millwright

industrial electrician

production operator

industrial mechanic

maintenance electrician

CertainTeed

This plant is a good example of how manufacturing is failing in the lower mainland. The plant is nearly 50 years old with what appears to be a great deal of original equipment. 

Some investment and improvements have been made, but a great deal of the commissioning was overlooked in order to get back up and running. Were it not for the effort of the surprisingly well established PM program, the deep commitment of some of their employees/ staff, and the deep coffers of their parent company, I very much doubt that this particular installation has much longer in it.

Production numbers & metrics are used as goads to prod production rates to the exclusion of all else, and management always seems surprised when their patented strategy of push the broken thing harder doesn't seem to pan out. That also goes for employees, running short handed should be temporary problem to be solved, not the norm. Running overtime just to have enough crew to make it through the next day or night shift is not a solution. nuff said. 

Operators run a 3 on, 3 off, 12 hr shift rotation. Maintenance is on a 5 X 8 hr strictly dayshift with the call-ins on rotation. Sounds great until you realise the plant calls you more often than your own mother. 

Training is poor, and hopefully they realise it before all the veterans retire and take that knowledge with them.

Communication is poor. A print out taped to a wall, in the middle of a dozen other print outs does not properly convey information. Surprise changes to Lock-Out policy should certainly be discussed before said Lock-Out needs to happen. 

It's not all doom and gloom. The money's good, and all the overtime you can work is available, sometimes even when you don't ask for it. It is a union shop, and has all the baggage and benefits involved. The company made many of the right moves when Covid hit. Doors open, and people working despite the challenges, so that's a feather in their cap.

I have worked worse places, but it's still a far cry from satisfying

I have been working here for a long time at the winnipeg plant and it is a great company to work for, however, the current management is bringing this place down, we have a very abusive boss who yells at people specially the management employees, we get to watch from far. In the last year he got rid of the best leaders we have ever had because of his own insecurities, he is an abusive man who will never change. every morning we come to work with fear of getting scream at. He brings us all down. We love the company and it is an amazing place to work for, but is the person running the plant who is the problem.  This man is what you call an abusive man who will mentally damage you and this is the reason why everyone for the management team has quit or gotten fired because of him. The ones who got fired were very unfair this man did it to buy him time. The people in this plant want things to get better we just hope he is gone soon if they want this place a great environment. They care so much for safety but what about mental health.

The plant top management doesn't care about how well you perform but themselves and the people they get from their acquaintances. The dictating, unknowledgeable and bossy plant manager has a closed-loop circle to monitor and micro-manage every person especially the persons not rating him well. They play politics more than you think about and can handle with if you just want to focus on doing a good job. They can purposely smear you with bad image and propagating it through the corporate HR. The plant turn over rate was ever close to 100% within 3 years under the current management.

Revolving door in every department. When you talk with the more senior guys they will tell you how the culture and company atmosphere has continually fallen over the years. It's a very, us versus you environment. Management always thinks they know best. Even though its a union, your own brothers will turn their backs on you as well. Do not trust anyone, and remember they are always watching you on the cameras. Management has even set up hidden cameras around the plant without informing employees.
Your work life balance is meaningless to them. Better off gaining experience somewhere else than wasting time here. 

High standards and high expectations with minimal amount of people.   Because the company is part of an international company, there are a lot of performance and safety standards that need to be achieved, improved, and reported.  Aiming for improvement is a good thing but when the company and upper management implement a lot of new standards or changes, the process and system become multi-layered and cumbersome.   There are a lot of turnover because they pay well but also expect a lot.  The people who are left there end up picking up the slack left by the people who are gone.  

When I first got to CertainTeed it was bad… but now. It’s way worse. 
Most often to not the most inexperienced people are in positions that they don’t have a clue with. And when they screw up the are reprimanded for there mistake instead of helping to learn or grow. If you don’t know how to do something asking someone will get you labeled stupid,useless,lazy or flat out just brushed off. You work when they say work, your schedule with work and life becomes non existent as they want work to be your life.

Well I was told we get paid today and they keep giving me the run around. Conversations were taken completely out of context and used against me to find  reasons to lay me off due to "cultural differences". There's a pretty large Confederate flag about 2 miles down the road. They pay ok but have a nasty-nice culture. Polite to your face but the gossip is ridiculous. The day before about 7 people were standing around talking about some girl whom they say ate off the floor. That was my second day. Others in my orientation group were late and sleeping through orientation yet they are still there. So idk. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The management are wonderful. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There is a considerable pressure to keep things running...to the point of panic

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's very fast paced. There is a lot of pressure to keep things running. It's a 24/7 operation and for the department I worked in....that means your 24/7. That being said the managers and my colleagues were great

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Busy...never a dull moment. That's for sure

The last 2 years 12 people have been fired or quit in the management team.  3 Production Managers in 15 months since new Plant Manager took over.  If you  ONLY work 12 hours he gives you the look of death. Lots of swearing yelling.  Lots of blaming the workers for everything.  Go on Linkedin and message the last 3 Production Managers and theyll all tell you the same thing.  Safety is the priority of the company but not for certain people. If you want to suffer mebtal and verbal abuse this is the job for you.

What is the best part of working at the company?
It was a great group of people to work with with

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Unplanned breakdowns …. If the mixer doesn’t run there is no product to sell

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very professional and always striving for world class performance 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Busy… inspections, projects, breakdowns and training

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Millwright 32 salaries reported	$38.97 per hour
Industrial electrician 17 salaries reported	$45.68 per hour
Production operator 2 salaries reported	$34.27 per hour
Industrial mechanic 13 salaries reported	$37.62 per hour
Maintenance electrician 4 salaries reported	$45.55 per hour

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