A research associate in the Canadian manufacturing industry plays an integral role in ensuring that a company’s products are produced with the minimum of problems and that they correspond to requirements. Company clients rely on the job holder’s abilities to oversee the process that guarantees a top quality product.
Depending on the nature of a manufacturer’s operation, a research associate is required to be versatile with basic duties to ensure that production lines work to optimum capacity and that any problems are either resolved or passed over to the responsible technician. Time is of the essence, as line downtime equates to lost output, and incumbents are required to be decisive.
Candidates for positions are expected to hold a Bachelors degree in engineering or a scientific discipline, or have wide experience in the field. Mechanical aptitude is necessary, as most jobs require the holder to set up the production line and the various machines on it.
There are vacancies in most of the major cities in the country. Annual salaries vary according to location and the successful applicant’s length of experience, but are usually in the C
$50,000 to C
$60,000 range.