Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career Description: Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Includes electrolytic processes.

Industry: Production

Other Job Titles for Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

• 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.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• 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.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Inspect coated or plated areas for defects such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
• Immerse objects to be coated or plated into cleaning solutions, or spray objects with conductive solutions to prepare them for plating.
• Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
• Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces.
• Position and feed materials into processing machines, by hand or by using automated equipment.
• Test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly.
• Operate hoists to place workpieces onto machine feed carriages or spindles.
• Maintain production records.
• Adjust controls to set temperatures of coating substances and speeds of machines and equipment.
• Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
• Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly; make adjustments or stop machines when problems occur.
• Position containers to receive parts, and load or unload materials in containers, using dollies or handtrucks.
• Perform equipment maintenance such as cleaning tanks and lubricating moving parts of conveyors.
• Clean and maintain equipment, using water hoses and scrapers.
• Determine sizes and compositions of objects to be plated, and amounts of electrical current and time required.
• Suspend sticks or pieces of plating metal from anodes (positive terminals) and immerse metal in plating solutions.
• Monitor and measure thicknesses of electroplating on component parts in order to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers.
• Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals in order to control plating processes.
• Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids; then dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.
• Examine completed objects to determine thicknesses of metal deposits, or measure thicknesses by using instruments such as micrometers.
• Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales.
• Suspend objects such as parts or molds from cathode rods (negative terminals), and immerse objects in plating solutions.
• Measure, mark, and mask areas to be excluded from plating.
• Mix and test solutions, and turn valves to fill tanks with solutions.
• Place plated or coated materials on racks and transfer them to ovens to dry for specified periods of time.
• Plate small objects such as nuts or bolts, using motor-driven barrels.
• Read production schedules to determine setups of equipment and machines.
• Spray coating in specified patterns according to instructions.
• Position objects to be plated in frames, or suspend them from positive or negative terminals of power supplies.
• Measure and set stops, rolls, brushes, and guides on automatic feeders and conveying equipment or coating machines, using micrometers, rules, and hand tools.
• Preheat workpieces in ovens.
• Replace worn parts and adjust equipment components, using hand tools.
• Attach nozzles, position guns, connect hoses, and thread wire in order to set up metal-spraying machines.
• Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.
• Clean workpieces, using wire brushes.
• Install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.
• Operate sandblasting equipment to roughen and clean surfaces of workpieces.
• Cut metal or other materials, using shears or band saws.
• Charge furnaces.
• Chase decorative designs on silver blanks that are to be used as models for steel production dies.

Emerging Tasks

• Clean of photo-lab workspace.
• Scan negatives or photographs into computers to create digital files.
• Prepare and implement clearance orders, ensuring system is properly tagged for maintenance safety.
• Provide training to new operators.
• Perform minor repairs and maintenance of presses and printers, including lubricating moving parts.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adjust production equipment/machinery setup
• apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings
• clean equipment or machinery
• examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
• install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
• load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
• load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
• maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
• maintain production or work records
• measure, weigh, or count products or materials
• mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
• monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
• move or fit heavy objects
• operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
• operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
• perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
• read specifications
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• set up computer numerical control machines
• set up production equipment or machinery
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use hand or power tools
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use spray application production equipment
• use densitometer
• use hand or power tools
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use hand or power tools
• use laboratory equipment
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use soldering equipment
• use spray paint equipment
• use hand or power woodworking tools
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use spray application production equipment
• use non-destructive test equipment
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use robotics systems technology
• use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
• use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• read specifications
• read technical drawings
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• recognize characteristics of alloys
• recognize characteristics of metals
• recognize characteristics of pulps
• recognize wood species characteristics
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• sort manufacturing materials or products
• test manufactured products or materials
• understand engineering data or reports
• understand measuring devices
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use hand or power tools
• use hazardous materials information
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of metric system
• use long or short term production planning techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use research methodology procedures within manufacturing or commerce
• use spreadsheet software
• use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
• use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$13.40
• Average annual wage (2007) - $27,870.00

• Employment (2006): 41,898

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