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

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

$39.48K Median Salary 6.7K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 1.1% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Extruder Operator, Extrusion Operator, Glass Forming Crew Member, Machine Operator, Press Operator, Tuber Operator

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Perceptual Speed

Rate Control

Reaction Time

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Manual Dexterity

Near Vision

Problem Sensitivity

Auditory Attention

Control Precision

Far Vision

Finger Dexterity

Information Ordering

Category Flexibility

Deductive Reasoning

Multilimb Coordination

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Selective Attention

Stamina

Static Strength

Trunk Strength

Visualization

Written Comprehension

Depth Perception

Hearing Sensitivity

Inductive Reasoning

Response Orientation

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Knowledge

Production and Processing

Mechanical

Computers and Electronics

Skills

Operation and Control

Operations Monitoring

Monitoring

Speaking

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Quality Control Analysis

Reading Comprehension

Troubleshooting

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software

Tools

Extruders

Cement or ceramic or glass or similar material molding machines

Micrometers

Winding or reeling or spooling machines

Power grinders

Wrapping machinery

Forming machine

Calipers

Air dryers

Razor knives

Blow torch

Pressure indicators

Forklifts

Lifts

Rulers

Punching pliers

Bench scales

Presses

Cutting machines

Vulcanizing machines

Templates

Air hoses

Burners

Abilities

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.
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.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
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.
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.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
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.
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).
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
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.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

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.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
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
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software: Production scheduling software

Tools

Extruders: Computer numerically controlled CNC Extruders; Single screw extruders; Tuber machines; Twin-barrel extrusion machines
Cement or ceramic or glass or similar material molding machines: Compacting machines; Forming machines; Glass forming machines
Micrometers:
Winding or reeling or spooling machines: Film winders; Trim winders
Power grinders: Underwater power grinders
Wrapping machinery: High speed wrapping machines
Forming machine: Sheeters
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Air dryers: Hopper dryers
Razor knives: Trim knives
Blow torch: Underwater blow torches
Pressure indicators: Pressure meters
Forklifts:
Lifts: Power lifts
Rulers: Precision rulers; Steel rules
Punching pliers: Core cutters
Bench scales: Digital bench scales
Presses: Pressing machines
Cutting machines: Slitters
Vulcanizing machines: Vulcanizer presses
Templates: Machine templates
Air hoses:
Burners: