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

Job Description

Packaging Machine Operators operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products. They also attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.

Other tasks include:

• Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
• Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
• Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.
• Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
• Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn’t sticking properly.
• Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.

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

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64% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 50% 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, Packaging Machine Operators count and record finished and rejected packaged items. They remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.

A typical day for a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender will also include:

• Stack finished packaged items, or wrap protective material around each item, and pack the items in cartons or containers.
• Clean packaging containers, line and pad crates, or assemble cartons to prepare for product packing.
• Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
• Stock and sort product for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheet, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
• Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.

We asked some Packaging 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?	2% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	41% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	8% 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?	38% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Packaging Machine Operators also tend or operate machine that packages product. They may also clean and remove damaged or otherwise inferior materials to prepare raw products for processing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Packaging Machine Operators Start machine by engaging controls. They might also Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product.

In addition, they Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.

To some Packaging Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender, 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

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