Occupation

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Human Advantage 65%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4 / 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, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.

Also Known As: Abrasive Wheel Molder, Air Bag Curer, Alfalfa Dehydrator Operator, Arch Cushion Press Operator, Artificial Log Machine Operator, Auger Press Operator, Automatic Lump Making Machine Tender, Bag Bailer +268 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
  2. Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
  3. Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
  4. Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
  5. Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
  6. Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
  7. Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
  8. Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
  9. Turn controls to adjust machine functions, such as regulating air pressure, creating vacuums, and adjusting coolant flow.
  10. Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses.
  11. Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes.
  12. Move materials, supplies, components, and finished products between storage and work areas, using work aids such as racks, hoists, and handtrucks.

Supplemental Tasks (14)

  1. Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels.
  2. Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices.
  3. Send product samples to laboratories for analysis.
  4. Couple air and gas lines to machines to maintain plasticity of material and to regulate solidification of final products.
  5. Pour, scoop, or dump specified ingredients, metal assemblies, or mixtures into sections of machine prior to starting machines.
  6. Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing.
  7. Remove materials or products from molds or from extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
  8. Feed products into machines by hand or conveyor.
  9. Measure arbors and dies to verify sizes specified on work tickets.
  10. Complete work tickets, and place them with products.
  11. Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters.
  12. Remove molds, mold components, and feeder tubes from machinery after production is complete.
  13. Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking.
  14. Install, align, and adjust neck rings, press plungers, and feeder tubes.

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)
78%
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)
9%
Some College Courses
8%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
4%
Less than a High School Diploma
1%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

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

Software (7)

  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Production scheduling software

Tools & Equipment (34)

  • Air hoses
  • Blow torches
  • Burners
  • Compacting machines
  • Computer numerically controlled CNC Extruders
  • Core cutters
  • Digital bench scales
  • Digital calipers
  • Digital micrometers
  • Film winders
  • Forming machines
  • Glass forming machines
  • High speed wrapping machines
  • Hopper dryers
  • Laser micrometers
  • Machine templates
  • Microwave extruders
  • Plodder machines
  • Power lifts
  • Precision rulers
  • Pressing machines
  • Pressure gauges
  • Rubber extruders
  • Scrap grinders
  • Sheeters
  • Single screw extruders
  • Slitters
  • Trim grinders
  • Trim knives
  • Trim winders
  • Tuber machines
  • Twin-barrel extrusion machines
  • Vulcanizer presses
  • Wheeled forklifts

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Sewing Machine Operators 80% match
Zone 2
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders You are here
Zone 3
Automotive Engineering Technicians 79% match
Zone 4
Fuel Cell Engineers 77% match
Zone 5
Microsystems Engineers 75% match

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