated duties done.

The duties of a factory hand include, but are not limited to:

• Manual handling and heavy lifting.
• Driving a forklift.
• Loading and unloading deliveries.
• Cleaning and organising workspace.
• Deliveries to job sites and other organisations.
• Assisting with dispatching customer orders.
• Data entry, customer sales and reception duties.
• General labouring.
• Maintaining and repairing tools and equipment.

Factory hands typically work in large, noisy, and often dirty industrial settings. They may be required to stand for long periods of time and to perform repetitive tasks. Some factory hands may be exposed to hazardous materials.

Factory hands typically work the day shift, but they may also work nights and weekends. Overtime is often required. The work can be physically demanding and sometimes dangerous. Factory hands are usually paid by the hour and receive few benefits.

The following job titles also refer to factory hand:

production team member
factory general hand
production assistant
process operative
factory operative
general hand
production team operative
factory worker
factory labourer
production line team member

No formal educational credential is required to work as factory hand. However, previous experience in a processing or manufacturing environment is usually desirable. Many employers still require at least a high school diploma or a vocational certificate.

Depending on the industry, specific certification may be required (such as a national police clearance or a forklift licence).

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Factory hand is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to factory hand.

room attendant
train cleaner
wood caulker
drapery and carpet cleaner
hand packer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of factory hand. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of factory hand with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

greaser
laminating machine operator
hot foil operator
nailing machine operator
envelope maker

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of factory hand.

• Cleaning products: The ingredients used in the development of cleaning products, their properties and risks.
• Industrial tools: The tools and equipment used for industrial purposes, both power and hand tools, and their various uses.
• Cleaning techniques: Various techniques and tools used to clean different types of surfaces to achieve a certain degree of cleanliness such as sweeping, vacuuming, degreasing and wet cleaning.

These skills are necessary for the role of factory hand.

• Supply machine with appropriate tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.
• Maintain work area cleanliness: Keep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Clean surfaces: Disinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.
• Clean equipment: Perform cleaning routines after equipment use.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Clean building floors: Clean the floors and stairways of buildings by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping them, according to hygienic and organisational standards.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of factory hand. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of factory hand. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Operate grease gun: Use a grease gun loaded with oil to lubricate industrial machinery in order to ensure proper operations.
• Operate floor cleaning equipment: Set up, maintain and operate roto, extractor and walk behind scrubbers and other floor care equipment to clean carpets and scrub hard floors.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Manage delivery of raw materials: Receive raw materials from the suppliers. Check their quality and accuracy and move them into the warehouse. Make sure that raw materials are adequately stored until they are required by the production department.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Maintain machinery: Maintain machinery and equipment in order to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust or repair when necessary, using hand and power tools. Replace defective parts components or systems.
• Pack goods: Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
• Operate industrial equipment: Operate devices, machinery, and equipment used in industrial production. Industrial equipment usually includes mounting, adjusting, clamping, rotating, and indexing elements, as well as mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical drives that actuate these elements.
• Store goods: Arrange and store goods in areas outside of customers’ display.
• Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.

9329 – Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified

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References

1. ESCO
2. How to become a Factory Hand – Salary, Qualifications, Skills & Reviews – SEEK
3. Factory Worker Job Description: Salary, Duties & More – ClimbtheLadder
4. Featured image: Photo by Remy Gieling on Unsplash