Production

Find Employers with Production Occupations

Types of occupations for this career path:

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; active learning; critical thinking; active listening; quality control analysis; judgment and decision making; operation monitoring; mechanical; English language; design
Training Programs: Airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance; aircraft power plant technology; avionics maintenance technology

Bakers: Mix and bake ingredients according to recipes to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. Include pastry chefs in restaurants and hotels with “Chefs and Head Cooks”
Important Abilities & Skills:  Oral comprehension; near vision; oral expression; active listening; monitoring; reading comprehension; social perceptiveness; coordination; operation monitoring; food production; production and processing; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef

Butchers and Meat Cutters: Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
Important Abilities & Skills:  Problem sensitivity; manual dexterity; near vision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; social perceptiveness; persuasion; service orientation; production and processing; food production; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Meat cutting/meat cutter

Bindery Workers: Set up or operate binding machines that produce books and other printed materials.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; monitoring; reading comprehension; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mechanical; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Graphic communications

Bookbinders: Perform highly skilled hand finishing operations, such as grooving and lettering to bind books.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; active listening; speaking; monitoring; judgment and decision making; social perceptiveness; coordination; customer and personal service; English language; production and processing
Training Programs: Precision production

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: Cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to surface, cut, or shape lumber or to fabricate parts for wood products.
Important Abilities & Skills:  Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; troubleshooting; design; mechanical; mathematics
Training Programs: Cabinetmaking and millwork/millwright

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
Important Abilities & Skills:  Oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; oral expression; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; judgment and decision making; mathematics; mechanical; public safety and security
Training Programs: Chemical technology/technician

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove impurities.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; reaction time; hearing sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; mechanical; mathematics; production and processing

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; multi-limb coordination; arm-hand steadiness; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; administration and management

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand: Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; finer dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; active listening; critical thinking; reading comprehension; social perceptiveness; judgment and decision making; time management; production and processing; mathematics; mechanical

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; arm-hand steadiness; finger dexterity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; public safety and security; mechanical

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 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.
Important Abilities & Skills: Rate control; reaction time; perceptual speed; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mechanical; administration and management

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. Includes activities, such as annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber, removing moisture from materials, or boiling soap.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; control precision; near vision; monitoring; speaking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mechanical; public safety and security

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products including food, glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visual color discrimination; control precision; arm-hand steadiness; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; production and processing; mechanical; public safety and security

Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend equipment, such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; near vision; deductive reasoning; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; complex problem solving; mechanical; production and processing; public safety and security

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers: Wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; finger dexterity; control precision; reading comprehension; active listening; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; social perceptiveness; production and processing; administration and management; mechanical
Training Programs: Industrial electronics technology

Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic: Operate computer-controlled machines or robots to perform one or more machine functions on metal or plastic work pieces.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; reaction time; hearing sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; mechanical; mathematics; production and processing
Training Programs: Machine shop technology/assistant

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; control precision; near vision; active listening; reading comprehension; monitoring; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mathematics; administration and management
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; sheet metal technology/sheetworking

Dental Laboratory Technicians: Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; finger dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; critical thinking; reading comprehension; active listening; time management; quality control analysis; judgment and decision making; English language; production and processing; design
Training Programs: Dental laboratory technology/technician

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; mathematics; production and processing
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers: Assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.
Important Abilities & Skills- Near vision; arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; active listening; monitoring; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; social perceptiveness; production and processing; administration and management; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Communications systems installation and repair technology; industrial electronics technology

Etchers and Engravers: Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials for identification or decorative purposes. Include such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; arm-hand steadiness; control precision; critical thinking; active listening; speaking; time management; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; production and processing; English language; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Graphic communications

Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers: Assemble or modify electromechanical equipment or devices, such as servomechanisms, gyros, dynamometers, magnetic drums, tape drives, brakes, control linkage, actuators, and appliances.
Important Abilities & Skills: Finger dexterity; manual dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; reading comprehension; critical thinking; speaking; quality control analysis; operation monitoring; troubleshooting; mechanical; customer and personal service; production and processing
Training Programs: Electromechanical technology/electromechanical engineering technology; robotics technology/technician; electromechanical and instrumentation and maintenance technologies

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers: Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; critical thinking; monitoring; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; troubleshooting; mechanical; English language; production and processing
Training Programs: Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician; industrial mechanics and maintenance technology; engine machinist

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; reaction time; multilimb coordination; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; public safety and security; production and processing
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist

Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers: Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; equipment maintenance; mechanical; production and processing; English language

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visualization; information ordering; oral comprehension; critical thinking; active listening; active learning; time management; judgment and decision making; complex problem solving; design; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Apparel and textile maufacturing

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; oral comprehension; written comprehension; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist

Furniture Finishers: Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; visual color discrimination; arm-hand steadiness; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; quality control analysis; operation monitoring; coordination; production and processing; public safety and security; English language
Training Programs: Furniture design and manufacturing

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers: Supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Exclude team or work leaders.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; critical thinking; active listening; speaking; time management; management of personnel resources; coordination; production and processing; administration and management; mathematics
Training Programs: Operations management and supervision

Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators: Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Multilimb coordination; arm-hand steadiness; trunk strength; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; complex problem solving; production and processing; English language; chemistry
Training Programs: Marine maintenance/fitter and ship repair technology/technician

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; speech recognition; oral comprehension; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; food production; production and processing; chemistry
Training Programs: Agricultural and food products processing 

Foundry Mold and Coremakers: Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; finger dexterity; multilimb coordination; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; time management; mechanical; production and processing; engineering and technology
Training Programs: Ironworking

Food Batchmakers: Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Include candy makers and cheese makers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Information ordering; near vision; manual dexterity; reading comprehension; monitoring; active listening; operation and control; operation monitoring; coordination; production and processing; mathematics; public safety and security
Training Programs: Agricultural and food products processing; foodservice systems administration/management

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Information ordering; speech recognition; trunk strength; active listening; monitoring; speaking; coordination; time management; service orientation; food production; English language; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Cooking and related culinary arts; food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant; institutional food workers

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand: Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Include chippers, buffers, and finishers.
Important Abilities &Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; equipment selection; English language; public safety and security; mathematics

Gas Plant Operators: Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Important Abilities & Skills: Auditory attention; perceptual speed; problem sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; public safety and security; production and processing

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; multi-limb coordination; arm-hand steadiness; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; administration and management
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; machine shop technology/assistant

Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat-treat metal or plastic objects.
Important Abilities & Skills: Auditory attention; perceptual speed; problem sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; public safety and security; production and process
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; machine shop technology/assistant

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh non-agricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; critical thinking; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; judgment and decision; production and processing; English language; mathematics
Training Programs: Quality control technology

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers: Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems. Include diamond polishers and gem cutters and persons who perform precision casting and modeling of molds, casting metal in molds, or setting precious and semi-precious stones for jewelry and related products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; finger dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; critical thinking; speaking; active listening; quality control analysis; judgment and decision making; complex problem solving; customer and personal service; production and processing; design
Training Programs: Watchmaking and jewelry-making

Job Printers: Set type according to copy; operate press to print job order; and read proof for errors and clarity of impression, and correct imperfections. Job printers are often found in small establishments where work combines several job skills.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; arm-hand steadiness; control precision; monitoring; reading comprehension; active listening; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; production and processing; mechanical; English language
Training Programs: Printing management; graphic and printing equipment operator; general production

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers: Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, fine linens, rugs, and carpets. Include spotters and dyers of these articles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; trunk strength; near vision; active listening; critical thinking; monitoring; operation and control; operation monitoring; social perceptiveness; customer and personal service; English language; administration and management

Lay-Out Workers, Metal and Plastic: Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Include shipfitters.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; visualization; arm-hand steadiness; active listening; critical thinking; monitoring; complex problem solving; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; mathematics; mechanical; building and construction
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; machine shop technology/assistant

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; arm-hand steadiness; finger dexterity; monitoring; active listening; critical thinking; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; mechanical; mathematics; production and processing
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; active listening; monitoring; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; judgment and decision making; production and processing; mechanical; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist

Machinists: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments. Include precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; control precision; manual dexterity; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; mechanical; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; machine shop technology/assistant

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; control precision; near vision; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mathematics; chemistry

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic: Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; monitoring; active listening; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; social perceptiveness; production and processing; mechanical; design

Medical Appliance Technicians: Construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices, such as braces, artificial limbs, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; problem sensitivity; deductive reasoning; active listening; critical thinking; reading comprehension; quality control analysis; troubleshooting; operation monitoring; customer and personal service; production and processing; mechanical
Training Programs: Orthotist/prosthetist; assistive/augmentative technology and rehabilitation engineering

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; monitoring; reading comprehension; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mathematics; chemistry
Training Programs: Agricultural and food products processing

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers: Use hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and fish.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; oral expression; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; coordination; social perceptiveness; time management; production and processing; food production; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Meat cutting/meat cutter

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; active listening; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mechanical; mathematics

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; mechanical; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; machine shop technology/assistant

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic: Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Include template makers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visualization; arm-hand steadiness; reaction time; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; operation and control; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; design
Training Programs: Sheet metal technology/sheetworking

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: Control nuclear reactors.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; written comprehension; oral expression; reading comprehension; monitoring; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; complex problem solving; physics; mathematics; engineering and technology
Training Programs: Nuclear/nuclear power technology/technician

Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers: Develop programs to control machining or processing of parts by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.
Important Abilities & Skills: Perceptual speed; near vision; problem sensitivity; monitoring; critical thinking; active learning; programming; operation monitoring; complex problem solving; mathematics; mechanical; design
Training Programs: Computer programming/programmer; data processing and data processing technology

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Include precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
Important Abilities & Skills: Control precision; near vision; arm-hand steadiness; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; operation and control; customer and personal service; mathematics; computers and electronics
Training Programs: Ophthalmic laboratory technology

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Include cannery workers who pack food products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; near vision; control precision; monitoring; active listening; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; coordination; production and processing; mechanical; mathematics

Painters, Transportation Equipment: Operate or tend painting machines to paint surfaces of transportation equipment, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, boats, and airplanes. Include painters in auto body repair facilities.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visual color discrimination; arm-hand steadiness; trunk strength; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation and control; operation monitoring; coordination; chemistry; mechanical; production and processing
Training Programs: Autobody/collision and repair technology/technician

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers: Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, cakes, toys, books, or leather.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; near vision; visual color discrimination; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; social perceptiveness; time management; coordination; production and processing; sales and marketing; design
Training Programs: Graphic design

Photographic Process Workers: Perform precision work involved in photographic processing, such as editing photographic negatives and prints, using photo-mechanical, chemical, or computerized methods.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; visual color discrimination; selective attention; monitoring; active listening; reading comprehension; complex problem solving; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; customer and personal service; production and processing; computers and electronics
Training Programs: Photographic and film/video technology/technician and assistant

Photographic Processing Machine Operators: Operate photographic processing machines, such as photographic printing machines, film developing machines, and mounting presses.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; written comprehension; written expression; speaking; monitoring; critical thinking; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; time management; customer and personal service; production and processing; English language
Training Programs: Photographic and film/video technology/technician and assistant

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; arm-hand steadiness; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; English language; mechanical

Pourers and Casters, Metal: Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; coordination; production and processing; administration and management; public safety and security

 Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; near vision; manual dexterity; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; judgment and decision making; mechanical; mathematics; design
Training Programs: Sheet metal technology

 Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Include electrolytic processes.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; manual dexterity; near vision; monitoring; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; quality control analysis; production and processing; public safety and security; mathematics

 Prepress Technicians and Workers: Set up and prepare material for printing presses. Include prepress functions, such as compositing, typesetting, layout, paste-up, camera operating, scanning, film stripping, and photoengraving.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; time management; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; computers and electronics; English language; communications and media
Training Programs: Graphic communications; graphic design; printing management; prepress/desktop publishing and digital imaging design; graphic and printing equipment operator; platemaker/imager; precision production

Printing Machine Operators: Set up or operate various types of printing machines, such as offset, letterset, intaglio, or gravure presses or screen printers to produce print on paper or other materials.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; control precision; trunk strength; active listening; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; English language
Training Programs: Printing management; graphic and printing equipment operator; printing press operator; graphic communications

 Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials: Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; operation and control; operation monitoring; time management; public safety and security; administration and management; customer and personal service

 Patternmakers, Wood: Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Include wood jig builders and loft workers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; reading comprehension; active listening; critical thinking; operation and control; operations analysis; complex problem solving; mathematics; mechanical design
Training Programs: Cabinetmaking and millwork/millwright

 Power Distributors and Dispatchers: Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; oral expression; active listening; critical thinking; reading comprehension; complex problem solving; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; public safety and security; customer and personal service; English language

 Power Plant Operators: Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Include auxiliary equipment operators.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; oral expression; deductive reasoning; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; public safety and security; computers and electronics

 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: Control the operation of petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; perceptual speed; information ordering; monitoring; reading comprehension; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; mathematics; public safety and security

 Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.
Important Abilities & Skills: Reaction time; control precision; rate control; monitoring; critical thinking; reading comprehension; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine tool technology/machinist; sheet metal technology/sheetworking

 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment, such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; equipment maintenance; mechanical; engineering and technology; public safety and security

 Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Include dairy processing equipment operators.
Important Abilities & Skills: Perceptual speed; near vision; problem sensitivity; monitoring; writing; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; complex problem solving; production and processing; chemistry; mechanical

 Slaughterers and Meat Packers: Work in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments performing precision functions involving the preparation of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; finger dexterity; manual dexterity; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; social perceptiveness; coordination; operation monitoring; production and processing; administration and management; mechanical
Training Programs: Meat cutting/meat cutter

 Semiconductor Processors: Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; written comprehension; arm-hand steadiness; reading comprehension; critical thinking; monitoring; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; judgment and decision making; production and processing; English language; public safety and security
Training Programs: Industrial electronics technology

 Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: Fabricate, lay out, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; near vision; visualization; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; social perceptiveness; operation and control; time management; design; English language; mathematics
Training Programs: Machine shop technology/assistant

 Sewing Machine Operators: Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; time management; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; production and processing; administration and management; English language

 Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers: Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; finger dexterity; near vision; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; social perceptiveness; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; customer and personal service; English language; mathematics
Training Programs: Shoe, boot, and leather repair; leatherworking and upholstery

 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood:  Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; control precision; near vision; active listening; critical thinking; monitoring; operation monitoring; operation and control; equipment maintenance; mechanical; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Cabinetmaking and millwork/millwright

 Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; control precision; near vision; reading comprehension; active listening; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mechanical; English language
Training Programs: Shoe, boot, and leather repair

 Sewers, Hand: Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; judgment and decision making; time management; complex problem solving; customer and personal service; design; production and processing;

 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers: Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visualization; finger dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; active listening; critical thinking; speaking; time management; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; customer and personal service; design; mathematics

 Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders: Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; control precision; oral comprehension; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; chemistry; public safety and security

 Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; multilimb coordination; manual dexterity; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; troubleshooting; English language; production and processing; mathematics
Training Programs: Industrial mechanics and maintenance technology

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; finger dexterity; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; administration and management; production and processing; English language
Training Programs: Industrial mechanics and maintenance technology

 Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles; or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Include slubber machine and drawing frame operators.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; reaction time; manual dexterity; monitoring; active listening; speaking; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; English language; administration and management
Training Programs: Industrial mechanics and maintenance technology

 Team Assemblers: Work as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product. Team assemblers can perform all tasks conducted by the team in the assembly process and rotate through all or most of them rather than being assigned to a specific task on a permanent basis. May participate in making management decisions affecting the work. Team leaders who work as part of the team should be included.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; manual dexterity; oral expression; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; coordination; persuasion; instructing; production and processing; mechanical; mathematics

 Timing Device Assemblers, Adjusters, and Calibrators: Perform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices, such as watches, clocks, or chronometers.
Important Abilities & Skills: Finger dexterity; arm-hand steadiness; near vision; active listening; critical thinking; monitoring; repairing; quality control analysis; troubleshooting; mechanical; mathematics; production and processing
Training Programs: Watchmaking and jewelrymaking

 Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; finger dexterity; control precision; monitoring; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; equipment maintenance; production and processing; mechanical; engineering and technology
Training Programs: Machine shop technology/assistant

 Tool and Die Makers: Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists’ hand tools.
Important Abilities & Skills: Visualization; near vision; oral comprehension; active listening; critical thinking; active learning; operation and control; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; mechanical; design; mathematics
Training Programs: Tool and die technology

 Upholsterers: Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; manual dexterity; finger dexterity; critical thinking; active learning; monitoring; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; customer and personal service; English language; production and processing
Training Programs: Upholstery/upholsterer

 Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or liquid waste.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; near vision; monitoring; reading comprehension; active listening; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; mechanical; mathematics; public safety and security
Training Programs: Water quality and wastewater treatment management and recycling technology

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; near vision; manual dexterity; critical thinking; monitoring; active listening; operation monitoring; judgment and decision making; social perceptiveness; mechanical; English language; mathematics
Training Programs: Welding technology/welder

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Important Abilities & Skills: Manual dexterity; near vision; finger dexterity; active listening; speaking; critical thinking; operation monitoring; operation and control; social perceptiveness; mechanical; production and processing; public safety and security
Training Programs: Welding technology/welder

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing: Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines.
Important Abilities & Skills: Reaction time; control precision; near vision; active listening; speaking; monitoring; operation monitoring; operation and control; quality control analysis; production and processing; mathematics; mechanical

Education and training for this career path:
Construction Trades ; Engineering Related Technology ; Mechanical Engineering Technology ; Production Trades