I’ve been working in manufacturing at an auto assembly plant for the past 28 years.

Currently, my job title at the plant is production specialist. I work in the plant’s stamping department where we stamp all the major body parts for the vehicle. Both the outer panels of the car as well as inner parts throughout.

My typical day

A typical day starts at 6:30am. I will arrive at the plant by 6:15. This gives me enough time to change into my coveralls and make my way to the stamping department. I usually make it to my department by 6:28. This is when I head down to one of the five presses that I’ll be working on that day.

I’ll check the schedule of parts that the team leader will have written on the whiteboard. These will be the parts that we have lined up to produce for the day. There will typically be three of us operating one press. One person will start at the controls of the press. The other two will be at the back of the press loading the parts that come out of it into racks. Could be door inners. Could be door outer. Could be roof support. It all depends on the press as each press is designated for certain parts.

After 20 minutes we will rotate. The guy operating the press will go to the back to rack parts while another guy will go up to operate the press. After 20 minutes the last guy will go up to the operating of the press. This will continue through the day. While operating the press, you will make sure scrap is falling away without getting jammed by observing the scrap fall in each die. If the press stops you will need to determine the issue and call on the radio for any needed assistance from a tool maker or an electrician. This rotation of watching the press and racking parts will continue throughout the day.

We have two 15 minute breaks and a 25 minute lunch.

At 2:25 we will shut down the press and head to the change rooms to get out of our dirty coveralls and punch out by 2:30.

This routine gets repeated day in and day out. It is monotonous but it supports my family.

I’m looking to retire in two more years with my pension and I will then work full time on my website. Thirty years is a long time but it did provide me a good living for my family.

Advice to students looking to get into this career path

Beyond that, my best advice would be to consider the type of person you are.

Working in the automotive industry, specifically as an assembly specialist, requires a person that can handle monotonous work. Some people do like knowing exactly what their job entails on not only a day to day basis but even minute to minute. They are no surprises typically. Your job is specific and all laid out for you. Each job in the plant has what’s known as a SOP or standard operating procedure. You are expected to follow that process to a T.

Essentially you are trading the simplicity and monotony of your job for a paycheck and benefits. You forgo any stress related to challenges for a certain level of security. I’m not going to lie, I’ve done well raising a family with this job. Unfortunately, it’s not quite the same for new hires today. Due to globalist pressure on manufacturing, wages and pensions have gone down for the newer generation.

Today I see this job as a stop gap for people. Better yourself and better your opportunities. With global pressure on manufacturing, it’s a dead end job. Meaning there is little chance of improving your financial standing.

It provides a paycheck but not much in the way of personal satisfaction in your work.

It really comes down to what’s available to you. A job is a job and it’s always better than no income. Having said that, there is something to be said for enjoying your work.

If you have a dream, go for it. Truth be told, working in a manufacturing facility as a laborer is not the dream of many.

It’s been more of something I’ve endured for 28 years. I count the hours until I go home and I count the years until I can retire. Those two things plus the money have been what’s kept me going.

If that sounds like something you are fine with, then by all means, nothing wrong with an honest days work.

If that doesn’t seem like the way you’d like to spend your days and years, then certainly it’s worth it to strive for more.

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