I agree somewhat with solidguy, having worked from factory to factory, warehouse to warehouse since 16. Although they are short periods of 2 weeks to 1 month, it taught me so much about people - their lives are sucked dry out of them by their monotonous work.
However, I wouldn't agree that they are robots because robots can't think or solve problems : a few plant technicians and engineers have the uncanny ability to rework and replace somponents using nothing more than a cutting torch and a few spare parts.
Unfortunately they get berated by the management for their work; but I guess in today's world of superficiality, companies prefer morons to Macgyvers.