What Does a Machine Operator Do?
Machine operators are responsible for the assembling, operating, and maintaining of advanced machinery. Although the education or background may depend on the type of machinery being used, these professionals ensure seamless production at maximum capacity and the peace of mind of a well-maintained operation.
These professionals improve performance and make routine checks to ensure maximum efficiency along and compliance with health and safety regulations. They can additionally be on hand to troubleshoot problems that arise so that downtime can be minimized.
This career involves a high degree of hands-on work and a detail-oriented mindset. Analytical thinking and problem-solving are a must for this position. Generally, a machine operator will be expected to function as part of a team contributing to a large project goal.
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National Average Salary
Machine operator salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Machine Operator is:
$36,500
Machine Operator Job Descriptions
Example 1
The machine operator is responsible for the continuous production of LNC. Projects and the production of LNC take place in the field, where temporary field production sites are set up to serve each project. The machine operator spends most of the time in the field operating LNC production for project deliveries, and as a person you are:
- Self-motivated, highly dedicated professional motivated by driving sustainable change
- Proactive individual who remains focused and productive under pressure
- Committed to ongoing professional learning and development
- You have experience with the operation of machines or heavy equipment, you are able to follow detailed instructions and processes, and you have good problem-solving skills
- You are driven by a desire to be part of our team and make our earth green again!
Responsibilities
- Execute efficient continuous production of Liquid Natural Clay (LNC)
- Run production cycles by setting up machines according to specific formulation instructions (calibration, etc.)
- Control and regulate machine settings, as well as monitor input and output control
- Inspect raw material and production processes with high precision
- Feed raw materials or parts to semi-automated machines
- Ensure production batches consistently run according to formulation and instructions (including processing time, production steps and stages, loading, offloading, etc.)
- Ensure optimal utilization of machines and production equipment throughout the work hours
- Test system operation regularly
- Address any problems that might arise during the change
- Check performance for any machine-related errors or flaws
- Escalate any issues or service disruptions that cannot be resolved swiftly to the Field Engineer
- Support the team in other areas and carry out various fieldwork tasks as required
Qualifications
- Experience with operating heavy machinery and mechanical equipment
- Experience with production processes involving managing formulation and composition of ingredients etc.
- Experience working with production processes involving liquids/fluids
- Fluent in English is a requirement. Additional Spanish language skills are an advantage
Personality traits
- You are technically literate and pay attention to details
- You think on your feet, react, and respond to situations quickly and proactively
- You are a team player able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously without confusion
- You are enthusiastic with positive energy that inspires people around you
- You are a good problem solver able to control situations and maintain a peaceful working environment
- You remain attentive and focused even when doing repetitive tasks over long periods
- You respect health and safety and actively promote this to your coworkers
- You always go the extra mile and perform well under pressure
- You are an effective problem solver
- You are a hard worker, intensely driven, determined, goal-oriented, and intrinsically motivated
- You are super focused and never diverge from your objectives, no matter how many obstacles you face
- You are committed to delivering results; giving up is never an option
Skills
- Mechanical operator skills.
- Ability to operate control systems, pumps, valves, flowmeters, etc.
- Understanding of manufacturing and production procedures
- Adherence to health and safety laws
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork and communication
- Physical stamina and strength
- Ability to handle heavy equipment
- Problem-solving abilities
- Self-motivated, hands-on, proactive, and independent
- Enjoy working in multi-disciplinary and highly diverse teams
Example 2
Job summary
Operate or tend one or more types of cutting or forming machine tools. May include such machine tools as band saws, chop saws, hand sanders, and a variety of hand tools.
Responsibilities
- Operate machines to cut, shape, drill, or mill non-metallic material
- Read job specifications to determine machine adjustments and material requirements
- Align layout marks with die or blade. Set machine stops or guides to specified lengths as indicated by scale, rule, or template. Install machine components, such as chucks or cutting tools, according to specifications
- Remove burrs or sharp edges from the workpiece, using a file, hand grinder, wire brush, or power tools. Verify conformance to specifications
- Examine completed work pieces for defects, such as chipped edges and marred surfaces, and sort defective pieces according to defect
- Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to the machine reservoir
- Other duties as assigned
Nature and scope
- Refers complex, unusual problems to the supervisor
- Under general supervision, exercises some judgment in accordance with well-defined policies, procedures, and techniques. Work typically involves regular review of output by a senior coworker or supervisor
Work environment
- Typically in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors such as temperature extremes, moving machinery, loud noises, and fumes, which may cause noticeable discomfort or a moderate risk of accident or illness
- No travel required
- Requires intermittent periods during which continuous physical exertion is required, such as walking, standing, stooping, climbing, lifting, and maneuvering material or equipment, some of which may be heavy (50+ pounds) or awkward
Qualifications
- Must be a minimum of 18 years of age or older
- Must pass the pre-employment assessment(s) if applicable
Education and experience
- HS Diploma or GED is strongly preferred. Specialized skills training/certification may be required. Generally 2-5 years of experience in the area of responsibility.
Example 3
The individual who fills this position will be responsible for running the machine for processing, rejecting, and/or re-associating incoming mail daily. This position is considered a production-oriented position, which includes adherence to Client based service level agreement goals.
Requirements
- Lockbox experience – nice to have
- Knowledge of MS Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word
- Ability to lift 20 to 30 lbs.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Quality and production are extremely important
- Experience with multitasking
- Attention to detail and organization skills
- Performs clerical task functions as needed
- High school diploma or GED
Responsibilities
- You will be running a machine and making sure all processed documents are going in correctly
- Standing job 90% of the time and more hands-on type of role
- Working independently but being a team player. Minimum supervision
- Performs clerical tasks functions as needed
How to Hire a Machine Operator
When hiring a machine operator, first consider the following:
- Recruiting: Do you have the knowledge, tools, and resources to attract and screen candidates?
- Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid or junior-level skills and experience suffice?
- Duration: Is this a one-time project or an ongoing need?
- Management: Do you have the time and expertise to direct the work effectively?
- Urgency: How soon does the work need to be completed?
- Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?
Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, great options exist for every scenario. These are our recommendations:
1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)
The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
This is the best route to take when:
- You need to fill the position quickly
- You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
- Your position is suited for temporary hiring services, contract staffing, or contract-to-hire recruiting, and you intend to direct the work activity.
- You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff.
- You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
2. Advertise your opening on a top job board
Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.
We recommend using a job board when:
- Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
- You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort
- You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
- You are prepared to respond to all applicants
There are many career sites out there. Here are the two we recommend for a machine operator opening:
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.
LinkedIn is a social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses. With this popular job site, you can enhance your brand and advertise your open position to a wide audience of motivated, qualified candidates. Job postings on LinkedIn are also extremely streamlined and user-friendly, making it even easier for candidates to apply. Additionally, applicants can use their LinkedIn profile instead of a resume to expedite the process.
3. Leverage your internal resources
You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.
A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.
We recommend these options when:
- Your brand has great name recognition
- You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
- You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
- You have an effective employee referral program in place
If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.
Sample Interview Questions
- What do you enjoy about working in production?
- How do you respond to other employees committing security and hazard violations?
- Can you tell us how you worked through an issue in your previous job?
- How do you handle missed production deadlines?
- What machines do you have experience with?
- How do you perform quality checks to ensure equipment is working properly?
- How do you maintain equipment logs?
- How do you prioritize when multiple machines need to be repaired?
- What must you do before starting a production cycle?
- Why is quality assurance important as a machine operator?
- How do you respond if your supervisor asks you to hold off on repairing a faulty machine until the daily production quota has been met?
- What tools do you regularly use on the job?
- Would you rather work alone or as part of a team? Why?
- What process do you employ when performing maintenance on a machine?
- Do you have experience programming machines?
- What do you do when you make a mistake in measuring parts or final products?
- Describe a time when you disagreed with a coworker. What was the issue and how was it resolved?