Occupation

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Human Advantage 61%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4.1 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

Also Known As: Abrasive Grinder, Air Bag Buffer, Air Chipper, Automatic Blocker, Automatic Buffer, Automatic Corn Grinder Operator, Automatic Grinding Machine Operator, Automatic Pattern Edger +276 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
  2. Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
  3. Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
  4. Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
  5. Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
  6. Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
  7. Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
  8. Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
  9. Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
  10. Clean work areas.
  11. Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
  12. Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
  13. Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools.

Supplemental Tasks (8)

  1. Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.
  2. Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored.
  3. Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools.
  4. Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
  5. Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
  6. Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
  7. Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials.
  8. Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
62%
Less than a High School Diploma
19%
Some College Courses
18%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
1%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (7)

  • Email software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (37)

  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Ammeters
  • Belt scales
  • Chipping hammers
  • Claw hammers
  • Comealongs
  • Desktop computers
  • Dollies
  • Forklifts
  • Front end loaders
  • Grease guns
  • Handtrucks
  • Holding clamps
  • Hole cutters
  • Hole punches
  • Layout squares
  • Locking pliers
  • Mallets
  • Material-hoisting slings
  • Measuring tapes
  • Mini loaders
  • Overhead cranes
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Picks
  • Power drills
  • Power grinders
  • Pressurized air cleaners
  • Protective ear plugs
  • Pry bars
  • Ratchets
  • Safety goggles
  • Scrapers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Utility knives
  • Wire brushes

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders You are here
Zone 4
Zone 5

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