What You'll Do

  • Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
  • Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
  • Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components.
  • Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations.
  • Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
  • Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.
  • Select knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits, or belts, according to workpiece, machine functions, or product specifications.
  • Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, or conformity to specifications and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges.
  • Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules.
  • Inspect and mark completed workpieces and stack them on pallets, in boxes, or on conveyors so that they can be moved to the next workstation.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.62/5
Operation and Control 3.5/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.25/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.0/5
Troubleshooting 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Equipment Selection 2.88/5
Repairing 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5

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, Adaptability/Flexibility, Independence, Integrity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Reaction Time 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Manual Dexterity 3.5/5
Control Precision 3.5/5
Oral Comprehension 3.38/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.25/5
Static Strength 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS AS/400 Database Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design and drafting CADD software Computer aided manufacturing CAM software Computerized numerical control CNC software Dassault Systemes CATIA Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Enterprise resource planning ERP software Inventory control software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft operating system Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.21/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 3.71/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 3.68/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.61/5)

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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:

Adzing and Boring Machine Operator Artificial Log Machine Operator Automatic Clipper Automatic Nailing Machine Operator Automatic Profile Shaper Operator Balloon Sander Band Nailer Bander Barker Operator Barrel Builder Barrel Charrer Barrel Lathe Operator Barrel Maker Basket Assembler Basket Braider Basket Maker Basket Weaver Bender Machine Operator Bending Frame Operator Blind Slat Stapling Machine Operator Board Finisher Borer Boring Machine Operator Bottom Hoop Driver Bottom Turning Lathe Tender Bottom Turning Lathe Turner Bowl Turner Box Blank Machine Operator Box Stapler Box-Blank-Machine Operator Briar Cutter Bucker Bucket Chucker Bucket Turner Burn Table Operator Cabinet Maker Checkering Machine Adjuster Chip Machine Operator Chip Mixing Machine Operator Chipper Chipper Machine Operator Chucking and Boring Machine Operator Chucking Machine Operator Chucking Machine Set Up Operator Cleat Blanker Cleat Maker Cleater CNC Wood Lathe Operator (Computer Numerical Control Wood Lathe Operator) CNC Wood Lathe Operator (Computer Numerically Controlled Wood Lathe Operator) Copy Lathe Tender Core Composer Feeder Core Layer Machine Operator Cork Grinder Cork Molder Corrugated Fastener Driver Corrugator Creosoting Engineer Cylinder Sander Operator Dado Operator Dolly Operator Dollyman Door Clamper Doors Prefitter Double End Trimmer Dovetail Machine Operator Dovetailer Dowel Inserting Machine Operator Dowel Machine Operator Dowel Maker Doweler Embossing Machine Operator End Frazer End Matcher End Stapler End Touching Machine Operator Excelsior Machine Operator Excelsior Machine Tender Fastener Flake Cutter Operator Flooring Machine Operator Foot Miter Operator Frame Polisher Frame Table Operator Framer Frazer Grader Groover and Striper Operator Header Heading Machine Operator Heading Pinner Heel Nailing Machine Operator Hinging Machine Operator Hoop Expander Hoop Machine Operator Hoop Maker Hoop Riveter Hooper Impregnator Incising Machine Operator Inletter Inside Barrel Lathe Operator Jointer Machine Operator Jointer Operator Knife Setter Knot Saw Operator Laminating Machine Operator Laminator Lap Machine Operator Lapper Last Scourer Last Trimmer Last Turner Lathe Operator Lathe Sander Lathe Set Up Operator Lathe Spotter Linderman Linderman Machine Operator Linderman Operator Line Tender Lock Corner Machine Operator Log Cooker Lumber Press Operator Lumber Tripper Machine Bender Machine Operator Machine Sander Machine Setter Machine Setup Operator Machine Slat Basket Maker Machine Wood Sander Machine Woodworking Sander Miller Molder Feeder Molder Operator Molding Cutter Molding Sander Mortising Machine Operator Multi-Purpose Machine Operator Multiple Drum Sander Nail Kegger Nail Setter Nail Sticker Nailer Nailer Operator Nailhead Operator Nailhead Setter Nailing Machine Operator Outside Barrel Lathe Operator Pipe and Tank Fabricator Planer Planer Operator Planer Setup Operator Planer Type Milling Machine Setup Operator Planing Machine Operator Plasma Operator Plasma Table Operator Plow and Boring Machine Tender Plug Machine Operator Plugging Machine Operator Plywood Scarfer Tender Pole Peeling Machine Operator Portable Machine Sander Power Barker Power Barker Operator Power Bender Operator Profile Shaper Operator Pulley Mortiser Operator Puncher Putty Worker Rabbet Operator Rafter Cutting Machine Operator Rail Bender Repair Table Operator Retort Engineer Rodding Machine Tender Roof Truss Builder Roof Truss Machine Tender Rough Planer Tender Rounding Machine Tender Router Router Operator Router Tender Sander Sander Operator Sanding Machine Buffer Sanding Machine Operator or Tender Sanding Machine Tender Scooping Machine Tender Set Up Mechanic Set Up Operator Set Up Worker Set-Up Mechanic Shake Backboard Notcher Shank Threader Shaper Operator Shook Machine Operator Shuttle Spotter Sizing Machine Tender Skiver Skiving Machine Operator Skoog Machine Operator Skoog Operator Skoog Patching Machine Operator Slab Tripper Slack Cooper Slat Basket Maker Slicing Machine Operator Slicing Machine Tender Small Craft Operator Smoking Pipe Driller and Threader Spar Machine Operator Speed Belt Sander Speed Belt Sander Tender Spindle Carver Splicer Operator Splitter Tender Splitting Machine Operator Splitting Machine Tender Squeezer Squeezer Operator Stacker Tender Stapler Stapling Machine Operator Stave Jointer Stave Machine Tender Steam Box Operator Stemhole Borer Stock Checker Stroke Belt Sander Operator Swing Type Lathe Operator Tenon Operator Tenoner Operator Timber Sizer Timber Sizer Operator Tip Inserter Tongue and Groove Machine Operator Touch-Up Carver Trans Router Treating Engineer Trimmer and Borer Machine Operator Trimming Machine Set-Up Operator Truss Builder Turner Turning Lathe Tender Turning Machine Set-Up Operator Turning Sander Operator Turning Sander Tender Turret Lathe Operator Turret Lathe Set Up Operator Veneer Clipper Veneer Joiner Veneer Jointer Veneer Jointer Operator Veneer Lathe Operator Veneer Press Operator Veneer Slicing Machine Operator Veneer Splicer Whiting Machine Operator Wire Stitcher Wood Borer Wood Boring Machine Operator Wood Carving Lathe Operator Wood Carving Machine Operator Wood Chopper Wood Coat Hanger Shaper Machine Operator Wood Dowel Machine Operator Wood Drill Operator Wood Drilling Machine Operator Wood Gouger Wood Handler Wood Heel Back Liner Wood Lathe Operator Wood Machine Carver Wood Miller Wood Milling Machine Hand Wood Milling Machine Operator Wood Milling Machine Tender Wood Molder Wood Planer Wood Router Wood Router Hand Wood Turner Wood Turning Lathe Operator Woodworking Belt Sander Woodworking Machine Setter