Machine Feeders and Offbearers - 53-7063.00

Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

Sample of reported job titles: Cotton Tipper, Dryer Feeder, Feeder, Line Operator, Lug Loader, Machine Feeder, Offbearer, Sawmill Worker, Sewing Line Baler, Tube Puller

Tasks

• Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed.
• Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment.
• Weigh or measure materials or products to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Identify and mark materials, products, and samples, following instructions.
• Clean and maintain machinery, equipment, and work areas to ensure proper functioning and safe working conditions.
• Load materials and products into machines and equipment, or onto conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
• Transfer materials and products to and from machinery and equipment, using industrial trucks or hand trucks.
• Fasten, package, or stack materials and products, using hand tools and fastening equipment.
• Remove materials and products from machines and equipment, and place them in boxes, trucks or conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
• Shovel or scoop materials into containers, machines, or equipment for processing, storage, or transport.
• Open and close gates of belt and pneumatic conveyors on machines that are fed directly from preceding machines.
• Add chemicals, solutions, or ingredients to machines or equipment as required by the manufacturing process.

Technology Skills

• Data base user interface and query software - Data entry software
• Industrial control software - Machine operation software
• Time accounting software - Work time tracking software

Tools Used

• Air conveyors - Pneumatic conveyor systems
• Batching plants or feeders - Hoppers
• Belt conveyors - Conveyor belt systems
• Ear plugs - Protective ear plugs
• Electronic actuators - Feeder consoles
• Floor or platform scales - Digital floor scales
• Forklifts - Wheeled forklifts
• Glue roller spreader - Folder gluers
• Grinding machines - Grinder machines
• Hand trucks or accessories - Warehouse hand trucks
• Hoists - Electric hoists
• Label applying machines - Label applicators
• Milling machines
• Pallet trucks - Manual pallet jacks
• Personal computers
• Power feeder - Mechanical sheet feeders
• Safety glasses - Protective glasses
• Strapping tensioners or sealers - Strappers
• Track cranes - Overhead track cranes
• Winches - Electric winches
• Wrapping machinery - Machine wrappers

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.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills

• Operation 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.

Abilities

• 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.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• 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.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 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).
• 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.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 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 there is a problem.
• Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Interests

• Interest code: RC
  • 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.
  • 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 Context

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - 94% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Standing - 67% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 70% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 63% responded “Every day.”
• Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - 46% responded “Extremely important.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 56% responded “Every day.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 36% responded “Important.”
• Contact With Others - 38% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 35% responded “Very important.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 57% responded “40 hours.”
• Exposed to Contaminants - 57% responded “Every day.”
• Time Pressure - 46% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 44% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 30% responded “High responsibility.”
• Spend Time Walking and Running - 27% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 27% responded “Very important.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 37% responded “Important.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 32% responded “High responsibility.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 50% responded “Every day.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 32% responded “Some freedom.”
• Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - 36% responded “Less than half the time.”
• Consequence of Error - 26% responded “Serious.”
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - 44% responded “Never.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 33% responded “Limited freedom.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
73%	High school diploma or equivalent
21%	Less than high school diploma
4%	Post-secondary certificate

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• 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.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• 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.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

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.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $13.70 hourly, $28,510 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 88,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Slower than average (2% to 4%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 12,000