Will AI replace Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Estimated risk score: 23 out of 100
Very low replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (4 to 42).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 21 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 51-4081.00 · Production
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 3 of its 21 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Compute data, such as gear dimensions or machine settings, applying knowledge of shop mathematics.
- Write programs for computer numerical control (CNC) machines to cut metal and plastic materials.
- Record operational data, such as pressure readings, lengths of strokes, feed rates, or speeds.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 17 of its 21 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Change worn machine accessories, such as cutting tools or brushes, using hand tools.
- Extract or lift jammed pieces from machines, using fingers, wire hooks, or lift bars.
- Make minor electrical and mechanical repairs and adjustments to machines and notify supervisors when major service is required.
- Move controls or mount gears, cams, or templates in machines to set feed rates and cutting speeds, depths, and angles.
- Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to machine reservoirs.
- Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
What the job is
Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
Also called: Machine Technician, CNC Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter), Gunsmith, Spring Maker, Tool Operator, Rim Technician, Lay Up Technician, CNC Machine Setter.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate