There is a wide range of career paths within the manufacturing industry. Do your research and explore internship opportunities near you to learn more about the field and if it would be right for you. 

Intern in manufacturing.

Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Read about benefits of manual labor. While these points are geared toward construction, they can apply to a whole variety of manual labor careers. Does manual labor seem like a path you're interested in?

Explore the benefits of manual labor.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

Wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Electrical, Electronics, and Electromechanical Assemblers

Production Occupations

Assemblers and Fabricators

Operate or tend wire-coiling machines to wind wire coils used in electrical components such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments such as bobbins and generators.

Attach, alter, and trim materials such as wire, insulation, and coils, using hand tools.

Cut, strip, and bend wire leads at ends of coils, using pliers and wire scrapers.

Review work orders and specifications to determine materials needed and types of parts to be processed.

Select and load materials such as workpieces, objects, and machine parts onto equipment used in coiling processes.

Record production and operational data on specified forms.

Stop machines to remove completed components, using hand tools.

Examine and test wired electrical components such as motors, armatures, and stators, using measuring devices, and record test results.

Line slots with sheet insulation, and insert coils into slots.

Apply solutions or paints to wired electrical components, using hand tools, and bake components.

Blueprint display software

Electronic Systems of Wisconsin Motor Test System software

Machine Control Specialists CoilPro

Coil spreading machines

Coil taping machines

Element winding machines

Wire cutting tools

Wire snips

Digital voltage meters

Test lamps

Wire strippers

Hydraulic cranes

Digital micrometers

Alternating current AC generators

Rawhide hammers

Straight screwdrivers

Banding machines

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

About half the time

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Once a week or more but not every day

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Once a year or more but not every month

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

A lot of freedom

Some freedom

Limited freedom

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

Overview

Career

What Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers Do

Other Job Titles Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

Overview

Career

What Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers Do

Other Job Titles Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

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