Summary Report for:
53-7063.00 - Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Sample of reported job titles: Cotton Tipper, Dryer Feeder, Feeder, Line Operator, Lug Loader, Machine Feeder, Offbearer, Sawmill Worker, Sewing Line Baler, Tube Puller
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
- Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed.
- Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment.
- Weigh or measure materials or products to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Identify and mark materials, products, and samples, following instructions.
- Clean and maintain machinery, equipment, and work areas to ensure proper functioning and safe working conditions.
- Load materials and products into machines and equipment, or onto conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
- Transfer materials and products to and from machinery and equipment, using industrial trucks or hand trucks.
- Fasten, package, or stack materials and products, using hand tools and fastening equipment.
- Remove materials and products from machines and equipment, and place them in boxes, trucks or conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
- Shovel or scoop materials into containers, machines, or equipment for processing, storage, or transport.
- Open and close gates of belt and pneumatic conveyors on machines that are fed directly from preceding machines.
- Add chemicals, solutions, or ingredients to machines or equipment as required by the manufacturing process.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
- Air conveyors — Pneumatic conveyor systems
- Batching plants or feeders — Hoppers
- Belt conveyors — Conveyor belt systems
- Ear plugs — Protective ear plugs
- Electronic actuators — Feeder consoles
- Floor or platform scales — Digital floor scales
- Forklifts — Wheeled forklifts
- Glue roller spreader — Folder gluers
- Grinding machines — Grinder machines
- Hand trucks or accessories — Warehouse hand trucks
- Hoists — Electric hoists
- Label applying machines — Label applicators
- Milling machines
- Pallet trucks — Manual pallet jacks
- Personal computers
- Power feeder — Mechanical sheet feeders
- Safety glasses — Protective glasses
- Strapping tensioners or sealers — Strappers
- Track cranes — Overhead track cranes
- Winches — Electric winches
- Wrapping machinery — Machine wrappers
Technology used in this occupation:
- Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software
- Industrial control software — Machine operation software
- Time accounting software — Work time tracking software
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
- Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Rate Control — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
- Reaction Time — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Static Strength — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
- Record operational or production data.
- Operate conveyors or other industrial material moving equipment.
- Measure product or material dimensions.
- Weigh materials to ensure compliance with specifications.
- Mark materials or objects for identification.
- Clean facilities or work areas.
- Clean machinery or equipment.
- Load materials into equipment for processing.
- Package materials or products.
- Move materials, equipment, or supplies.
- Shovel materials.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 94% responded “Every day.”
- Spend Time Standing — 67% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 70% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 63% responded “Every day.”
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 46% responded “Extremely important.”
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 56% responded “Every day.”
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 36% responded “Important.”
- Contact With Others — 38% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
- Work With Work Group or Team — 35% responded “Very important.”
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 57% responded “40 hours.”
- Exposed to Contaminants — 57% responded “Every day.”
- Time Pressure — 46% responded “Every day.”
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 44% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 30% responded “High responsibility.”
- Spend Time Walking and Running — 27% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 27% responded “Very important.”
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 37% responded “Important.”
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 32% responded “High responsibility.”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 50% responded “Every day.”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 32% responded “Some freedom.”
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 36% responded “Less than half the time.”
- Consequence of Error — 26% responded “Serious.”
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 44% responded “Never.”
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 33% responded “Limited freedom.”
|Title||Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed|
|Education||These occupations usually require a high school diploma.|
|Related Experience||Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.|
|Job Training||Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.|
|Job Zone Examples||These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, forest firefighters, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.|
|SVP Range||(4.0 to < 6.0)|
Percentage of Respondents
|Education Level Required|
|73||High school diploma or equivalent|
|21||Less than high school diploma|
Interest code: RC
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Wages & Employment Trends
|Median wages (2015)||$14.15 hourly, $29,440 annual|
|Employment (2014)||104,000 employees|
|Projected growth (2014-2024)||Decline (-2% or lower)|
|Projected job openings (2014-2024)||22,900|
|Top industries (2014)|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data and 2014-2024 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Job Openings on the Web
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Hand laborers and material movers . Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition.