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

SOC 51-9041.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers machine operation, quality inspection, troubleshooting, documentation, and team leadership within industrial extrusion, forming, pressing, and compacting production environments.

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. Control buttons and activation sequences — identify and press under direct supervisor guidance during machine startup on a production floor.
  2. Machine gauges and indicator lights — observe and recognize normal versus abnormal readings with assistance from a lead operator.
  3. Work orders and specification sheets — read and locate key information such as material type and basic machine settings under close direction.
  4. Hand tools and measuring devices such as templates and scales — use to check product dimensions under direct supervision at an entry-level production station.
  5. Minor jams and loose material buildup — recognize and report to a supervisor before attempting basic clearance on a compacting or forming machine.
  6. Machine speed and pressure controls — adjust to pre-set values following step-by-step written instructions provided by a lead operator.
  7. Production data such as quantities and material types — record onto standardized paper logs or simple digital forms under supervisor review.
  8. Safety protocols and personal protective equipment — follow consistently during all machine operation tasks on the production floor.
  9. Defective or substandard product samples — identify visually using provided reference templates and set aside for supervisor review.
  10. Basic ERP or spreadsheet software — enter production counts and shift data under guidance from a trainer or lead operator.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Machine component adjustments for speed, pressure, and temperature — perform routinely from work order specifications with minimal supervisor involvement on a forming or extrusion line.
  2. Gauges, lights, and auditory signals — monitor continuously during a full shift and distinguish normal variation from developing malfunctions without prompting.
  3. Micrometers and precision scales — use independently to measure and weigh extruded or pressed products and compare results against dimensional standards.
  4. Jams and substandard material flows — clear and resolve using established procedures, minimizing production downtime on a pressing or compacting machine.
  5. Material quantities, meter readings, and product dimensions — record accurately in production logs or ERP systems throughout a standard production shift.
  6. Extruded or formed product quality — evaluate against specifications and notify supervisors promptly when output fails to meet established standards.
  7. Work orders and process instructions — interpret independently to select correct materials, ingredients, and machine settings before each production run.
  8. Machine malfunctions and quality deviations — troubleshoot using familiarity with mechanical components and report findings clearly to maintenance or supervisors.
  9. Spreadsheet and database software — use to retrieve production records, enter shift data, and cross-reference material requirements without assistance.
  10. Verbal and written communication — convey production status, quality concerns, and equipment issues clearly to supervisors and coworkers during shift handoffs.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full machine setup and parameter configuration — execute autonomously for multiple extrusion, forming, or compacting machine types based on complex work order specifications.
  2. Non-routine malfunctions and persistent quality deviations — diagnose root causes using systematic troubleshooting and mechanical knowledge, implementing effective corrective actions.
  3. Dimensional, weight, and conformance inspections — conduct with precision instruments across a range of product types and flag systemic quality trends before they escalate.
  4. Production and processing workflows — optimize material flow, machine sequencing, and cycle times to consistently meet or exceed output targets.
  5. Complex ERP and materials requirements planning software — navigate to manage production schedules, material consumption records, and inventory data across a shift or product line.
  6. Machine component wear and process drift — anticipate through sustained monitoring and proactively adjust settings to maintain product quality throughout extended production runs.
  7. Unfamiliar or non-standard work orders — interpret and translate into accurate machine configurations, material selections, and processing sequences with confidence.
  8. Quality control analysis — apply structured inspection methods across an entire production batch, documenting findings and recommending process adjustments to supervisors or engineers.
  9. Cross-functional communication — articulate technical machine and quality issues clearly to maintenance technicians, engineers, and supervisors to drive timely resolution.
  10. Incident and near-miss documentation — complete thorough written reports using office suite or word processing software to support safety and continuous improvement efforts.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Machine setup standards and operating procedures — develop and codify for extrusion, forming, pressing, and compacting lines to ensure consistency across all operators on the floor.
  2. New operator training programs — design and deliver, covering machine activation, monitoring, quality inspection, and documentation practices aligned with production standards.
  3. Production quality metrics and defect trends — analyze across shifts and machine types, leading root-cause investigations and driving corrective action plans at an organizational level.
  4. Continuous improvement initiatives — lead for forming and compacting operations, identifying process inefficiencies and implementing changes that measurably reduce waste and downtime.
  5. ERP and production data systems — champion adoption and accurate use across the production team, serving as the point of expertise for data entry standards and reporting accuracy.
  6. Cross-departmental coordination — lead communication between production, maintenance, quality, and supply chain teams to align machine capacity with material availability and customer demand.
  7. Machine performance benchmarks and production targets — set and communicate to operators and team leads, translating organizational goals into actionable floor-level expectations.
  8. Safety culture and cautious operating practices — model and enforce across the production area, mentoring operators in hazard recognition and risk-reduction behaviors.
  9. Capital equipment evaluations and process technology changes — contribute expert operational input to assessments of new extrusion or compacting machinery under consideration by management.
  10. Workforce scheduling and task allocation — manage across a production shift, matching operator skills to machine assignments to maximize throughput and product quality outcomes.

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.

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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.
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Show O*NET source anchors43 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

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RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingTroubleshootingQuality Control Analysis
Knowledge domains
Production and ProcessingMechanicalComputers and Electronics
Abilities
Reaction TimePerceptual SpeedRate ControlArm-Hand SteadinessManual DexterityNear VisionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingAuditory AttentionControl Precision
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessStress ToleranceAchievement OrientationPerseverance
Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing softwareData base user interface and query softwareMaterials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Adjust machine components to regulate speeds, pressures, and temperatures, and amounts, dimensions, and flow of materials or ingredients.
  2. Press control buttons to activate machinery and equipment.
  3. Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as templates, micrometers, or scales.
  4. Monitor machine operations and observe lights and gauges to detect malfunctions.
  5. Clear jams, and remove defective or substandard materials or products.
  6. Notify supervisors when extruded filaments fail to meet standards.
  7. Record and maintain production data, such as meter readings, and quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
  8. Review work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines.
CIP education codes
52.020547.060747.060847.060947.061548.0503

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.