manufacturing specialist

maintenance mechanic

packager

maintenance technician

project engineer

ClarkDietrich

It's not a hard job, but it is both repetitive and fast paced. If you're not someone that likes to be on their feet keeping busy don't even bother.  You'll start with packaging the steel with wood and you'll package for months before beginning any other process like running a mill or operating a forklift. There is no A/C and the heating system is terrible.So in the summer you're sweating like a pig, in the winter you're cold. This job will test your limits. It's enough over time to make a person sick and you cannot say no because it's mandatory. Many people come and go from here. It's a revolving door. They say they pride themselves upon work-life balance. I can tell you first and foremost that is not true. Their idea of "balance" is 12 hours at work, and 12 hours away. They pride themselves on safety. But if you're sick, you have to come to work. How is it safe for someone who is legitimately sick to operate any machinery? How is it safe for someone who is exhausted from their insane work hours to operate heavy machinery? If the snow is coming down outside? They'll tell you to stay there or drive there and risk your own well-being "or else you'll get an attendance point." It's an unforgiving system and it isn't for those with family. If you have a family, just runaway and don't get attracted to the hourly wage because taxes just eat it up anyways. Second shift here is the absolute worst shift. You come in at 3:30pm and you never know what you're walking into. You could have so much work that even with the mandatory over time of 9-10 hours? You may still find yourself there past that until 3:00-4:00 in the morning. Second shift employees have walked into first shift employees leaving to go home, and first shift employees coming BACK because they were so overloaded with work and understaffed. Then of course you have to come right back to work just hours later. You might as well have a campsite out back. There is favoritism, and they do not train adequately or appropriately. Many supervisors talk down to their employees and treat them with disrespect that isn't warranted. Management needs one large overhaul. It wouldn't be a bad place to work if they treated their employees like human beings. They don't though, they treat people like they're walking talking robots. Regardless of what is going on in your home-life, or how legitimate something is? They will not help you adjust your schedule accordingly. They simply don't care. Everything goes by a 'waitlist.' There are people who've waited on that list for 3 years and they still are not being moved to first shift. They lie to you to get you through the door because they need bodies. The fact that they pride themselves in work life balance is actually insulting. If you love to work and you are a single person without a family you will probably be ok. If you are a father or mother with a family? Just walk away while you can.

First off this is from the warren plant, not the plant that moved to Vienna. They have a union which is good and bad. I never worked in a union shop before and a lot of people have good things to say. Yes it is work and not every single day is it the best times of my life. The management just changed and everyone has nothing but good things to say about the plant manager. They will explain overtime and tell you why and how long it will occur to the best of their knowledge. Somethings go unsaid until they happen not because of secrecy but because they aren’t entirely sure sometimes. For example, new equipment. Definitely a good place to work, a lot of people have been here for 20+ years and if that isn’t proof enough just ask the new hires what they think. Of course you are not going to get along with every personality but work is what you make it. I love my job and my bosses, there is room for advancement and they will help you anyway possible. If you don’t have to right tools or find a better way to do something, say it. They won’t take it as their own idea or shut it down because “they” didn’t think of it. Decent pay for the area and for the work load.

All in all I understand what the company is striving to be, and they remain the brand leader in metal framing.  The current years of service for employees average about 15 years, but there are many employees with well over 20 years of service.  As a new hire the benefits seem fair to good but once you get a few months in, reality sets hold.  Vacation time is based on seniority and very hard to get. They have a poor attendance policy, and monthly random drug tests.  They have improved there training practices and strive to be a very safe company to work for given the hazards all over the plant.  Very high forklift traffic, overhead cranes carrying thousands of pounds of coiled steel, and the rollform mills themselves.  We are currently in the process of moving to a larger, newer facility which should give way to better working conditions.  Direct supervision is laughable, very hard to get answers, and there is no work/home balance.  There is always a lot of overtime, and it is hard to schedule kids appointments or personal appointments.  I would look elsewhere for a job, or only plan on working here for a short time until you find something better.

Clark Dietrich employs a lot of people, they are the industry leader in the cold forming metal stud framing production business. Their success is do in large part to their logistical ability to meet customer demand for their product in the shortest turn around time possible.
     The downside to working there is mandatory long hours (10 - 12 hour days) and standing in one place on concrete floors. It is very hot inside the building during the summer. Favoritism runs rampant and there is not much room for advancement. Despite what a prospective employee is told; pay raises are out of reach unless meet a series of demands imposed by company rules and regulations masked as safety initiatives.
     There is a high turnover rate there as many employees quit within the first 6 - 18 months. Its hard work that is not mentally stimulating.
Management does not follow their own initiatives, nor do they always lead by example. You have department leads that don't lead by example either. there is a lot of mold,dust and allergens in the air.

Lots of promises coming through the door, but you soon learn its more like a prison....Its the kind of place where you are told that you are doing good, but not good enough at the same time. You are constantly watched like you are a criminal. This place is not for someone who has dreams and aspirations....Standing on cement floors 10 hour days are mandatory and common all year long, 11 - 12 hour days can be frequent and may include Saturdays from time to time. It is noisy, lots of dangerous fork lift traffic to contend with, easy to get lacerated on the sharp metal products and scrap, high mold on the wood used for packaging as well as dust allergens. Snitching incentives and favoritisms are the order of the day; you can't trust very many people there. If you suffer from depression this place will test your resolve. The company imposes a points system aimed at punishing you for the slightest grievance and pay raises are almost non existent. The starting pay is good, but its hard work and you earn every minute of it.

A typical day starts with an informative KPI meeting followed with a motivational speech that includes how many days we have without an accident and finishing with a " work safe and watch each other ".
This has taught me that even though we start off the day the same, we shouldnt take it for granted. Things that come to us second nature is a what formulates an accident, that is why it is crucial to be aware of your surroundings and also communication is key.
The most enjoyable part of the job is when I help a coworker out with any problems or questions they might have. In this company it is encouraged to ask questions no matter what becuase nobody wants to continue their job without the sense of accountability or safety net always being there when they need it. To accomplish this the entire team needs to be in sync.

been in many different companies, can definitely say working for CLARKDIETRICH is great in my opinion work hard work safe and be willing to learn is what its all about .if you cannot do those three things then your time will either be a waste or just not what it can be by giving it your all .sure there are days that are gonna be more challenging then others ,but if you ask for help you will get it , bristol location packaging is usually the start then you can branch off into other jobs if you show desire ,and worth. I am constantly learning new things each day ,hardest part of the job typically is just keeping up with demand ,which means business is booming . the most enjoyable part of the job is the reward you get after your done .get paid is the thing i work hard for ,and they will pay for your services ,management has its goods and bad, but what company has perfect management .

Worked here for over 10 years, seen many HR, maintenance managers, plant managers, production managers and supervisors come and go.

 Very difficult to establish work history, and long term goals with revolving management. Very unclear on company values like "Do the right thing", "live a balanced life" and statements like "being a people leader" are all just words without actual foundation or actions.

So disappointed to put so much effort and so many years into what seemed to be a great company, the recent joint venture and changes in management have really detached this company from its core values.

Plant manager statements like "Maybe it's time to start thinking of separation" or "If you can support  your family better by going somewhere else, go for it",  in a meeting hosted by the plant manager to address the low moral in the company was when I decided to search for other options.

Money is decent, work life balance fluctuates with business needs. One min it's no overtime the next it's mandatory 12's. So hard to have a work life balance like that. Just be prepared to work hard, you'll see favoritism with certain people. Overall if you do what you supposed to to you can move up. Once you top out that's it though. Sometimes the may give you a cost of living increase.
 

The pay checks are good no matter where you start. My only problem was once I was on second shift I was pretty much stuck there. As a mill operator I had some long days. You cant leave until your work is done and alot of the times its not even your fault. Weather its the mill breaking down or lazy packagers, I had some days where I left and first shift was walking in. They hire people with the thought that they are going to 3rd shift only to end up stuck in second, safety is big and I applaud them on that. Bonuses are great. Some of the people are great. Another thing I liked about this place is that you can talk to managers and they listen at times. They do try to help you out. I would go back but I like being home in the after noon. I like to spend my time with my family this place didnt allow me to do that

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Manufacturing specialist 81 salaries reported	$21.14 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 25 salaries reported	$32.95 per hour
Packager 2 salaries reported	$20.66 per hour
Maintenance technician 11 salaries reported	$32.57 per hour
Project engineer 2 salaries reported	$89,450 per year

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