Occupation Details
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.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$31,080.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$47,550.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$53,020.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
3,080
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
3,870
+79 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
430
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
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.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
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.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
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.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Air hoses
- Blow torches
- Burners
- Compacting machines
- Computer numerically controlled CNC Extruders
- Core cutters
- Digital bench scales
- Digital calipers
- Digital micrometers
- Film winders
- Glass forming machines
- High speed wrapping machines
- Hopper dryers
- Laser micrometers
- Machine templates
- 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
- Twin-barrel extrusion machines
- Vulcanizer presses
Technology
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Production scheduling software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- test manufactured products or materials
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- set up production equipment or machinery
- maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
- clean equipment or machinery
- install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
- load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- construct molds
- collect samples for testing
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- maintain production or work records
- confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
- maintain consistent production quality
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- read specifications
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- operate woodworking equipment/machinery
- operate chemical processing equipment
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- operate pulp or paper making equipment
- operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
- operate food processing production equipment/machinery
- use hand or power tools
- operate glass or stone working equipment/machinery
- operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
- Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
- Activate machines to shape or form products, such as candy bars, light bulbs, balloons, or insulation panels.
- Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
- Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
- Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
- Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
- Select and install machine components, such as dies, molds, and cutters, according to specifications, using hand tools and measuring devices.
- Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
- Turn controls to adjust machine functions, such as regulating air pressure, creating vacuums, and adjusting coolant flow.
- Clean dies, arbors, compression chambers, and molds, using swabs, sponges, or air hoses.
- Send product samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Synchronize speeds of sections of machines when producing products involving several steps or processes.
- Couple air and gas lines to machines to maintain plasticity of material and to regulate solidification of final products.
- Pour, scoop, or dump specified ingredients, metal assemblies, or mixtures into sections of machine prior to starting machines.
- Measure, mix, cut, shape, soften, and join materials and ingredients, such as powder, cornmeal, or rubber to prepare them for machine processing.
- Remove materials or products from molds or from extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
- Feed products into machines by hand or conveyor.
- Measure arbors and dies to verify sizes specified on work tickets.
- Move materials, supplies, components, and finished products between storage and work areas, using work aids such as racks, hoists, and handtrucks.
- Thread extruded strips through water tanks and hold-down bars, or attach strands to wires and draw them through tubes.
- Complete work tickets, and place them with products.
- Remove molds, mold components, and feeder tubes from machinery after production is complete.
- Disassemble equipment to repair it or to replace parts, such as nozzles, punches, and filters.
- Swab molds with solutions to prevent products from sticking.
- Ignite burners to preheat products, or use torches to apply heat.
- Install, align, and adjust neck rings, press plungers, and feeder tubes.