NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other

SOC 51-4199.00Job Zone —v.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers metal and plastic fabrication production environments at Job Zone 3, spanning shop-floor operations, quality inspection, equipment control, workforce recordkeeping, and safety enforcement across entry through principal practitioner levels.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Safety and sanitation regulations — identify and follow under direct supervisor guidance on a production shop floor.
  2. Attendance and hours records — record accurately using time accounting software with oversight from a lead worker.
  3. Metal and plastic materials — inspect for visible defects or damage following established checklists on an entry-level production line.
  4. Work orders and production schedules — read and interpret with supervisor assistance to determine assigned daily tasks.
  5. Hand tools and basic forming equipment — operate under close direction to complete standard metal or plastic fabrication tasks.
  6. Near-vision inspection tasks — perform to detect surface irregularities on finished parts at a supervised workstation.
  7. Production monitoring procedures — follow step-by-step protocols to observe machine performance and report anomalies to a lead.
  8. Arm-hand steadiness and manual dexterity — apply when handling raw stock and positioning components during guided fabrication tasks.
  9. Verbal instructions from supervisors — listen actively and confirm understanding before beginning assigned production operations.
  10. Basic quality control criteria — recognize pass/fail standards and flag non-conforming parts for review under direct supervision.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Safety regulation compliance — enforce personal and crew adherence to OSHA and facility sanitation standards during routine shifts.
  2. Employee attendance logs — maintain and reconcile weekly records using time accounting software with minimal supervisor review.
  3. In-process parts and assemblies — inspect against dimensional and visual specifications, documenting findings in a production database.
  4. Production charts and work orders — analyze to sequence daily fabrication tasks and adjust workflow for minor schedule changes.
  5. Metal-forming or plastic-processing equipment — operate and control settings independently to meet standard output and quality targets.
  6. Machine performance metrics — monitor via control panels and software dashboards, identifying deviations before they cause defects.
  7. Spreadsheet software — use to track yield rates, material usage, and downtime data across routine production runs.
  8. Quality control analysis techniques — apply to identify recurring defect patterns and recommend corrective actions to supervisors.
  9. CAD drawings and engineering prints — read and interpret to verify component dimensions during mid-production inspections.
  10. Coworkers and internal customers — communicate clearly about production status, part quality, and schedule updates during shift handoffs.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex production schedules and multi-order work packages — read, analyze, and act on autonomously to optimize throughput across a full shift.
  2. Safety and sanitation program requirements — enforce consistently across a workgroup, resolving ambiguous situations using independent judgment.
  3. Non-routine defects and equipment malfunctions — diagnose using critical thinking and mechanical knowledge, implementing corrective measures without escalation.
  4. Advanced quality control analysis — conduct on finished metal and plastic products, applying statistical reasoning to distinguish process variation from systematic error.
  5. Enterprise application integration software — utilize to link production records, inventory data, and scheduling systems for accurate real-time reporting.
  6. CAD software — interpret and manipulate design files to verify manufacturability and communicate specification changes to engineering teams.
  7. Precision hand and powered tooling — apply with fine motor control to perform close-tolerance operations on specialty metal or plastic components.
  8. Attendance and workforce data — manage across multiple employees, generating accurate hours reports and identifying patterns affecting productivity.
  9. Technical information from manuals and reports — comprehend and apply independently to configure equipment and resolve process challenges.
  10. Production process improvements — identify through systematic monitoring and present findings and recommendations to operations management.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Facility-wide safety and sanitation standards — establish, revise, and enforce, driving a culture of compliance across all metal and plastics production areas.
  2. Competency development programs — design and deliver for emerging and developing workers, leveraging education and training knowledge to build shop-floor capability.
  3. Organizational production records and KPI systems — architect using database, spreadsheet, and enterprise integration tools to provide decision-quality data to leadership.
  4. Strategic production schedules and capacity plans — analyze and shape at a departmental level, aligning resources and priorities with business objectives.
  5. Cross-functional quality initiatives — lead, applying advanced quality control analysis to drive systemic defect reduction and customer satisfaction improvements.
  6. Capital equipment selection and process technology decisions — inform by synthesizing mechanical knowledge, operational data, and vendor assessments.
  7. Workforce attendance and performance metrics — oversee at team or department scale, using management principles to address absenteeism and productivity gaps.
  8. Safety, regulatory, and public security requirements — interpret and translate into operational policies, ensuring organizational compliance with industry and legal standards.
  9. Mentorship and technical coaching — provide to proficient and developing practitioners, modeling precision, integrity, and critical thinking in complex production situations.
  10. Stakeholder communication on production performance — lead, delivering clear, data-driven briefings to plant management, customers, and cross-departmental partners.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors38 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Anvil Seating Press Operator · Arbor Press Operator · Assembly Machine Tender · Automatic Engraver · Automatic Wheel Line Operator · Balancer · Balancing Machine Operator · Bale Tie Machine Operator · Ballistics Laboratory Gunsmith · Band Maker · Barbed Wire Machine Operator · Barrel Dedenting Machine Operator
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Operations MonitoringMonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisSpeakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge domains
Production and ProcessingMechanicalEnglish LanguageMathematicsEducation and TrainingAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and Security
Abilities
Near VisionArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionManual DexterityProblem SensitivityFinger Dexterity
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessPerseveranceIntegrityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Internet browser softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareEnterprise application integration softwareTime accounting softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
  2. Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
  3. Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
  4. Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine product
CIP education codes
48.050148.050348.0599

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.