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Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Occupation Detailed Description

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

The main tasks and work activities of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are to measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, inspect metal, plastic, or composite products, select production equipment according to product specifications, determine production equipment settings. In general, for the Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, operation Monitoring, operation and Control, monitoring, critical Thinking and other 7 skills are required.
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees 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.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs. 84.69% of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 11.22% of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
3.64%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
84.69%
Post-Secondary Certificate
11.22%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.45%

Tasks and Work Activities of Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  • Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
  • Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
  • Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
  • Change dies on extruding machines according to production line changes.
  • Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
  • Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
  • Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
  • Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
  • Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
  • Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
  • Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
  • Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
  • Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
  • Maintain an inventory of materials.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Determine production equipment settings.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Package products for storage or shipment.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Diagnose equipment malfunctions.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Skills and Abilities for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Blowerse.g. Air cooling systems
  • Vacuum pumpse.g. Automatic vacuum pumps
  • Air dryerse.g. Batch dryers
  • Furnacese.g. Billet heating furnaces
  • Loading equipmente.g. Billet loaders
  • Extruderse.g. Blown film extruders
  • Rubber or plastic extrusion diese.g. Braiders
  • Tensile strength testere.g. Burst testers
  • Screw conveyore.g. Conveyor augers
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Compression die adaptore.g. Die changers
  • Compression die adaptore.g. Die holders
  • Compression die adaptore.g. Die shuffles
  • Compression die adaptore.g. Die slides
  • Caliperse.g. Digital calipers
  • Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
  • Rubber or plastic extrusion diese.g. Dummy blocks
  • Steel holding tanke.g. Dye water tank farm systems
  • Electrical control panels for generatorse.g. Electrical panel boards
  • Belt conveyorse.g. Extrusion press conveyors
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.