Career Profile: Manufacturing and Production
 Manufacturing and production is an industry that produces consumer goods ranging from laptops to cars. As a veteran in the business world, manufacturing and production has evolved from the early days of hundreds of people working on a factory line, to a highly-technical field dependent on technology improving processes and their bottom line. Growing more and more sophisticated as advances in technology improve, manufacturing and production is still very much an industry that relies on the individual activities of a particular person or machine to develop a final product; however in opposition to the past, manufacturing and production is now heavily reliant upon talented engineers to develop the technology to produce goods, rather than people.
As an industry, manufacturing and production is concerned with making the highest number of units of a product in the shortest amount of time while remaining cost-efficient. Hence the industry’s appreciation and welcoming of technology into the equation because it advances their interests of producing more for less time and money. Traditionally, manufacturing and production has always had the stigma attached that it is not a glamorous or desirable field to work in. Contrary to that belief, many current professionals in the business appreciate the career opportunities available and in particular the work-life balance it provides.
Like other industries, manufacturing and production has a collection of occupations available within it. Since goods are being produced, accountants are needed, a human resource department is needed to manage employees, etc. However, primary career tracks available within manufacturing and production specifically include technical positions. Opportunities include test engineers who look for problems with the manufacturing process and ways to improve them, systems and controls engineers who program the computers and equipment used by employees on the front lines, and directors of manufacturing who oversee the entire manufacturing process and the staff working in the plant(s).
The job climate for employment opportunities within the manufacturing and production field is uncertain as more and more companies look to move operations overseas. While the industry is not necessarily growing, it is still a relevant field that will most likely expand as economic conditions improve.
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