Careers > Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

$39.86K Median Salary 1.8K Job Openings (Annual Projection) -4.3% Job Growth

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About This Career

Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.

Reported Job Titles

Extruder, Extruder Operator, Extrusion Line Operator, Extrusion Operator, Granulator, Hot End Operator, Pelletizer Operator, Pot Tipper, Spindraw Operator, Stretch Operator

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Control Precision

Problem Sensitivity

Near Vision

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Finger Dexterity

Oral Comprehension

Manual Dexterity

Multilimb Coordination

Reaction Time

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Information Ordering

Oral Expression

Rate Control

Auditory Attention

Category Flexibility

Flexibility of Closure

Perceptual Speed

Selective Attention

Speech Clarity

Time Sharing

Trunk Strength

Visualization

Written Comprehension

Knowledge

Production and Processing

English Language

Education and Training

Mathematics

Mechanical

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Operation and Control

Monitoring

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Coordination

Judgment and Decision Making

Quality Control Analysis

Speaking

Time Management

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Industrial control software

Electronic mail software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Data base management system software

Data base user interface and query software

Tools

Micrometers

Extruders

Conveyor feeders

Dial indicator or dial gauge

Staple guns

Ladders

Blowers or dryers

Screwdrivers

Tape measures

Counters

Power staple guns

Calipers

Tension testers

Blow torch

Tachometers

Hopper scale

Multi tool pliers

Forklifts

Stereo or dissecting light microscopes

Storage tanks

Thickness measuring devices

Wire gauge

Allen wrench

Intensive mixers

Pyrometers

Laser printers

Label making machines

Loading equipment

Furnaces

Industrial shrink wrap equipment

Open end wrenches

Humidity sensor

Analytical balances

Thread unravelling machine

Gage block set

Wire drawing machine

Processing tanks

Electronic counters

Cleaning scrapers

Power drills

Personal computers

Abilities

Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The 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.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering: The 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).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Rate Control: The 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.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Trunk Strength: The 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.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Data base management system software: Apache Solr; Elasticsearch; MySQL
Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software

Tools

Micrometers:
Extruders: Computer numerically controlled CNC Extruders; Single screw extruders; Tuber machines; Twin-barrel extrusion machines
Conveyor feeders: Gravimetric feeders; Polymer feed systems
Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial indicators
Staple guns: Stapling machines
Ladders: Extension ladders
Blowers or dryers: Loader dryers
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Counters: Counting chambers
Power staple guns: Automated staple guns
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Tension testers: Tensile testers
Blow torch: Underwater blow torches
Tachometers: Digital tachometers
Hopper scale: Weigh feeders
Multi tool pliers: Multitools
Forklifts:
Stereo or dissecting light microscopes: Dissecting microscopes
Storage tanks: Vacuum tanks
Thickness measuring devices: Digital thickness gauges
Wire gauge: Wire gauge testers
Allen wrench: Allen wrench sets
Intensive mixers: Color blenders
Pyrometers: Digital pyrometers
Laser printers: Computer laser printers
Label making machines: Label makers
Loading equipment: Haul off machines
Furnaces: Industrial ovens
Industrial shrink wrap equipment: Shrink wrappers
Open end wrenches: Adjustable open end wrenches
Humidity sensor: Dryer monitors
Analytical balances: Electronic balances
Thread unravelling machine: Yarn splicers
Gage block set: Gage block sets
Wire drawing machine: Wire drawing machines
Processing tanks: Material hoppers
Electronic counters: Particle counters
Cleaning scrapers:
Power drills: Hand drills
Personal computers: