What Do Plating Machine Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Plating Machine Operators 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. They also immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.

Other tasks include:

• Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
• Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
• 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.
• Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur.
• Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
• Maintain production records.

We asked Plating Machine Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Plating Machine Operators test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly. They spray coating in specified patterns according to instructions.

A typical day for a Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic will also include:

• Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
• 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.
• Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
• Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
• Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.

We asked some Plating Machine Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	34% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	61% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	35% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Plating Machine Operators also cut metal or other materials, using shears or band saws. They may also clean workpieces, using wire brushes.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Plating Machine Operators Replace worn parts and adjust equipment components, using hand tools. They might also Perform equipment maintenance, such as cleaning tanks and lubricating moving parts of conveyors.

In addition, they Plate small objects, such as nuts or bolts, using motor-driven barrels.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.

To some Plating Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to Preheat workpieces in ovens.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Plating and Coating Machine Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm

http://www.fmanet.org/

http://www.amtonline.org/

http://www.ntma.org/