machine operator

maintenance technician

maintenance mechanic

material handler

manufacturing supervisor

Clarios

Formerly Johnson Controls, Clarios makes the low voltage batteries that you have definitely purchased for your car. Clarios Tampa is a fully integrated plant, meaning the entire battery is manufactured from raw materials and shipped from the plant; picture a real life "how its made" episode.

Work at Clarios, like most industrial environments, is incredibly fast paced and rewarding, if you are a motivated person that enjoys that battle of making tens of thousands of batteries per day. Employees must wear PPE, and Clarios does an excellent job of keeping their employees safe. Clarios has excellent benefits packages, and does a great job of training and advancing employees. There are many upper management staff that started their careers as operators, and that is a testament to both Clarios's commitment to hold onto their employees, and also provide training opportunities.

Operators: You are assigned a specific area of battery manufacturing; anything from making the lead plates, to assembling the battery, to "forming"/charging the batteries, to adding stickers. You are expected to "get to know your machine" and also work as a team. Operators receive generous compensation, and there is a bonus depending on the day's production throughput. 

Maintenance: You are responsible for two tasks; maintaining the equipment via rebuilds and preventative maintenance tasks (PMs), and troubleshooting equipment when it breaks down. Clarios does have some aging equipment that is difficult to keep running, but there is a large corporate investment to reinvigorate the US manufacturing sites, so things should be getting easier. The biggest complaint is the lack of documentation on some older equipment, and the "firefighting" that is all too common in a production focused environment. 

Management/Supervision: You are responsible for overseeing a specific area or function of the plant. There are essentially two sides to the plant, plate making/assembly, and formation/shipping. Clarios works three shifts so there is a area supervisor for each area, a maintenance supervisor for each shift, in addition to two area managers. As a supervisor you are the leader and coach of your operations team and are expected to help ensure that production runs smoothly. The biggest compliant is that a lot is expected of the supervisors, and the fast-paced environment means that they are unlikely to have much downtime. 

Engineering: Engineering at Clarios is one of three disciplines; Controls (maintaining, troubleshooting, and upgrading the many automated control panels and sensors), Process (Finding continuous improvement projects and executing on them), and Quality (ensuring that batteries meet a rigorous quality standard). I am personally a controls and process engineer at Clarios and I find the work highly rewarding. The biggest complaint regarding engineering is that there is a ton to do at any given time. Also engineers are also the "last line of defense" against breakdowns, so it isn't uncommon to be "pulled" onto an equipment failure in the middle of night when you are on call. However, you do receive "premium pay" for overtime work, which for a salaried position is a nice benefit. 

I cannot recommend Clarios enough to anyone looking for a challenge, and who has the work ethic and energy to keep up with the fast-paced industrial environment. 

A Typical Day at Work:
A typical day at Clarios is fast-paced and hands-on, especially in maintenance. The team works together to ensure equipment runs smoothly, troubleshoot issues, and perform preventative maintenance to avoid downtime. There’s a strong emphasis on safety and efficiency, making each day structured yet dynamic.

What You Believe You Learned:
Working at Clarios provides valuable experience in problem-solving, technical skills, and teamwork. Employees gain hands-on expertise with advanced machinery, electrical and mechanical systems, and preventive maintenance techniques. There’s also a focus on continuous learning, with training opportunities available to enhance skills.

Management:
Management at Clarios is generally supportive and focused on operational efficiency. Communication is clear, and they provide guidance and resources to ensure teams can perform at their best. Feedback and safety are taken seriously, though like any workplace, experiences may vary depending on the leadership team.

Workplace Culture:
The culture at Clarios is team-oriented, safety-focused, and fast-paced. Employees support each other, and there’s a strong emphasis on collaboration and efficiency. Safety protocols are strictly followed, and innovation is encouraged to improve processes.

The Hardest Part of the Job:
The job can be physically demanding and fast-paced, especially during high-demand periods or when urgent repairs are needed. Shift work and occasional long hours may also be challenging for some employees.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:
The best part of working at Clarios is the sense of accomplishment and teamwork. Solving complex mechanical or electrical issues, keeping operations running smoothly, and working with a skilled and supportive team make the job rewarding. The pay, benefits, and job stability also add to the overall positive experience.

1. Supportive Team Environment: The company fosters a collaborative work culture where colleagues are willing to support each other, creating a positive and engaging workplace.
2. Growth Opportunities: There are opportunities for skill development, career growth, and training, with management actively encouraging professional growth and certification programs.
3. Focus on Employee Safety: The company places a strong emphasis on safety, with regular training and protocols to ensure all employees feel secure in their work environment.
4. Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: A culture of diversity and inclusion is emphasized, allowing employees from various backgrounds to thrive and contribute effectively.
5. Good Benefits Package: Competitive health, dental, and vision benefits are offered, along with other perks like a solid retirement plan.
6. Innovation-Oriented: The company is consistently seeking innovative solutions to enhance production processes, which keeps the work interesting and forward-thinking.
7. Open Communication: Management maintains an open-door policy, making it easy for employees to voice their opinions or concerns.
8. Community Involvement: The company is actively involved in community events and initiatives, making employees feel proud of their workplace’s contributions beyond the business.
9. Work-Life Balance: Flexible scheduling and understanding management support a good work-life balance, allowing employees to better manage their personal and professional lives.
10. Employee Recognition: Hard work and dedication are acknowledged, whether through awards, incentives, or other forms of recognition, helping employees feel valued for their contributions.



I show up, am told what line to go to, and struggle/fight with the machine or the other worker on my line(they are never to be found), for half the shift, getting it to work for me, as either first or third shift have mucked it up. Then I'm usually told to change into a different order and am fighting the machine with the different order due to not being properly trained on how to do a changeover. Haven't seen any incentive pay in months, which was why I took the job.
Supervisors are never easy to be found, the paging system only works half the time. Meaning you have to track down a supervisor most of the time. Quality department is a joke, yet you're expected to ensure propert quality with the product you run, which is impossible when the materials you are given for production are of some of the absolute worst quality. 

Hardest part of the job is getting a decent order, and getting your machine to run. They don't properly train anyone, at all, and their loss in production values show. And even if your shift breaks a production record, you'll be waiting for months on end for that dinner reward they promise you for the hard work. 
There is nothing enjoyable about the job anymore, just that the paycheck is decent even at base pay, and it's a weekly check. I wouldn't recommend this place to my enemy, let alone my friends and loved ones. 

Also they push for low blood lead levels, but when it's the fault of the workplace conditions or the faulty equipment, they refuse to accept such reasons and blame the employee for it. Even if your breathing apparatus is faulty, broken, or needs the filter replaced. They don't treat you like a human being, just a number, a warm body to be there because they need you there. 

Initially I had second thoughts about interviewing.  The recruiter convinced me to go ahead.  They said all the right things, stating how secure the company/position was and opportunities for promotion etc.  They offered a decent salary. I was offered the job.  What was not disclosed to me was the extent that the IT department is in chaos of having acquired the JC battery division.  I thought I was going to a desktop support job.  What ended up happening was becoming a project manager/coordinator for all of the corporate IT migrations (applications, network, pc, phone, infrastructure) in addition to the day to day support.  It is expected to be on call for the plant 24/7, in addition to the "regional" tech rotation.  Level 2 techs now support their plant, as well as support corporate users, and sometimes other plants.  There is little respect for the L2 technicians.  Your days off (including PTO) are filled with calls/text/email from the plant and/or IT management unless you put your foot down and don't answer the phone.  IT management chooses not to appropriately staff, so there is only one tech per location to shoulder it all.  The position is classified as exempt with salary, so there is NO OVERTIME.  You may be able to get comp days if you're lucky.  To compound all of this, L2 techs have very little access to do any sort of desktop administrative activities.  It is very frustrating.  If you know of a way to do something in 5 minutes, expect it to take an hour or three to find a work around.  No joke!  The environment is not just dirty, it is filthy with lead dust and acid in areas. If you are desperate still after reading this, go ahead and apply.  You will be miserable like all the other techs who are still there.

I can only speak to my role in North America Supplier Quality & in the Corporate Quality Dept.  The departments run on SharePoint and Excel files. The company lacks a QMS software program which made managing PPAPs and audit docs difficult. The SQ department manager has only worked at Clarios and runs Supplier Quality like a kindergarten, no standardization, no technological improvements and actually shies away from these. I was often told to handle issues that occurred in other continents. When I mentioned that my scope was NA, I was put on a PIP. That was when I decided to leave. The manager did not allow the team to employ logic or question anything. Felt like we were playing work not actually making any progress. The "Global Quality" group tried one QMS software package for about a month then scrapped the project with no explanation of why or when the topic would be revisited. Was demoralizing. 

Finding prints or specifications can take days and then you still cannot be confident that you have the current revision. The company just lacks the attention to detail one would expect of a company this size. 

I worked with great people in every department - Procurement, Design Engineering , teams in the plants. The human element is fantastic! I was paid well and given a competitive amount of time off. Benefits were affordable and extended to domestic partners if needed. 


I've worked in about 11 manufacturing facilities and this one by far has the best culture that listens to its people, and constantly aims to support and improve the facility, equipment, and its people. 
 - Focus factory meetings weekly in every department to meet with operators and understand issues so they can be prioritized and resolved as soon as possible
 - Plantwide safety meetings
 - Daily prioritization of planned equipment maintenance
 - Robust preventative maintenance program
 - Predictive maintenance program
 - Management team has an open door policy, anyone at anytime can walk in and discuss anything
 - Clear goals communicated every year and updated every month based on performance. Unified incentive program for all employees 
 - Development goals required for all salaried  employees to reach next step of career and improve skills of workforce
 - Plantwide cookouts and gatherings to show appreciation for entire plant
 - Hardest part of the job is hours can be long, and can be hot depending on the time of year and location in the plant, but it's indoors
 - Most enjoyable part of the job is putting improvements into place, and working with people to get safety, quality, and production in the best possible state

What is the best part of working at the company?
Getting experience with different robots such as fanuc and nachi.  from programming to troubleshooting.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
the 2-2-3 work shift.  The lack of support for parts needed for repairs.  The lack of safety awareness.  The constant application of half-assed service on machines.  The main and only goal that matters is production and getting the machines up and running.  The revolving door of employees.  The lack of thorough training for new employees that come in and soon quit for lack of management awareness beyond production.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
terrible.  production focused only.  safety and your wellbeing is a distant second.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
busy non stop on your feet.  In my case i worked on the controls side.  Understaffed made the job more frustrating.  when staffed fully it was better to manage but not by much.  Answer a call on the radio about a certain robot.  Run to that robot and while dealing with that robot you got another call for a robot.  with only two guys on shift at the time qualified  to work on them that means production is suffering.  So the pressure of fixing the current problem you are dealing with surmounts more.  Every night was pretty stressful.  Especially if you are still training and trying to get a handle on the operation.

Clarios is a good place to hone your maintenance and engineering skill. But not because they have a culture of learning. It’s the opposite. The skilled trades division lacks true talent. So if you’re intelligent, and have a good understanding of how to troubleshoot, you will learn more than you’ve ever thought possible thanks to the large volume of bad examples to study. 

Maintenance supervision uses the work order system to track you down to the minute. You get lectured on everything even if you are doing exactly what you are instructed, unless you work 1st shift. 1st shift doesn’t really have to do anything except dream up bad ideas that cost the company money. They will spend $20,000 to fix a $10 problem and act like they saved the world.

The other department managers are good people to work with. Production management appreciates hard work and they let you know it. They’re always willing to work with you if they have confidence in your ability to solve problems.

Human Resources is by far and away the most helpful department at Clarios. I’ve never had a negative experience with HR and always have received answers to all of the questions I’ve ever had. They really work hard to accommodate you. If you need them to be there at 11 PM Sunday Night because you have an issue you want to discuss, HR will be there. It is a really well run department. 


Most will work 6 days a week, if you're in formation, enveloping or pasting you'll work 7 days a week. Until you have about 4 years of seniority most of those days will be 12 hour shifts to cover people that don't show up for work. In the summer it's hot and in the winter it's cold, there's no AC or Heating in assembly due to the danger of stirring up lead oxide into the air. The union is the weakest I've ever seen with the worst contracts. You are contracted to work 3 weeks, 21 days before you get a two day weekend off. Your weekend can be cut short on either end by having to stay over an extra 4 hours on Friday or to come in early an extra 4 hours on Monday. 12 hour shifts to cover absentees is mandatory, working OT is mandatory. You get paid fairly well for a job requiring no experience but you'll have no time to spend it. If you have a family you can see them for that one weekend a month, so make it count. The management team is completely reactive and can't get ahead of anything. Most managers there don't have the skillset to manage a Burger King. The health insurance is terrible, high deductible, expect to pay $300 per doctor visit.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Machine operator 15 salaries reported	$21.74 per hour
Maintenance technician 22 salaries reported	$35.76 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour
Material handler 1 salary reported	$22.75 per hour
Manufacturing supervisor 1 salary reported	$82,500 per year

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