Production

Summary

The Maintenance job family is comprising roles responsible for ensuring that production equipment, machinery, and systems are maintained in safe, reliable, and efficient working order through planned, preventive, and corrective maintenance activities. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, maintenance technicians, maintenance mechanics, maintenance supervisors, maintenance engineers, and maintenance managers. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, production facilities, industrial sites, and processing operations across a wide range of industries. The overarching objective is to maximise equipment availability, reliability, and performance by minimising unplanned downtime through systematic maintenance programmes, timely repairs, and effective asset management.

Typical Activities

• Performing scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, and servicing of production equipment, machinery, and systems to ensure they remain in safe and optimal working condition.
• Diagnosing faults, troubleshooting breakdowns, and carrying out repairs on mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment to restore operations as quickly as possible.
• Developing and implementing preventive and predictive maintenance programmes, schedules, and procedures to reduce unplanned downtime and extend equipment life.
• Installing, commissioning, calibrating, and upgrading production equipment and systems, ensuring they are set up correctly and operating within specification.
• Maintaining accurate records of maintenance activities, repair histories, spare parts usage, and equipment condition to support asset management and maintenance planning decisions.
• Coordinating with external vendors, contractors, and suppliers to procure parts, equipment, and specialist maintenance services, negotiating terms and managing service agreements.

Synonyms or related job titles

Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Supervisor, Maintenance Manager, Maintenance Engineer, Maintenance Planner, Reliability Engineer, Industrial Maintenance Worker, Maintenance Electrician, Maintenance Fitter, Facilities Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Team Leader.

1. Equipment Maintenance

Summary

The Equipment Maintenance job family comprises roles responsible for the maintenance, repair, and servicing of a wide variety of mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment used in production and operational settings. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, equipment maintenance technicians, equipment mechanics, equipment maintenance engineers, equipment service specialists, and equipment maintenance supervisors. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, warehouses, logistics centres, and industrial facilities. The overarching objective is to ensure that production and operational equipment, including machinery, motors, pumps, generators, forklifts, and material handling systems, is maintained in safe, reliable, and efficient working order to support uninterrupted operations.

Typical Activities

• Performing routine preventive maintenance, inspections, and servicing on production and operational equipment to prevent breakdowns and ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Diagnosing faults and troubleshooting problems with mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment, determining root causes, and carrying out repairs to restore operational capability.
• Ordering, sourcing, and managing spare parts and materials from suppliers and manufacturers to support timely equipment repair and maintenance activities.
• Assembling, installing, and commissioning new equipment and components, ensuring they are set up correctly, tested, and ready for safe operation.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records of all maintenance activities, repair costs, parts usage, and equipment condition to support asset tracking and maintenance planning.
• Cleaning, lubricating, and servicing internal components, gears, and mechanical parts of equipment to maintain performance, extend asset life, and prevent premature failure.

Synonyms or related job titles

Equipment Maintenance Technician, Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Maintenance Engineer, Equipment Service Specialist, Equipment Maintenance Supervisor, Industrial Equipment Technician, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Electromechanical Technician, Equipment Repair Technician, Machinery Maintenance Worker, Field Service Technician, Equipment Maintenance Manager.

2. Plant Maintenance

Summary

The Plant Maintenance job family comprises roles responsible for maintaining, repairing, and ensuring the reliable operation of all plant-wide equipment, systems, and infrastructure within a production or manufacturing facility. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, plant maintenance engineers, plant maintenance managers, plant maintenance supervisors, plant maintenance technicians, and utilities maintenance specialists. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, processing facilities, power stations, and large-scale industrial operations. The overarching objective is to maintain all plant equipment and systems in optimal working condition, minimising production downtime and ensuring a safe, efficient, and compliant operating environment.

Typical Activities

• Attending to plant equipment and systems during planned maintenance visits and emergency calls, performing repairs, adjustments, and servicing to restore or maintain operational performance.
• Investigating equipment and machinery faults within the plant, diagnosing root causes, and implementing effective repairs and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Developing and implementing plant-wide preventive and predictive maintenance programmes to optimise equipment reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, and extend asset life.
• Collaborating with production, engineering, and health and safety teams to ensure that maintenance activities support production schedules, quality standards, and a safe working environment.
• Monitoring the condition and performance of plant infrastructure, utilities, and critical systems, prioritising maintenance activities based on risk, asset condition, and production impact.
• Maintaining accurate maintenance records, work orders, and asset management data, and reporting on plant maintenance performance, costs, and improvement opportunities.

Synonyms or related job titles

Plant Maintenance Engineer, Plant Maintenance Manager, Plant Maintenance Supervisor, Plant Maintenance Technician, Utilities Maintenance Specialist, Plant Engineer, Facilities Maintenance Manager, Industrial Maintenance Planner, Plant Services Technician, Shutdown Coordinator, Plant Reliability Engineer, Plant Maintenance Coordinator.

3. Vehicle Maintenance

Summary

The Vehicle Maintenance job family comprises roles responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing vehicles and mobile equipment to ensure they remain in safe, roadworthy, and operationally reliable condition. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, automotive technicians, vehicle mechanics, fleet maintenance technicians, heavy vehicle mechanics, and vehicle maintenance supervisors. These positions are found in manufacturing and logistics companies, transport operators, fleet management organisations, and vehicle workshops. The overarching objective is to keep all organisational vehicles and mobile equipment in safe and operable condition through systematic preventive maintenance, timely repairs, and compliance with manufacturer specifications, warranty requirements, and applicable road safety regulations.

Typical Activities

• Performing regular preventive maintenance and scheduled servicing on vehicles and mobile equipment, including oil changes, brake checks, tyre rotations, and fluid top-ups, in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
• Diagnosing and repairing mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic faults on a range of vehicles, including light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, forklifts, and specialist mobile equipment.
• Conducting regular inspections of vehicles to identify potential safety issues, defects, and wear, and ensuring that all vehicles meet roadworthiness and regulatory standards.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all maintenance, repair, and inspection activities performed on each vehicle, including costs, parts used, and any outstanding issues.
• Ordering, receiving, and managing an inventory of parts, consumables, and supplies needed for vehicle maintenance and repair, ensuring availability and cost-effectiveness.
• Developing and implementing preventive maintenance programmes for the vehicle fleet, scheduling services and inspections to minimise vehicle downtime and optimise fleet availability.

Synonyms or related job titles

Automotive Technician, Vehicle Mechanic, Fleet Maintenance Technician, Heavy Vehicle Mechanic, Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor, Motor Vehicle Technician, Diesel Mechanic, Fleet Engineer, Vehicle Inspector, Transport Mechanic, Workshop Supervisor, Mobile Equipment Technician.

Summary

The Quality and Product Testing job family is comprising roles responsible for inspecting, testing, and evaluating raw materials, in-process components, and finished products to ensure they meet established quality standards, specifications, and regulatory requirements. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, quality engineers, quality inspectors, quality technicians, product testers, and testing engineers. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, production facilities, testing laboratories, and quality assurance departments across a wide range of industries. The overarching objective is to protect product quality and customer satisfaction by identifying defects, verifying compliance with specifications, and supporting the development and implementation of quality control systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

Typical Activities

• Inspecting incoming raw materials, in-process components, and finished products against specifications, drawings, and quality standards to verify conformance and identify defects.
• Conducting product testing and analysis using appropriate methods, instruments, and equipment to evaluate performance, durability, safety, and compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining quality control procedures, inspection plans, and testing protocols to ensure consistent and reliable product quality throughout the production process.
• Identifying, investigating, and documenting product defects, non-conformances, and quality issues, performing root cause analysis, and recommending corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of relevant quality standards, industry regulations, and customer requirements, and ensuring that production processes and outputs comply with these standards.
• Collaborating with engineering, production, and product development teams to support process improvements, resolve quality issues, and ensure that product specifications are met.

Synonyms or related job titles

Quality Engineer, Quality Inspector, Quality Technician, Product Tester, Testing Engineer, Quality Analyst, Quality Assurance Technician, Quality Control Inspector, Test Technician, Quality Supervisor, Incoming Goods Inspector, Quality and Compliance Officer.

Please match in this collective family all specialised Production jobs that cannot be assigned to one of the above-mentioned families. Competencies from the parent family will be shown. A selection of parent family-specific Benchmark Job Matches is available and can be selected manually. The availability of benchmark job matches depends on the survey vendor chosen.

Summary

The Production and Maintenance Planning job family is comprising roles responsible for coordinating production workflows, scheduling maintenance activities, and ensuring that manufacturing operations are completed on time, within budget, and without disruption. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, production planners, maintenance planners, production schedulers, materials planners, and planning managers. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, production facilities, and industrial operations across a wide range of sectors. The overarching objective is to optimise production output and equipment availability by developing and maintaining efficient production and maintenance schedules, coordinating resources and materials, and responding to changes in demand, capacity, and operational priorities.

Typical Activities

• Developing and maintaining master production schedules that establish the sequence, timing, and lead time for each operation to meet customer demand and delivery commitments.
• Developing and implementing maintenance plans and schedules to ensure optimal equipment performance, minimise unplanned downtime, and support production continuity.
• Coordinating the procurement and availability of raw materials, components, spare parts, and labour required to execute production and maintenance plans on time and within budget.
• Monitoring production and maintenance activities against plans, tracking progress, identifying variances, and taking corrective action to address delays, shortages, or quality issues.
• Revising production and maintenance schedules in response to design changes, material shortages, equipment breakdowns, demand fluctuations, or other disruptions, collaborating with management and cross-functional teams.
• Recording and reporting on production data, maintenance activities, resource utilisation, and key performance indicators to support planning decisions and continuous improvement.

Synonyms or related job titles

Production Planner, Maintenance Planner, Production Scheduler, Materials Planner, Planning Manager, Master Scheduler, Capacity Planner, Manufacturing Planner, Production Planning Analyst, Maintenance Scheduler, Operations Planner, Production Control Coordinator.

Summary

The Process Engineering job family is comprising roles responsible for designing, developing, optimising, and scaling manufacturing processes to ensure that products are produced efficiently, safely, consistently, and to the required quality standards. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, process engineers, manufacturing process specialists, process development engineers, process improvement engineers, and senior process engineers. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, production facilities, chemical processing operations, and industrial engineering departments across a wide range of sectors. The overarching objective is to translate product designs into robust, scalable, and cost-effective production processes by applying engineering principles, data analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Typical Activities

• Designing, developing, and documenting manufacturing processes, process flows, and standard operating procedures for new and existing products, ensuring they are efficient, repeatable, and compliant with quality and safety standards.
• Optimising existing production processes to improve yield, throughput, cycle time, and cost-effectiveness, using data analysis, statistical methods, and continuous improvement techniques such as Lean and Six Sigma.
• Conducting process capability studies, design of experiments, and root cause analyses to identify and resolve process variability, defects, and performance issues.
• Scaling processes from laboratory or pilot stage to full production volume, collaborating with product development, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure a smooth and validated transition.
• Specifying, selecting, and qualifying process equipment, tooling, and materials, and supporting the installation, commissioning, and validation of new production lines and equipment.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product development, quality assurance, maintenance, and supply chain, to ensure that process engineering activities support broader production objectives and regulatory requirements.

Synonyms or related job titles

Process Engineer, Manufacturing Process Specialist, Process Development Engineer, Process Improvement Engineer, Senior Process Engineer, Chemical Process Engineer, Industrial Process Engineer, Process Optimisation Engineer, Process Technology Engineer, Process Scale-Up Engineer, Process Engineering Manager, Continuous Process Engineer.

Summary

The Production Engineering job family is comprising roles responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the tooling, fixtures, jigs, and manufacturing systems required to produce goods efficiently, safely, and to specification. The range of roles includes, but is not limited to, production engineers, tooling engineers, manufacturing engineers, methods engineers, and industrial engineers. These positions are found in manufacturing plants, automotive production facilities, aerospace assembly operations, and industrial engineering departments across a broad range of sectors. The overarching objective is to bridge the gap between product design and volume manufacturing by ensuring that production systems, methods, and tooling are fit for purpose, cost-effective, and capable of delivering consistent quality at the required production rate.

Typical Activities

• Designing and specifying tooling, fixtures, jigs, and work-holding devices required for manufacturing operations, ensuring they support accurate, efficient, and repeatable production.
• Developing and documenting production methods, work instructions, and standard times for manufacturing operations, optimising workflow layouts and line balancing to maximise throughput and minimise waste.
• Evaluating and selecting manufacturing equipment, machinery, and automation solutions, and supporting their installation, commissioning, and qualification within the production environment.
• Analysing production data, cycle times, scrap rates, and downtime to identify improvement opportunities and implement engineering changes that enhance productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Collaborating with product development teams during the design phase to provide manufacturability input, conduct design for manufacture and assembly reviews, and ensure that new products can be produced efficiently at scale.
• Supporting new product introductions and engineering change processes, coordinating the transition from prototype to series production and ensuring that all changes are validated, documented, and communicated to production teams.

Synonyms or related job titles

Production Engineer, Tooling Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Methods Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Production Engineering Manager, Manufacturing Systems Engineer, Tooling Designer, Work Study Engineer, Manufacturing Technology Engineer, Plant Engineer, Production Support Engineer.