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

Job Description

Rolling Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material. They also monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.

Other tasks include:

• Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
• Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
• Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
• Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.
• Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
• Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms.

We asked Rolling 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, Rolling Machine Operators start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips. They monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.

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

• Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
• Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
• Record mill production on schedule sheets.
• Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
• Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines.

We asked some Rolling 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?	49% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	33% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	71% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	68% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Rolling Machine Operators also disassemble sizing mills removed from rolling lines, and sort and store parts. They may also remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Rolling Machine Operators Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools. They might also Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces.

In addition, they Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Select rolls, dies, roll stands, and chucks from data charts to form specified contours and to fabricate products.

To some Rolling Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Rolling 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/