Fisher & Paykel Appliances

Pros: I've really enjoyed my time here as a Product Engineer in the appliance manufacturing industry. There are solid opportunities for learning new skills and taking on challenging projects, especially in product development. Colleagues are super supportive and always willing to help out, which creates a great team environment. It's a stable company, so job security feels pretty good, and I appreciate the hybrid work arrangement that offers some flexibility.
Cons: While there are definite career growth paths, the promotion process can sometimes feel a bit slow or require a lot of internal networking. We also sometimes deal with older legacy systems which can make some processes less efficient than they could be. Communication between different departments could be clearer sometimes, but it's not a major issue.
Advice to Management: Focus on streamlining the promotion process and investing in modernizing some of the older internal systems to boost overall efficiency and employee development.

Pros: The hybrid work model is a solid perk; I didn't have to be in the Huntington Beach, CA office five days a week. Pay and benefits were decent for appliance manufacturing, which is always good. There were also opportunities to work on some genuinely innovative product development projects, which kept things interesting as a Product Manager.
Cons: Leadership is a real mixed bag; sometimes it felt like decisions came from nowhere. There's not much clear direction for career growth, which is tough. And honestly, communication from upper management can be pretty poor, making things frustrating for product development teams.
Advice to Management: Upper management needs to really listen to their teams, especially those in product development. Improve transparency in decision-making and invest more in developing mid-level leaders. Better communication would go a long way here.

Pros: The company has a long history in the consumer electronics industry, so it's not going anywhere soon. We get decent pay and the benefits package is pretty solid. As a Product Development Engineer, you'll learn a lot here.
Cons: Job security isn't always clear, especially with market shifts. There have been some reorganizations, which makes people nervous. It feels like they're always watching the bottom line, impacting our team in the Costa Mesa office.
Advice to Management: Be more transparent about future plans and potential impacts on teams. It helps morale and reduces anxiety among employees.

Pros: As a Product Designer, I've found the daily work manageable. Most weeks are solid 40-hour weeks, which is great for the appliance manufacturing industry. You can usually leave on time from the Irvine, CA office.
Cons: There are crunch times, especially before new product launches, where things get tough. WFH options aren't super flexible for everyone, particularly for these onsite roles. It can be hard to truly disconnect sometimes.
Advice to Management: Try to manage project timelines better to avoid those intense crunch periods. More consistent remote work policies would really help improve employee flexibility.

Pros: As a Product Designer, the hybrid work model is a solid perk. I get to work from home two days a week, which is helpful. This flexibility helps balance personal life a bit.
Cons: However, getting full remote approval for appliance manufacturing roles is a real fight. Even for some engineering jobs, the onsite days are pretty strict. There's not much wiggle room if something unexpected comes up.
Advice to Management: Trust employees more with remote work options for roles that don't need constant onsite presence, like many in product development. It would really boost morale and retention.

Pros: Good for getting experience in the appliance manufacturing industry. I liked the product development challenges, especially working on new kitchen appliance lines. The hybrid work model is a decent perk, offering some flexibility.
Cons: The company culture feels a bit old-school and hierarchical. It's tough to get new ideas implemented; things move really slowly for a corporate environment. There isn't much recognition for extra effort, which is a bummer.
Advice to Management: Really listen to feedback from the product development and engineering teams. Try to foster a more innovative and collaborative company culture across all locations, not just the Irvine, CA office. Empower managers to recognize contributions more often.

Pros: As a Manufacturing Engineer in the Dunedin office, the work is pretty steady. The company has a strong presence in the appliance industry, so you generally feel like your role is important. It's an onsite environment, which helps with team cohesion.
Cons: There have been some recent organizational shifts that make you question long-term job security for certain manufacturing roles. It feels like things can change quickly with leadership decisions, impacting future opportunities.
Advice to Management: Be more transparent about future plans and how they might affect employees, especially those in long-standing manufacturing roles.

Pros: You get pretty solid job security here, which is nice for a corporate setup. The team environment for a Manufacturing Engineer is usually collaborative, so you don't feel totally alone on projects. It's a stable company in the appliance industry.
Cons: Leadership can be a real mixed bag. There's not much vision from the top, and decisions often feel slow or reactive. Career growth feels pretty stagnant, especially if you're looking to move up in the Auckland office without a clear path.
Advice to Management: Focus on developing clearer strategic goals and communicate them better across all teams. Invest in leadership training for middle management to improve day-to-day team direction. Really, what's the plan for future growth?

Pros: The pay and benefits are solid for a corporate environment. I've learned a lot about production line optimization as a Manufacturing Engineer. It's a well-known brand in appliance manufacturing.
Cons: Job security isn't always clear, especially with new projects starting and stopping in the NZ operations. There's sometimes a lack of communication from leadership about future plans, which makes you wonder. For technical roles, career growth can feel slow.
Advice to Management: Be more transparent about company direction and job outlook. It'd help a lot with employee morale and retention.