What You'll Do

  • Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, feed, or flow of liquids or gases and times of prescribed reactions, according to knowledge of equipment and processes.
  • Observe safety precautions to prevent fires or explosions.
  • Monitor gauges, recording instruments, flowmeters, or products to ensure that specified conditions are maintained.
  • Control or operate equipment in which chemical changes or reactions take place during the processing of industrial or consumer products.
  • Measure, weigh, and mix chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
  • Inspect equipment or units to detect leaks or malfunctions, shutting equipment down, if necessary.
  • Patrol work areas to detect leaks or equipment malfunctions or to monitor operating conditions.
  • Test product samples for specific gravity, chemical characteristics, pH levels, concentrations, or viscosities, or send them to laboratories for testing.
  • Draw samples of products at specified stages so that analyses can be performed.
  • Record operational data, such as temperatures, pressures, ingredients used, processing times, or test results.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.88/5
Operation and Control 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.38/5
Active Listening 3.38/5
Critical Thinking 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5
Writing 3.0/5
Active Learning 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cooperation, Integrity, Adaptability/Flexibility

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.75/5
Oral Expression 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5
Control Precision 3.75/5
Near Vision 3.75/5
Written Comprehension 3.62/5
Perceptual Speed 3.5/5
Information Ordering 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

IBM Notes Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Operational databases SAP software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.36/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.31/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.29/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.26/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 3.96/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Acetone Recovery Worker Acetylene Plant Operator Acid Bleacher Acid Cleaner Acid Concentrator Acid Condenser Acid Extractor Acid Maker Acid Operator Acid Patroller Acid Polymerization Operator Acid Purification Equipment Operator Acid Purifier Acid Recovery Operator Acid Regenerator Acid Remover Acid Retort Operator Acid Tender Acid Treater Aluminum Hydroxide Process Operator Ammonia Distiller Ammonia Nitrate Operator Ammonia Still Operator Ball Mill Operator Blow Down Operator Board Operator Boiler Plant Worker Boiling Tub Operator Burner Operator Butadiene Convertor Operator Cadmium Liquor Maker Cat Cracker Operator Catalyst Operator Catalyst Recovery Operator Catalyst Unit Operator Catalytic Converter Operator Caustic Liquor Maker Caustic Operator Caustic Plant Worker Caustic Preparer Caustic Purification Operator Caustic Room Operator Causticiser Cell Operator Cell Tender Chamber Walker Chamber Worker Chemical Compounder Chemical Equipment Controller Chemical Machine Tender Chemical Operator Chemical Plant Operator Chemical Process Equipment Operator Chemical Process Operator Chemical Processor Chemical Tank Worker Chemical Treatment Operator Chemical Unit Operator Chlorination Operator Chlorinator Chlorinator Operator Chlorine Cells Operator Chlorine Operator Clay Plant Treater Coagulating Bath Operator Coagulating Operator Control Board Operator Cracking Still Operator Cracking Unit Operator Crystalizer Tender De-Ionizer Operator Dehydrogenation Converter Operator Desulphuring Operator Desulphurizer Operator Devulcanizer Loader Devulcanizer Operator Devulcanizer Tender Dissolver Operator Drug Department Worker Dust Collector Operator Fermenter Operator Filtration Operator Gasoline Catalyst Operator Generator Operator Glycerine Plant Operator Hydrochloric Acid Operator Hydrogen Operator Impregnator Operator Ion Exchange Operator Kettle Operator Lye Treater Mercury Purifier Mercury Washer Multiskill Operator MVA Operator (Monovinylacetylene Operator) MVA Reactor Operator (Monovinylacetylene Reactor Operator) MVA Still Operator (Monovinylacetylene Still Operator) Neutralizer Nitroglycerin Distributor Nitroglycerin Neutralizer Nitroglycerin Separator Operator Outside Operator Oxidation Operator Para Machine Operator Paradi Operator Pharmaceutical Worker Pigment Processor Pilot Control Operator Plant Worker Poacher Operator Poly Operator Polymerization Kettle Operator Pond Tender Process Operator Raymond Mill Operator Reactor Operator Remote Pilot Operator Resin Maker Ripening Room Hand Ripening Room Operator Salt Machine Operator Salt Maker Salt Refiner Soda Column Operator Soda Dialyzer Soda Maker Spray Dry Operator Still Operator Sublimer Thiokol Operator Tungsten Tender Twitchell Operator Vaporizer Varnish Filterer Vessel Operator Viscose Cellar Charge Hand Viscose Cellar Worker Wet Mix Operator White Lead Filterer Zinc Chloride Operator