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Sand & Buff Production Associate
Career Insights for Production Worker
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Scorecard
Based on North Carolina data
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What they do
A Production Worker performs a variety of duties in a factory. Operates machinery, manages distribution and provides quality control inspection.
$39,395 / year median in North Carolina
+7% projected growth
Job Description
Position Summary As a Production Associate - Sand & Buff, you'll grind, sand, and polish used auto light lenses back to insurance-quality condition, using real hand and machine finishing skills that ship straight out to collision repair shops across the country. This is production-line work with a visible result: you can hold up a lens at the end of your shift and see exactly what you fixed. You'll work alongside a team that trades tips on technique, and your ideas on a faster or cleaner finish genuinely make it into how the line runs. What you'll do Inspect each lens or housing and diagnose exactly what material and process it needs — light buffing, deep sanding, or a full re-finish. Set up with the right grinding wheels, sanding grits, and polishing compounds for the job in front of you. Grind, sand, clean, and polish lenses by hand and machine until the finish hits insurance-quality standard — no shortcuts, no fogging, no scratches left behind. Run every finished piece through quality control before it moves to the next station. Follow safety procedures on every job — PPE, machine guards, and safe handling, every time. Bring your ideas to the team on faster or better ways to get the same clean finish. What you'll bring High school diploma or equivalent practical experience — required. 1+ year of warehouse, manufacturing, or factory experience — preferred, not required. Grinding, sanding, or buffing/polishing experience — a plus, not required, we'll train the technique. You catch defects and imperfections before a part leaves your station — a sharp eye for finish quality matters here. You can stand, stay focused, and keep steady hands through a full 8-10 hour shift. You can track multiple parts moving through your station at once without losing accuracy. You're coachable — willing to pick up new finishing techniques from teammates and trainers.