How To Write a Production Resume
Production work requires mechanical skills, a problem-solving mindset, and a strong grasp of workplace safety. Learn how to organize these and your other production skills into a cohesive resume with the tips and examples in this guide.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Start your resume with a brief summary of who you are as a candidate and how you meet the qualifications. List your job title, years of experience, and any skills or certifications in specific equipment. Also, describe your overall value to past employers, such as reducing new equipment purchases.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinist with over 10 years of advancement and experience. Expertly restored and repurposed various machines, improving the bottom line by $125,000. Skilled at training new machinists and filling various plant needs, including heavy machinery operation.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Motivated machine operator with nearly three years in production. Frequently exceed production quotas in a fast-paced environment. Committed to workplace safety, with multiple awards for strong adherence to safety standards and practices. Working toward several National Institute for Metalworking skills certifications.
2. Add a detailed professional experience section
The professional experience section of your resume will likely be the largest, so it needs to make a strong impact. Use this section to cover specific types of equipment you’ve worked on, parts you’ve replaced, and any other duties such as documentation or leading a team.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Lead Machinist
General Dynamics Information Technology, Pawcatuck, CT | November 2018 to present
- Quickly solve issues with machinery, assembly, and equipment to help machinists and managers maintain productivity
- Read blueprints or job orders to obtain product specs and tooling instructions such as fixtures, feed rates, cutting speeds, depth of cut, and cutting tools
- Design fixtures, tooling, and experimental parts to meet special needs
- Evaluate other machinists’ work and offer suggestions where appropriate
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Machine Operator
Alternative Plastics, Gentry, AR | June 2022 to present
- Set up, operate, and maintain high-speed and precision machinery used in mass production
- Equip machines with all necessary tools and parts
- Work closely with team members to maximize profit and efficiency
- Keep records of approved and defective units or final products
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Production hiring managers usually care more about your experience than your education, but it’s still a good idea to include any degrees or certifications you’ve earned on your resume. The position may require a high school diploma (or equivalent), or a mechanical certification, so including these ensures the hiring manager knows you’re qualified.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Diploma
Centennial High School, Bentonville, AR | 2019
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
Example:
Post-Secondary Certificate, National Institute for Metalworking On-The-Job Workshop | 2019
4. List key skills and proficiencies
Most production job openings specify the applicant’s skills to be considered. Include a key skills section on your resume so the hiring manager can quickly identify you as a good fit. Tailor your skills list to each job, which could mean citing specific equipment, OSHA safety standards, or process management methods. To help you brainstorm ideas, we’ve created the following list of common skills for production jobs.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Complex problem-solving | Efficiency improvement |
| Equipment assembly | Measurement tools |
| Personnel training | Process streamlining |
| Quality assurance | Reading blueprints, schematics, and spec sheets |
| Reporting and documentation | Team collaboration |
| Workplace safety | |
How To Pick the Best Production Resume Template
Writing a resume from scratch can feel daunting, so consider using a template to help you get started. Choose a template with space for your profile summary, professional experience, credentials, and skills. Production resumes should be well-organized, with clear headers and bullet points reading like a spec sheet of your qualifications.
Production Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Shato Akira
(479) 888-8888
[email protected]
1515 Ozarka Road, Gentry, AR 72712
Profile
Motivated Machine Operator with nearly 3 years in production. Frequently exceed production quotas in a fast-paced environment. Committed to workplace safety and have earned awards for strong adherence to safety standards and practices. Working toward several National Institute for Metalworking Skills certifications.
Key Skills
- Efficiency Improvement
- Forklift Operation
- Power Tools Operation
- Process Streamlining
- Reporting & Documentation
- Team Collaboration
- Warehouse Safety
Professional Experience
Machine Operator, Alternative Plastics, Gentry, AR | June 2020 to Present
- Set up, operate, and maintain high-speed and precision machinery used in mass production
- Equip machines with all necessary tools and parts
- Work closely with team members to maximize profit and efficiency
- Keep records of approved and defective units or final products
Highlight:
- Uncovered and quickly eliminated a serious safety risk for the team
Production Worker, Warren & Plythe Manufacturing, El Paso, TX | July 2019 to May 2020
- Monitored supply inventory and placed new orders as needed
- Kept a clean and safe work environment, per OSHA and company standards
- Performed hourly quality audits on assigned lines
Highlights:
- Generated 100%+ of all production goals
- Won award for diligently adhering to safety procedures
Education
Graduate, Centennial High School, Bentonville, AR | 2019
Post-Secondary Certificate, National Institute for Metalworking On-The-Job Workshop | 2019
Virginia Steele
(602) 888-8888
[email protected]
717 Mesa Blvd, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Profile
Quality Control Technician sought out for efficiency and process recommendations based on strong assembly background. Won various awards including “Production Employee of the Month” on 3 occasions.
Key Skills
- Efficiency Improvement
- Quality Control (QC)
- Team Collaboration
- Technical Troubleshooting
Professional Experience
Assembler / Quality Control, Metalsa, Elizabethtown, KY | March 2019 to Present
- Frequently inspect production and packing areas to ensure correct product forms, specs, storage, packaging, labeling, and coding
- Recommend process changes to help optimize efficiency and quality
- Consult and advise design team on prototype testing
Highlight:
- Co-developed a new quality standards manual that helped better align the organization
Assembler, Ford Motor Company, Kansas City, MO | September 2016 to February 2019
- Assembled components by examining connections for proper fit and securing parts and subassemblies
- Fixed assembly issues by modifying dimensions to match
- Worked in different areas of the department as production schedule dictated
Highlights:
- Named “Production Employee of the Month” out of 250+ peers on 3 occasions
- Surpassed daily production quota by 10%+ on average
Assembler (night shift), Sedona Medical, Phoenix, AZ | June 2013 to August 2016
- Used hand tools and machines to assemble parts, closely following blueprints and schematics
- Ensured each part was fastened securely, and logged any deviations
- Performed hourly QC checks
Highlight:
- Exceeded production quota by ~1,500 units per day
Education
General Education Development (GED) Diploma | 2013
Maurice Day
(888) 888-1234
[email protected]
827 Rojo Street, Newport, CT 06002
Profile
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist with 10+ years of advancement and experience. Expertly restored and repurposed various machines, improving the bottom line by $125K in total. Skilled at training new machinists and filling various plant needs, including heavy machinery operation.
Key Skills
- Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machines
- Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- Forklift & Aerial Lift Operation
- Mathematical Formulas
- Microsoft Office Suite
- New Hire Training & Mentoring
- Quality Control (QC)
Professional Experience
Lead Machinist, General Dynamics Information Technology, Pawcatuck, CT | November 2018 to Present
- Quickly solve issues with machinery, assembly, and equipment to help machinists and managers maintain productivity
- Read blueprints or job orders to obtain product specs and tooling instructions such as fixtures, feed rates, cutting speeds, depth of cut, and cutting tools
- Design fixtures, tooling, and experimental parts to meet special needs
- Evaluate other machinists’ work and offer suggestions where appropriate
Highlight:
- Helped restore old machines, saving company $25K in replacement costs
Machinist / Heavy Equipment Operator, Schaeffler Group, Danbury, CT | August 2015 to October 2018
- Used computer numerically controlled (CNC) precision measuring equipment to cut and produce machine parts
- Monitored machines while working to adjust the feed, maintain temperature, and pinpoint any issues
Highlights:
- Became company’s go-to expert on fast, permanent solutions to various machine problems
- Trained 12 newly hired machinists
Allied Trade Specialist / Machinist, United States Army, Fort Knox, KY | June 2011 to June 2015
- Conducted monthly maintenance and emergency repairs of 500+ pieces of equipment
- Fabricated, repaired, and modified parts necessary to keep operating equipment
- Trained on safe operation of drill presses, tap and die sets, grinders, and other power tools
Highlights:
- Repaired and repurposed equipment to prevent ~$70K in replacement costs
- As a cross-trained Power Generator Equipment Repairer, maintained 65+ generators at 95% readiness rate during Operation Enduring Freedom Deployment
Education
Graduate, Thomas Paine High School, Worcester, MA | 2011
Frequently Asked Questions: Production Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for production resumes?+
Start each bullet point with an active verb when writing your job descriptions. Strong verbs make your resume more engaging and give the hiring manager a clear idea of your accomplishments in previous roles. See the below list of common action verbs for production resumes.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Assemble | Construct |
| Control | Design |
| Engineer | Fabricate |
| Generate | Improve |
| Innovate | Inspect |
| Maintain | Measure |
| Operate | Prevent |
| Produce | Streamline |
| Supervise | Test |
| Update | |
How do you align your resume with a production job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects production jobs to be in shorter supply through 2031, but keep in mind this encompasses many positions. Some vocations, such as food processing equipment workers, are still expected to see average growth.
No matter your industry, you can improve your resume by tailoring it to each job opening. One great way to do this is by briefly describing the companies where you’ve worked in [brackets] right next to or below the company name.
Company descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the one who posted the job. For example, maybe you’ve worked for companies of a similar size or product set. Or maybe you’ve worked at organizations with a similar mission or leadership philosophy. Working these details into your descriptions makes your resume more relevant to the job opening.
What is the best production resume format?+
Most production workers should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format, as do most resumes on Resume Builder.)
By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section gives an overview of your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you showcase your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background.
The resulting resume is straightforward yet strategic. It gives hiring managers the clearest possible view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can decide to call you for an interview.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Once your resume is ready, turn your attention to your cover letter. This short document accompanies your resume, giving more context on who you are and why you’re a good fit for the role. For some related examples, see our guide to machine operator cover letters.
