Production Associate

Production Associate Job Description The Production Associate supports high-volume plastic container manufacturing by cleaning, assembling, and inspecting parts as they come off the production line. This role focuses on removing excess material, assembling hinges and doors, verifying proper function, and preparing finished containers for shipment or further processing. The position involves repetitive, physically demanding tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and plays a key role in maintaining product quality and production flow. Responsibilities Remove finished product from the machine and place it in the appropriate work area for inspection and assembly. Inspect parts for defects, damage, or excess material and ensure they meet product guidelines and quality standards. Remove flash and excess plastic from parts using repetitive motion with hand tools such as scrapers, chisels, and bottle openers. Assemble components into finished parts using a plastic mallet or hammer and hand assembly techniques. Insert rods and components to create hinges, then check doors and hinges to ensure they operate correctly and meet quality requirements. Perform any required customer-specific or added processes according to work instructions and options sheets. Stack finished parts and containers on pallets following product guidelines, stacking patterns, and quality standards for safe handling and storage. Record scrap accurately and place rejected or defective product in the designated scrap location. Review product guidelines, options sheets, and any special work instructions to confirm the correct methods for assembling, cleaning, and packaging parts. Refer to the first-piece sample part as a visual reference for the correct finished product for each order. Maintain a clean and organized work area and support general housekeeping throughout the production floor. Assist with training new employees on tasks, safety practices, quality expectations, and work procedures as needed. Follow all safety rules and procedures while working around injection molding equipment, hand tools, and material handling operations. Collaborate with team members, material handlers, and other departments to support smooth production flow and on-time order completion. Essential Skills Previous manufacturing or production experience is strongly preferred, particularly in environments with 12-hour shifts and repetitive tasks. Ability to perform repetitive, physically demanding work, including frequent hammering with a plastic mallet and intensive hand assembly tasks. Comfort working on a production floor that is not temperature controlled and can become hot due to injection molding equipment. Strong attention to detail when inspecting parts and assembling components to meet product guidelines and quality standards. Ability to follow written and visual work instructions, product guidelines, option sheets, and first-piece samples accurately. Basic proficiency with common hand tools such as scrapers, chisels, bottle openers, and hammers or mallets. Capability to record scrap and production information accurately and follow designated procedures for handling defective parts. Reliability in maintaining consistent attendance and performance on long shifts in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Strong work ethic with the willingness to perform repetitive tasks while maintaining quality and productivity. Good communication skills to work effectively with team members and support training of new employees. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience in general production, assembly, or inspection roles in a manufacturing or warehouse setting. Background in machine operating, forklift operation, or material handling is beneficial. Familiarity with plastic injection molding environments or similar industrial settings is a plus. Demonstrated ambition, eagerness to learn, and a positive personality, with an interest in long-term growth and progression. Openness to learning leadership skills and advancing into roles such as leadership, maintenance, forklift, or setup positions through structured career tracks. Ability to adapt to changing priorities, production demands, and customer-specific processes. Why Work Here? The company offers a clear path for growth and advancement, with a strong focus on promoting from within and supporting long-term career development. Team members benefit from structured progression plans that can lead from production roles into leadership, maintenance, forklift, and setup positions. The organization values ambition, eagerness, and personality, and invests in leadership development programs that help employees build their skills and advance their careers. Compensation increases are built into the early stages of employment, including a raise after the first 30 days and an additional raise upon conversion to full-time status. The company emphasizes stability, opportunity, and a culture that recognizes potential and helps employees grow into more advanced roles over time. Work Environment This role is based on a busy production floor with primarily injection molding machines and strong airflow, but the area is not temperature controlled and can become hot. The work is physically demanding and highly repetitive, involving frequent use of hand tools and a plastic mallet, as well as continuous standing and manual assembly tasks. The facility maintains a very clean environment and expects employees to support general housekeeping. Typical tools and equipment include hand tools such as scrapers, chisels, bottle openers, hammers or mallets, and standard production and material handling equipment. Steel-toe footwear is not required, but closed-toe shoes with rubber soles are mandatory. The dress code allows t-shirts, hoodies without strings, sweatshirts, and sleeveless tops that do not expose the stomach, shoulders, or cleavage. Acceptable bottoms include jeans, shorts, cargo pants, basketball shorts, and sweatpants, provided shorts reach near the knee and pants sit properly at the hip; leggings, jeggings, and any type of spandex are not permitted. No jewelry of any kind is allowed, including rings, watches, piercings, necklaces, and bracelets, to support safety and cleanliness. Tattoos and hair color are acceptable as long as they are not offensive, and anything deemed offensive is addressed promptly. Shifts are 12 hours, requiring comfort with extended periods of repetitive work in a warm industrial environment. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Georgetown, KY. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $21.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Georgetown,KY. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 31, 2026. About Aerotek We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry - from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies' construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow. Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.