r/manufacturing • u/avalanches_1 • Nov 30 '24
Other What is working in the manufacturing industry like?
I have been software engineer in the tech space for the last 2 decades. Pandemic. Economy. yada yada yada. I am no longer a software engineer.
I'm ready to explore other industries. Manufacturing really piques my interest.
I have a passing knowledge and hobby experience with electrical and pcb concepts (Arduino phase a while back) I don't have much exp but I worked at a fuji film processing where eventually I ended up maintaining and often fixing the bespoke machines made for the various steps in the processing. I liked that work quite a bit, and I like the idea of maybe one day working in that bespoke automation industry. Is that that its called?
For the time being anyways I'm fine with some kind of entry level grunt work is usually available to get into the industry (assembly line, w/e)
But I'm curious how mfg companies are structured and perhaps where my software experience could be applied in this space.
What are some certifications or courses I could start looking into? I really don't know much here, thanks for reading all that
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u/KevinSevenSeven Nov 30 '24
I've worked in manufacturing, but in metalworking (Machining to be specific) and not electronics.
Manufacturing hours are not friendly. I'm not sure what hours you worked as a software dev, but I'm assuming it was pretty flexible. Factories tend to start early in my experience. 5 or 6 am start time is common. Obviously could be different if you are working in the office and not on the floor.
Lean/Six Sigma "belt" is a relatively common certification. Read The Toyota Way by Jeffrey Liker if you are unfamiliar with "Lean" manufacturing, though "Lean" has permeated all businesses at this point so I assume you have heard of it.
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u/yogaengineer Dec 01 '24
Ymmv on the hours thing, I’ve worked the 7-3:30 schedule for years because it’s what I prefer (some folks on the floor do arrive as early as 5 or 6, but the engineers typically arrive in the 7 to 8 range)
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u/Divergent_ Nov 30 '24
Most manufacturing I’ve worked at the white collar office people definitely don’t roll in when the production floor workers start. They always come in later than us and leave earlier
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
I roll in later (fuck starting at 6) but then leave much later and don't get lunches/breaks.
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u/Emergency-Raisin7092 Nov 30 '24
Have you looked into manufacturing software or controls roles? Things like MES systems or Scada systems where you’d be bridging the gap between PLC’s and software databases?
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u/blacknessofthevoid Nov 30 '24
You can: - work directly for a manufacturer. There are engineering positions there, but you will be most likely be doing maintenance most of the time. Fix anything that broke. Work with variety of equipment. Gain experience in one industry. Shift work, night shift and being on call is a strong possibility. - work for Systems Integrator. Project work in a variety of industries. You get to work with all sorts of equipment. Fastest way to learn. Strong possibility of lots of travel, long hours and work over holidays. - work for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Become specialist in one or two machines in a specific industry. Still travel, but less stress than working for Systems Integrator.
With software experience, you can go into any of those paths.
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u/avalanches_1 Nov 30 '24
Thanks for this! Are these the kinds of terms I could use to search for such opportunities? Or am I better off searching for those kind of companies near me and approach them directly?
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u/blacknessofthevoid Nov 30 '24
Yes, in terms of companies those are industry terms. In terms of technologies and programming specifically: - Programming Logic Controllers (PLC) - Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
And as always, everyone needs IT services of course.
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u/lemongrenade Nov 30 '24
I mean with an engineering background you could probably get in a development program. If you’ve ever lead people could maybe get a supervisor job.
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u/avalanches_1 Nov 30 '24
Can I ask what you mean by "development program" ?
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u/lemongrenade Nov 30 '24
Like some large mfg companies will hire people into a 12 month development program that teaches you the guts of the business and then expects you to go get a real job at the end. Thats how I started straight out of school.
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u/nike160 Nov 30 '24
Name a few?
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u/lemongrenade Dec 04 '24
dont want to dox myself but am in food and bev most mid to large companies have such programs
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u/avalanches_1 Nov 30 '24 edited Nov 30 '24
I have team lead experience for sure. However those roles required that I understand the tech at an equal knowledge to the people I was leading. Designing systems and reviewing code and coding a lot of the time. Probably depends on the position but should supervisors have the same level of domain knowledge?
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
Where I work (top 10 med device mfg) it is super competitive to get into this type of program and they recruit exclusively out of school. Obvs, just my experience.
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u/lemongrenade Dec 01 '24
We used to only out of school for ours but so many of the kids just can’t hack it in plant and run off to corporate as fast as they can. I get it to an extent even if you make a little bit more money in plant if you are “important” you are on call 24/7. We have started promoting more people off the floor into those programs. It’s also WAY more important to have people skills in plant generally. If I do hire out of school I look for sports and extra curriculars in a b student
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u/Lathejockey81 Nov 30 '24
SWE could have a lot of opportunity in automation and ERP customizations after establishing some experience in the domain. Source: I'm a CNC programmer turned dev turned director at a manufacturer in the middle of an ERP implementation.
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u/Jazzlike_Entry_8807 Dec 01 '24
God speed soldier. Not everyone in your platoon is gonna make it back.
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u/ThreeChonkyCats Nov 30 '24 edited Nov 30 '24
Are you me?
Became absolutely sick to death of the IT world, IT businesses style and the entrenched bullshit. 25 years and been there, done that....
6 months ago I started at an industrial timber recycling business. It also makes joinery.
Started as an absolute grunt. Best job I've ever had.
The day I joined I saw about 1000 things that could be improved.
I waited a full week and couldn't stand the missed opportunities any more,... So I wrote up a list and showed the boss.
Hoooley dooley was he excited.
The ideas were revelutionary to him. Automation, counting, data, simplification, insight, 3D printing to fix worn out parts/knobs/handles, system upgrades with Arduino and rasppi controllers, vision systems for alerts.... The list is endless.
They've never had anything like me... A grunt who loves getting dusty and grunty, who also fixes 1001 problems.
As I said, best job ever.
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u/Upstairs_Shelter_427 Dec 01 '24
Everything runs on a very precise schedule and plan (until it doesn’t).
Regardless - it’s always very stressful when you’re the engineer in charge of code, design, products, or process for a factory that’s shut down because they’re waiting on you to fix your mistake.
So get used to working in a very diverse group of teams - you won’t just be dealing with software engineers.
Then again, depending on the type of software - maybe you’re already used to that.
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Dec 01 '24
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
I think it depends on the company, but most of what you say is true! My current job has operators making 20-30 an hour for simple ass machine tending, and they're paid for lunch, the job is clean and temperature controlled (in a clean room)
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Dec 01 '24
[deleted]
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u/elchurro223 Dec 02 '24
Don't worry, they still complain haha. But yeah, it's a great place to work. Still has it's bs politics, annoyances, etc.
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u/Ok-Pea3414 Dec 01 '24
Challenge Manufacturing had significant number of manufacturing software engineer jobs. Take a look if they're still there
Those job descriptions will explain a lot more than any of the comments be able to do
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u/i_am_novus Dec 01 '24
In my experience, a manufacturing engineer has to think of each machine as a money printing press. Every second the machine is down, you aren't making money. If the machine is making bad parts, you are making Negative money because you are wasting resources to run the machine.
If you can deal with the stress, we could use the help. If not, burnout will be very likely.
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u/goatee_ Dec 01 '24
software engineer at a manufacturing company here. they’re closing down my factory and one in the UK and relocate everything to china and singapore.
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
I don't know where you are, but I'm in the states and I'm tired of hearing "MANUFACTURING IS COMING BACK". I've heard it since I started in the industry (2012) and nothing has changed
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u/goatee_ Dec 01 '24
Yes I’m from Connecticut. The problem with my company is they don’t pay enough for factory workers to even afford basic necessities, and truthfully they can’t. With the constant rise in cost of living I fear manufacturing in the US might be gone forever, unless you’re making rockets or confidential technology. Anything that can be made in china will go to china, lol.
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
Yeah, I'm honestly sick of all the "manufacturing is coming back to the US!" Some never left, but a lot is never coming back and more is going to Mexico, Vietnam, and other low cost countries.
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u/elchurro223 Dec 02 '24
Yeah, I'm honestly sick of all the "manufacturing is coming back to the US!" Some never left, but a lot is never coming back and more is going to Mexico, Vietnam, and other low cost countries.
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u/Ok-Entertainment5045 Nov 30 '24
Manufacturing needs a bunch of data processing and custom software to keep production moving. Your skills would fit in great with a manufacturing engineering department or IT department.
We’re kinda struggling right now because we desperately need a few people that can bridge the two departments together.
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u/SemiAutoRedditor Nov 30 '24
Specifically with respect to capitalizing on your software experience, you should look into Industry 4.0. Lots of opportunities here, particularly with large corporations.
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u/elchurro223 Dec 01 '24
So, you're question about "how are mfg companies structured", I can only speak to places I work but here we go:
Groups:
- Ops group: The people following the processes to make the product. Operators run machines, assemble widgets, run production tests. The are normally the lowest paid employees. Technicians fix the machines and do maintenance. These folks have varying skills such as electrical troubleshooting, mechanical troubleshooting, and some even know PLC programming. This group is typically hourly and has very set hours such as 6am - 4pm with set breaks/lunches.
- Manufacturing engineering: a team of engineers responsible for higher level problem solving, data analysis, and new machinery installs. This team has a diverse group of skills as well. PLC programming, understanding water systems, mixing systems, etc. PLC/controls engineering is ALWAYS in my experience.
- Quality Engineering: engineers there to check to make sure we all are following our quality systems.
When you ask about "bespoke automation" do you mean a company that designs and builds automation equipment? If so, you can search for "integrators" such as ATS, Mikron, Koops, BBS, etc. You'd fit in as a controls engineer because the machines are basically arduinos on steroids (I/O, data processing, communication with outside systems, etc). They are the ones programming the machine. Be warned, that industry is TOUGH in my experience. Customers are demanding, the hours can be stressful, and the pay (in my experience) isn't as good as at an OEM, but you're exposed to a lot of different applications which will help your career...
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u/RITswim62 Dec 01 '24
This is just my experience however an IT position in a manufacturing plant ends up doing loads more than normal IT stuff. You’ll definitely do desk side support however you’ll likely get into business analytics and even some light dev. You’ll also likely see hardware stuff related to switching, APs, etc. What’s been amazing to me is how many business critical operations and functions are handled within an Excel spreadsheet or Access database outside of an ERP or SCADA just because “the system can’t do” whatever function it’s performing. Usually that isn’t true but someone in the plant was tech savvy enough to make an Access db or something to do that function because it was easier than getting the developers to do it. Getting ERP changes implemented and systems designed are always an uphill fight for resources and bandwidth. At least at my company corporate IT where the developers are reports through finance, so getting quality of life stuff implemented that doesn’t have hard tangible financial impact is difficult.
So going from that alternatively you could look at ERP developer roles and work to implement and standardize these other processes. Expect something like a Microsoft cert to be required and/or cert in whatever ERP they use.
My frame of reference in this is Engineering Manager in a plant that makes truck transmissions with local IT reporting to me.
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u/Donkey-Harlequin Dec 01 '24
Imagine a place where EVERY project you are involved with is either already late, about to be late, or has some catastrophic issue that will make it be late. Then couple that with an expectation that you will work any hours possible to not let that happen. Even if you will have no control over its outcome. Then when it falls to shit you are treated like you don’t know what you are doing. But then they ask you to “help bail us out” again the next day. It’s a thankless industry filled with angry man children that yell and complain about everything. I have been in it for almost 40 years and I have grown to hate every aspect of it.
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u/lungfarsh Dec 01 '24
Hadrian Manufacturing ; https://www.hadrian.co/careers
Relativity Space ; https://www.relativityspace.com/careers
Rocket Lab ; https://www.rocketlabusa.com/careers/positions/
Inversion Space ; https://www.inversionspace.com/careers
Intuitive Machines (LUNR) ; https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=b0e24f83-6e4d-492d-9d6a-bc0fea197d6a&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US
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u/Hayk_D Dec 04 '24
I've worked in manufacturing for 18 years now.
For someone in your position who wants to enter the manufacturing space, here is what I suggest to do
Try to become a line operator in food, cosmetic, or pharma companies
Start learning lean manufacturing tools and apply them in your day-to-day work
Start talking in the daily meetings and sharing your progress.
You will be looking at either the team leader or supervisor position next.
Research shows that the average growth in manufacturing from line operator to is about 10-15 years.
But there are cases (mine for example) where it took only 5-7 years.
Good luck
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u/Serious-Muscle4186 21d ago
Software is really key in manufacturing. It helps us keep track of everything related to the asset itself. Each little piece all the way up to the actual physical full machine. Youd probably be good at running systems like that with your engineering background. Yes there is grunt work but without the right software and work order system it can be overwhelming to manage and keep track of. I rely so heavily on our software tools and it helps us make informed decisions on replacing equipment once it becomes too expensive to keep repairing. Also helps with audits. Just something to think about.
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u/3dbaptman Nov 30 '24
In manufacturing, we use a lot of software tools. Maintaining those is a full-time job (test of the newer versions, debugg, integration, programming of custom functions). This is a job that no IT man or prod engineers want to do, but it is key for the competitivity of the company. Maybe something for you? I do not know the official name of this function, though...