Production Worker

Course Description

ETI0481 – Production Worker is a 150-contact-hour vocational certificate course within the Engineering Technologies > Industrial Systems Technology taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course prepares students for entry-level employment as front-line production workers in Florida's manufacturing sector. Instruction integrates hands-on laboratory practice with applied technical theory, covering the four critical domains recognized by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC): workplace safety, quality practices and measurement, manufacturing processes and production, and maintenance awareness. Graduates are workforce-ready and positioned to pursue the nationally recognized MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential.

This course is applicable to all sectors of manufacturing and equips students with the core technical competencies needed to set up, operate, and monitor production equipment while adhering to safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and apply OSHA workplace safety regulations, hazard communication standards, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures in a manufacturing environment.
• Select and properly use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for a variety of production tasks and hazard conditions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of quality practices and measurement, including reading and interpreting measuring instruments, comparing results to specifications, and initiating corrective actions.
• Explain and apply the principles of manufacturing processes and production, including workflow coordination, production scheduling, and team-based operations.
• Identify the purpose and basic operation of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems used in production equipment.
• Perform or support preventive maintenance tasks on production equipment, including inspection, lubrication, and documentation.
• Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement concepts, including waste reduction and value-added activity identification.
• Demonstrate workplace employability skills, including professional communication, teamwork, time management, and adherence to workplace policies.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional focus and available equipment, students may also be able to:

• Interpret basic engineering drawings, schematics, and work orders used in production environments.
• Operate entry-level computer numerical control (CNC) or automated machinery under supervision.
• Demonstrate basic proficiency in statistical process control (SPC) data collection and charting.
• Apply 5S workplace organization methodology (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) to a simulated or actual production area.
• Identify Industry 4.0 concepts, including automation, robotics, and sensor-based monitoring in smart manufacturing environments.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Workplace Safety – OSHA standards and regulations; personal protective equipment (PPE); hazard identification and communication (GHS/SDS); lockout/tagout (LOTO); emergency procedures; accident reporting and recordkeeping; ergonomics and lifting safety.
• Quality Practices and Measurement – Principles of quality assurance; use of measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges); reading and interpreting specifications and tolerances; non-conformance identification; corrective and preventive action; introduction to total quality management (TQM).
• Manufacturing Processes and Production – Types of manufacturing environments (discrete, process, continuous); production workflow and scheduling; customer requirements and product specifications; team-based production operations; standard operating procedures (SOPs); material handling and storage.
• Maintenance Awareness – Roles of production and maintenance personnel; introduction to mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and lubrication systems; preventive vs. corrective maintenance; equipment inspection procedures; basic troubleshooting and documentation.
• Lean Manufacturing Fundamentals – Introduction to lean principles; waste identification (7 wastes/TIMWOOD); value stream concepts; continuous improvement (Kaizen) mindset; 5S methodology.
• Workplace Professionalism and Employability – Workplace conduct and ethics; written and verbal communication in a production setting; teamwork and conflict resolution; attendance and time management; understanding workplace rights and responsibilities.

Optional Topics

• Blueprint and Technical Drawing Interpretation – Reading production work orders; understanding basic engineering drawings and symbols; GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) fundamentals.
• Introduction to Automation and Robotics – Overview of programmable logic controllers (PLCs); sensor and actuator basics; robotic work cell awareness and safety.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) – Data collection methods; control charts; process capability concepts; interpreting variation.
• Environmental Compliance Awareness – Waste disposal regulations; environmental health and safety (EHS) basics; sustainability in manufacturing.
• Supply Chain and Inventory Basics – Introduction to just-in-time (JIT) inventory; kanban systems; receiving and shipping procedures; material requirements planning (MRP) awareness.

Resources & Tools

• MSSC Learning Management System (LMS) – Official MSSC online curriculum modules for Safety, Quality Practices & Measurement, Manufacturing Processes & Production, and Maintenance Awareness.
• Amatrol E-Learning Platform – Interactive multimedia courseware used by many Florida technical centers for industrial systems training.
• OSHA Publications – OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Training materials; OSHA.gov resources and compliance guides.
• Measuring Instruments Lab – Calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, gauge blocks, and coordinate measuring equipment.
• Production Simulation Equipment – Conveyors, assembly stations, and work cells reflecting real manufacturing environments.
• Maintenance Trainer Panels – Pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical training boards for hands-on maintenance awareness practice.
• Florida FLATE Resources – Engineering Technology curriculum materials aligned with MSSC skills standards developed by the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center.

Career Pathways

Completion of ETI0481 prepares students for immediate entry-level employment in Florida's manufacturing sector. Common job titles and roles include:

• Production Technician / Operator – Set up, operate, and monitor manufacturing equipment on a production line.
• Quality Control Inspector – Inspect products and materials for conformance to specifications.
• Material Handler / Warehouse Associate – Manage movement, storage, and documentation of raw materials and finished goods.
• Assembly Technician – Assemble components according to engineering drawings and standard operating procedures.
• Maintenance Helper / Technician Apprentice – Assist skilled maintenance personnel with equipment inspections and preventive maintenance tasks.

Students who complete this course may continue their education and advance their careers through the following pathways:

• Pursue the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) national certification, which articulates to an Engineering Technology A.S. or Manufacturing Technology A.S. degree at Florida College System institutions under Florida DOE Gold Standard Articulation Agreements.
• Enroll in additional ETI-prefix courses leading to a College Credit Certificate (CCC) or Associate in Science (A.S.) in Engineering Technology or Manufacturing Technology.
• Advance to supervisory or technician-level roles, including First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers (SOC 51-1011) with additional experience and training.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

ETI0481 is explicitly designed to align with the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential — the nationally recognized, industry-defined, and federally endorsed standard for front-line manufacturing workers. The CPT is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under ISO Standard 17024.

Students who complete this course will be prepared to sit for all four MSSC CPT module assessments:

• CPT – Safety
• CPT – Quality Practices & Measurement
• CPT – Manufacturing Processes & Production
• CPT – Maintenance Awareness

Earning the full CPT certification through the MSSC System provides articulated college credit toward an A.S. or A.A.S. degree in Engineering Technology or Manufacturing Technology at participating Florida College System institutions, pursuant to Florida's Gold Standard Career Pathways Articulation Agreements (Sections 1007.23 and 1008.44, Florida Statutes).

OSHA 10-Hour Training

Many Florida technical centers delivering ETI0481 incorporate or recommend the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry outreach training as a supplemental credential. Students who complete the OSHA 10-Hour program receive an OSHA wallet card recognized by employers across Florida's manufacturing sector.