Component Assembler (First Shift)
Component Assembler (1st Shift)
Gerald Industries, A DEMA Company | Gerald, MO | Full-Time, Onsite
$15.60/hour to start + $1.00/hour Perfect Attendance Incentive
Earn up to $16.60/hour when the incentive is earned*
Day Shift Only | 4½-Day Work Week | Home Early Every Friday | No Experience Required
If You Can Build It Right, We Can Teach You the Rest
Most of the people doing this job today had never assembled anything in a factory before they walked in the door. What they had was steady hands, patience, and enough pride in their work to care whether it was right. That's still what we look for.
As a Component Assembler, you build the parts that everything else depends on - the kits, valves, hoses, and subassemblies that move down the line and become finished products shipped to customers across the country and around the world. If your work is right, the whole build goes smoothly. If it isn't, everyone downstream feels it. It matters, and we'll make sure you're trained well enough to do it with confidence.
What You'll Earn
$15.60/hour starting base pay - no prior experience required
Additional $1.00/hour Perfect Attendance Incentive for eligible employees - up to $16.60/hour*
Paid, hands-on training from day one - you learn a skilled trade while you earn
Cross-training into additional assembly areas as you build skill, which opens the door to other roles here
Day shift only. No nights, no rotating schedules.
4½-day work week with an early finish every Friday
Stable, year-round work with a family-owned manufacturer
*The $1.00/hour Perfect Attendance Incentive is available to eligible employees who meet the requirements of the incentive program and is applied to every hour worked during the applicable pay period.
What You'll Actually Do
You'll work at a bench, cell, or line assembling components to spec - and checking your own work before it moves on.
Assemble components, subassemblies, kits, valves, and hoses following work instructions, drawings, and specifications
Position, align, fit, and secure parts using approved tools and methods
Use hand tools, power tools, torque wrenches, gauges, and assembly fixtures
Perform visual inspections and take basic measurements to verify your work meets spec
Identify, tag, and report parts that don't meet requirements - before they move downstream
Complete production and quality documentation accurately
Keep your workstation clean, stocked, and organized (5S)
Speak up early about material shortages, tool issues, safety hazards, or anything that looks off
Cross-train into additional assembly areas as your skills grow
You'll Do Well Here If...
You'd rather do it right than do it fast - and you know the difference
You notice small things: a part that looks slightly off, a count that doesn't match
You're comfortable with detailed, hands-on work using your hands and small tools
You like knowing what's expected of you and hitting it consistently
You're willing to learn new stations rather than staying in one spot forever
You've fixed, built, or tinkered with things outside of work - cars, small engines, home projects, models. That kind of hands-on instinct transfers here.
What You Bring
Required
Ability to read and follow written and verbal work instructions
Ability to use common hand tools safely
Basic math - counting, measuring, comparing, recording
Basic computer skills to pull up work instructions and enter production information
Willingness to work in different assembly areas as production needs change
Helpful, But We'll Train You
High school diploma or GED (an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is also considered)
Previous manufacturing, assembly, production, or skilled-trade experience
Experience reading assembly drawings or blueprints
Experience with calipers, micrometers, gauges, or torque tools
Where This Can Go
This is a starting point, and we'll be straight with you about that. Component Assembler is where a lot of people at Gerald begin - and it's also where a lot of people learn the skills that move them into higher-paying work here. As you get proficient, you'll be cross-trained into additional assembly areas. The more stations you can run, the more valuable you are, and the more doors open - in assembly, and in departments like electronics, blend center, stockroom, shipping, and quality.
We'd rather tell you the truth than make a promise: there's no automatic timeline and no guaranteed step. What we can tell you is that your supervisor will talk with you about how you're doing and what to work on next, and that people here who ask for more work and learn more jobs are the ones who tend to go further. Several of our leads and specialists started in entry-level production roles.
Advancement and pay changes are based on demonstrated skill, quality, safety, and business need. Nothing here guarantees a specific role, rate, or timeline.
About the Work Environment
This is a manufacturing plant. You'll be on your feet at a workstation for most of the shift. It's loud enough in places that hearing protection is required. Temperatures follow the seasons. Safety glasses and sturdy closed-toe shoes are required in production areas. The work regularly involves standing for extended periods, reaching, and using your hands and fingers for detailed assembly. You'll frequently lift or move materials up to 35 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds using available material-handling equipment. Close vision and good hand-eye coordination are needed for assembly and inspection.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Benefits
We take care of the people who take care of the work.
Health, Dental and vision insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
Paid holidays
Paid time off beginning at hire
Performance incentives
On-the-job training and cross-training
Employee appreciation events
Free coffee bar and micro-markets in our breakrooms
Clean, organized facility with a strong safety culture
About Gerald Industries
Gerald Industries, a DEMA Company, is a family-owned manufacturer with a reputation for quality, innovation, and long-term stability. From our facility in Gerald, Missouri, we manufacture components used in commercial laundry, ware washing, beverage dispensing, HVAC, refrigeration, agriculture, and other industries, serving customers across the United States and around the world.
Our culture is built on four core values: Honesty. Hard Work. Respect. Teamwork.
We're a place where people know each other's names. Many of our employees have built long careers here because the work is steady, the culture is genuine, and doing the right thing isn't a slogan.
Ready to Apply?
It takes just a few minutes. If you take pride in careful, hands-on work, we'd like to meet you - experience or not.
Gerald Industries, A DEMA Company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.