manufacturing specialist

project manager

machinist

senior account manager

production manager

Southern Graphic Systems

A typical day for me would be ensuring all the needs of the staff were met, creating financial reports, project/job tracking, invoicing, payables, interaction with the building management, organizing and submitting receipts for credit card charges, ordering supplies, sample shopping for projects, training  and overseeing team on how to use various software, vacation tracking and approval, working with IT support to resolve IT issues.  
 I learned how to oversee a build out for a new office space and worked with contractors, architects and the building management to coordinate the aspects of the build-out.   The result is a magnificent office space.
I also learned how to communicate with an IT office that was in Kentucky as well as procurement and HR, all located in Louisville. They were all incredibly knowledgeable and available to me.
Management was good but would have liked to have someone there giving more onsite direction overall to the creative team.
My co-workers were Amazing.  I would work with any of them again in a millisecond.  We had tremendous harmony and respect for each other.  The VP who hired the team did a wonderful job at putting together the personalities that worked and the people who worked very hard to make the office succeed. 
The hardest part was that we were a new office and a new type of plant for SGS  They were branching into design and we were always concerned about the work flow keeping all of us employed. It was hard worrying about whether or not they would be closing our doors or if we would be laid off.
The most enjoyable part was handling the business at hand and dealing with many different facets and people.  We all gave 110% to the success of the business. Indeed a pleasure!

It has its benefits and drawbacks for sure. Shortly after beginning my job many other unexpected tasks were given to me to complete on top of my workload without much training or any extra pay; I just sort of became a do-it-all person. Coworkers were really friendly and my position allowed me to learn lots, but everyone tried to avoid the managers unless necessary; though fairly friendly they seemed like they almost always had bad news or were looking for ways to scrutinize your work. Not the greatest job security by any means either--this office fired a guy with zero warning after he worked over 20 years there because upper management transferred his work to a different location. As for a culture, that office in the least didn't have much of one. It's pretty much a basic "wake up, work, and go home" location. Coworkers were the best part of the job

Typical day is fairly busy work load due to chronic staffing shortages, & revolving door of employees (top talent always leaving).  Systems are poor which exasperates the problem.  As a result, management compensates by providing flexible work hours and some enjoy work from home opportunities.   Leadership turnover causing company direction to shift often.  No focus on professional development or company culture.  Company lacks basic fringe benefits.  On flip side, the people are kind and several enjoyable team environments.  Due to turnover issues, those who weather the storm may see advancement opportunities but the company has been known to hire externally while internal candidates were overlooked.  Recommend everyone do their homework and know what they are signing up for prior to joining.

This company had lied to me every step of the way from how long they work (12 hour shift but it's really 11.5) and since I had no one on my shift to follow me on the other side of the week I was forced into working 5pm to 1:30, so I got my 40 hours which was nice, but management was really bad the boss I delt with would always be full of himself and would have (metaphoric) bull spewing from his mouth. I got a text one morning about cylinders I launched into production way ahead of schedule. This boss berated me and told me that I should not be doing this, he later sent out an email about all the rules about how it should be done. the boss that I dealt with would rather email you and tell you how to do something rather than talk to you face to face and bring up any issues that they have face to face. They don't hand out raises and will make you do more work then you're supposed to.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There is no best part o found out recently
You can be a dedicated, loyal, well qualified US based employee of 10-30 years but they will outsource  your job to their offices in the Philippines and India

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Worrying when you will be let go for cheaper labor overseas

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Not good
You are not promoted based on work performance but rather sucking up or being friends with a member of management or and executive

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I did my job above and beyond what was required 
Worked nights and weekends without appreciation from management
and then just let go for a cheaper, much younger and very inexperienced replacement

Worst place I ever worked. Training is horrible . The 12 hour shifts suck. The way they schedule the shifts ends up in their favor. You work weekends and they don’t have to pay overtime. Week 1 Work Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday and Thursday, work Friday,Saturday and Sunday . Week 2 work, off Monday and Tuesday work Wednesday and Thursday off Friday,Saturday and Sunday. Night shift is harder to work those hours. 5:00pm- 5:00am. The pay is horrible for what you do. The chemicals in the factory are dangerous “ hexavalent chromium “ do your homework on that one. Should be paid more money for dealing with that. The Waukesha plant has such a high turnover rate they have to higher people right out of prison.”no joke”  The management there is not very professional.

I would start my day off by checking emails, concentrating on any urgent matters. Once that was completed, I would start typing up job orders for the day and dealing with any complications or issues. Since this was a pre-press business, I learned many things throughout the 10 years that I worked there. Programs to enter our jobs were always changing. I caught on very quickly on how to navigate through each program. I also learned how the business worked and eventually learned all the details that went with the job. My co-workers were excellent to work with and was always there to help if I had a question in need. The hardest part of the job was meeting the deadlines. The most enjoyable part of the job was I was able to learn new things everyday.

This place is barely hanging on they bring in people that let other plants run into the ground and put them at a location that was thriving before but to cut costs they hire a new Plate Production Manager, and Facility Managers. Incompetent with the lack of communication is what succeeds at this location if you can slide around on cardboard and slap box then you will be perfect fit as you will steadily move of the ranks as the people whom actually do the work will be forced to stay in their position as more and more work comes with no help and no more compensation. The fact that managers are in place at this location that have never done the jobs or work requirements that they are telling people to do is hypocritical in numerous way.

What is the best part of working at the company?
My external customers. You know you are in a bad place when the company is bought by an investment firm which specializes in "distressed assets".

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The way they keep moving jobs overseas, taking advantage of other countries by offering low wages.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Stressful. The last six months I worked there, they kept "reorganizing" so I literally answered to 4 different managers. My job was eliminated the day after my FMLA was approved.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Getting bombarded by too much work with no backup. I averaged 57 hours per week on salary.

Southern Graphic Systems has been a wonderful place to work for the last 3 years. Most of the employees at my site have been here for 10 years or more, and get along very well. We work hard as a team to complete projects and get the product out the door, and we celebrate each other's personal milestones or circle the wagons when an illness or tragedy strikes. Companies make tough choices all the time, and SGS had to make the tough choice to shut down this plant and move our manufacturing facilities to another state. Of course we are all distressed at the prospect of losing our jobs, but I know that we are just as distressed that the team is dividing up, and we are going our separate ways

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Manufacturing specialist 5 salaries reported	$21.10 per hour
Project manager 15 salaries reported	$58,538 per year
Machinist 6 salaries reported	$21.88 per hour
Senior account manager 3 salaries reported	$98,760 per year
Production manager 5 salaries reported	$85,117 per year

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