Team Building Ideas by Trade

Team Building Games for Manufacturing Companies

In manufacturing facilities, teamwork is vital! Here at A Company Picnic, we have over 35 years of experience in team building services, and we find that team building activities centered around your team’s profession can make them all the more impactful and meaningful. We’d like to present to you some of our favorite team building games for manufacturing companies, ones that will be all the more enjoyable for your team since they allow them to flex their skill set. Here’s 12 of our top choices.

12 Great Team Building Games for Manufacturing Companies

Let’s Go LEGOs

What You’ll Need:

A LEGO kit for each team
A tarp or sheet to conceal LEGOs

In this game, one player is allowed to look under a towel or piece of fabric where an assembled LEGO object is covered up. They only have 30 seconds to memorize what they see before racing back to their team. Using their memory and oral instructions only (totally hands-off), they describe to teammates how to construct it. This game is great for communication and creative thinking while being perfectly suited for manufacturing employees.

Blind Bridge Build

What You’ll Need:

Building toys such as Tinker Toys, Toobeez, Lincoln Logs, etc.
Curtain, Poster Board, etc. to shield each side from view

In this game, a group is split into two teams and instructed to build half a bridge on their respective sides of a visual divider. When the divider is removed at the end, the two teams must connect their bridges to complete a bridge with the addition of only one more piece. This game is challenging and hones problem solving skills while also touching on your team’s profession.

Assembly Line Race

What You’ll Need:

One LEGO kit per team

To play this game, a small LEGO kit is given to each team. Teams form an assembly line to put the set together step by step. The team whose kit is completed first wins the race. This game harkens back to manufacturing companies’ assembly teams and is a meaningful way to encourage team bonding and communication.

Big Bad Wolf

What You’ll Need:

Large cardboard building blocks
Electric fan

This activity is based on the story of the 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. Each team will consist of three players who, working together, try to stack the blocks as high as possible while the activity facilitator aims the fan at them. The team whose structure remains intact once the timer runs out wins the challenge. This assembly-type game provides a unique challenge for a team building event.

Pipeline

What You’ll Need:

PVC pipes
Marbles
A medium-sized container/box

In this team building activity, the team has to transport marbles from the start line to the finish line, using only PVC pipes. Teams are allowed 5 minutes of planning time and must work together once the challenge has begun to transport 15 marbles from the start line to the container at the finish line, without using their hands. This game highlights teamwork and communication, fosters problem-solving skills, and is perfectly suited for those working at manufacturing facilities.

Blindfolded Assembly Line Lemonade Challenge

What You’ll Need:

Lemons
Water
Sugar
Pitcher
2 Cups
Blindfolds

Each team will be made up of four blindfolded players. The first player will be given a drinking pitcher and 4 lemons cut in halves. Using only their hands, they will attempt to get all the juice squeezed into the pitcher, which is then passed to player two. Player two attempts to pour all the sugar in the pitcher before passing it to player three. Player three attempts to pour all the water they’ve been given into the pitcher. Player four has two cups (thus two attempts) to pour as much lemonade as possible into a cup without spilling it. The team who has the most lemonade in a glass wins! This game’s assembly line format touches on your team’s work skills while also fostering creative thinking.

Egg Drop

What You’ll Need:

Each team will be given one raw egg
Twenty straws
A short length of tape
Step stool or ladder

The challenge for each team is to build a ‘vehicle’ which can safely transport an egg a distance of 10′ when held above the floor and dropped. This game fosters creative thinking and is well-suited for those working in a manufacturing company.

Blindfold Camp Assembly

What You’ll Need:

Blindfolds
Pup Tent (outdoors) Popup Tent (indoors)

Each team will consist of four blindfolded players. Teams are led to their “campsite” and must work together to raise the tent without the use of sight. This game promotes communication and teamwork while being assembly related.

Wrench Relay Race

What You’ll Need:

Prop wrench
Finish line

Some members of your manufacturing company may spend a lot of time using wrenches, like maintenance personnel. Regardless, working in a manufacturing facility usually means time spent around tools. Using a prop wrench (or a tool more suited to your specific trade) in place of the traditional baton in a relay race is a great way to incorporate your team’s profession into a classic team building game.

Paper Airplane Competition

What You’ll Need:

A4 paper
Tape
Scissors
Red string or tape for finish line

Paper airplane competitions can be played a lot of different ways, from seeing which is the furthest flying to which stays in the air the longest. One of the most common styles is having a race to see whose airplane crosses the finish line first. A paper airplane race can harken back to your team’s profession and allow them to utilize their skill sets to win.

Team Building Games for Manufacturing Companies

Boat Construction & Race

What You’ll Need:

Cardboard
Duct tape
Scissors
Paddles

In this team building game, teams must assemble a functioning boat to race across a given body of water. Boats are assembled using cardboard pieces waterproofed with duct tape. Once assembled and in the water, teams must race to be the first to cross the body of water. This game is excellent for promoting teamwork and is well suited to the skillset of manufacturers. This activity works perfectly at this great place to have a picnic in Yorba Linda, which offers a lake and boat launch.

Building Bikes for Charity

What You’ll Need:

Bike assembly kit

Bike building for charity is an amazing team building activity (and one your manufacturing company’s team is sure to enjoy) in that it not only promotes team bonding, but gives back to your community as well. All you’ll need are bike assembly kits and some ready hands. This team building exercise is sure to leave a smile on all your team members’ faces.

Team Building for Manufacturing Companies & Beyond

Looking to host a team building event of your own? We’re here to help. We’ve planned countless memorable team building days like this nationwide. And if you’re looking for further assembly related team building games, check out our team building building article. To get started planning your team building event, fill out the form below or contact our picnic planners directly at 1.800.316.6722. We’re here to help with all things team building for manufacturing companies’ employees, healthcare professionals, and all other teams.