Skip to content
The Reserves Network
  • Find a JobExpand
    • Find a Job
      People-centered and purpose-driven, TRN offers access to top jobs as well as a true career partnership.
      Search Jobs
      Search Jobs
      • Why Work with TRN
      • Refer a Friend
      • Careers at TRN
      • Job Seeker Articles & Insights
  • Find TalentExpand
    • Find Talent
      Get all the workforce solutions you need in one place, no matter your size and sector. TRN has you covered.
      Request Talent
      Request Talent

      Workforce Solutions

      • Overview – How We Help
      • Staffing Solutions
      • Managed Staffing
      • Executive Search
      • Workforce Articles & Insights

      Specialties

      • Overview
      • Industrial & Manufacturing
      • Accounting & Finance
      • Information Technology
      • Engineering
      • Office & Professional
      • Executive & Management
      • Real Estate
      • Healthcare

      Specialties

      • Overview
      • Accounting & Finance
      • Engineering
      • Executive & Management
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial & Manufacturing
      • Information Technology
      • Office & Professional
      • Real Estate
  • LoginExpand
    • Employee Login
    • Client Login
    • Employee Resources
  • Locations
  • Contact
The Reserves Network
Employer Resources

What Soft Skills Are Necessary in a Manufacturing Setting?

Post by:The Reserves Network October 25, 2017April 9, 2024

What Soft Skills are Necessary for Manufacturing

Given the often sophisticated and dangerous nature of the work done by manufacturing firms, it’s only natural for these organizations to look for people with the right combination of experience and technical expertise. Skills like welding, CAD drafting, supply chain management, and engineering are just some of the core aspects of many manufacturing jobs.

The Importance of Soft Skills in Manufacturing

More manufacturing firms are beginning to realize the importance of strong soft skills, which have the ability to enhance the technical skills of employees in the long term.

With technology creating sweeping changes across the industrial and manufacturing landscape, today’s manufacturing workers no longer just work with their hands. They need to be able to think on their feet, communicate their progress and status, and work with teams — all of which is known as soft skills.

This is precisely why you should integrate them into your hiring process. Not sure which soft skills matter in your manufacturing hires? Here are a few of our suggestions.

 

  1. Communication

Manufacturing and engineering specialists are often imagined as lone wolves — people working long hours on their own, tinkering in the shop with no collaboration. This should never be the case in modern manufacturing facilities.

Candidates must have the ability to collaborate, handle conflict, and create action using their words, both verbally and on paper. They need to be able to articulate their ideas, challenges, and progress to ensure projects are smooth and safe for everyone involved.

 

  1. Interpersonal Skills

Likewise, interpersonal skills (people skills) are a must for any manufacturing professional. With the majority of today’s manufacturing jobs requiring constant interaction between people, employees must have the ability to work in teams and get along with others.

When it comes to manufacturing teams, the whole will always be greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, the whole team will suffer if one person is a disaster to work with, no matter how talented and skilled that candidate is.

 

  1. Timeliness

 Although being on time doesn’t sound like a skill, in the deadline-oriented world of manufacturing, it might as well be. Timeliness doesn’t just refer to a person’s ability to come to work on time every day – it also refers to their knack for meeting deadlines, finishing projects quickly, and thinking of solutions to problems in a swift manner.

 

  1. Adaptability

 Murphy’s law is an ever-present truth in the world of manufacturing. The things that can go wrong, will – often at the least convenient time. Manufacturing employees must be able to be able to think on their feet, come up with solutions to problems on the fly, and adapt to situations as they happen.

Be sure to check back on this blog for more career insights and guides. If your recruitment processes need a nudge in the right direction, the staffing services specialists of The Reserves Network are happy to help. Call our offices to learn more about our recruitment solutions.

 

Looking for World Class Talent?

 

Post navigation

Previous Previous
TRN Quoted in Kenosha News
NextContinue
The Reserves Network Opens New Location in Statesville, NC
866 TRN 2020 Login

TRN is a leading national provider of flexible staffing services, including temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire placements. It’s not just what we do, but how we do it, that matters.

  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X

Find a Job

  • Search Jobs
  • Why Work with TRN
  • Refer a Friend
  • Careers at TRN
  • Job Seeker Articles & Insights

Find Talent

  • How We Help
  • Staffing Solutions
  • Managed Staffing
  • Executive Search
  • Our Specialties
  • Workforce Articles & Insights

About

  • About The Reserves Network
  • News
  • Contact
  • Locations
  • Employee Resources
  • All Articles & Insights

22021 Brookpark Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126 | moreinfo@TRNstaffing.com  | HTML Sitemap

© 2025 The Reserves Network. Privacy Policy

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

Scroll to top
  • Find a Job
    • Find a Job
      People-centered and purpose-driven, TRN offers access to top jobs as well as a true career partnership.
      Search Jobs
      Search Jobs
      • Why Work with TRN
      • Refer a Friend
      • Careers at TRN
      • Job Seeker Articles & Insights
  • Find Talent
    • Find Talent
      Get all the workforce solutions you need in one place, no matter your size and sector. TRN has you covered.
      Request Talent
      Request Talent

      Workforce Solutions

      • Overview – How We Help
      • Staffing Solutions
      • Managed Staffing
      • Executive Search
      • Workforce Articles & Insights

      Specialties

      • Overview
      • Industrial & Manufacturing
      • Accounting & Finance
      • Information Technology
      • Engineering
      • Office & Professional
      • Executive & Management
      • Real Estate
      • Healthcare

      Specialties

      • Overview
      • Accounting & Finance
      • Engineering
      • Executive & Management
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial & Manufacturing
      • Information Technology
      • Office & Professional
      • Real Estate
  • Login
    • Employee Login
    • Client Login
    • Employee Resources
The Reserves Network
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Meta, LinkedIn, Zoominfo, and Hubspot to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!