ANZSCO Work Type Detail Sheets

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Plastic Making Machine Operator

711511 · Heavy Next-day ready
Career data Close match

Cutting machine operators use machines and tools to cut materials and products like glass, concrete, stone, metal, plastic, paper or insulating material.

Most common salary $65k – $99k
Upper salary up to $146k
Training 0-1 year
View on Tahatū ↗ Data: Tahatū Career Navigator, CC BY 4.0
Related careers
Press machine operator ↗

Press machine operators use machines to press, cut, shape or straighten metal and plastic materials.

$60k – $96k
Rolling machine operator ↗

Rolling machine operators use machines to roll, heat treat, or reduce the thickness of steel or plastic materials.

$63k – $152k
Data: Tahatū Career Navigator, CC BY 4.0

Description

Operates extruding machines to encase wire, cord, cable and optic fibre in plastic or rubber.

Typical work tasks

  • Operates controls to regulate temperature, pressure, speed and flow of operation; measures and loads materials, items and ingredients for mixing into machines and feeding mechanisms; monitors operation, regulates material supply and adds chemicals and colorants to mixture; threads uncoated wire and cable through plastic coating machines, around take-up reels and through dies and cooling chambers; operates rollers to remove air; operates vulcaniser presses and controls curing; examines output for defects and conformity to specifications; performs minor repairs and maintains production records.

Typical work environment

  • Works indoors in plastic manufacturing factories.
  • Work areas may be noisy, smelly and hot. Protective ear muffs and other equipment will be worn as necessary.

Typical physical and mental demands

  • Medium to heavy physical demand level.
  • Stands and walks frequently to operate machinery, pick up materials and supplies.
  • Stretches out, up and across occasionally to operate particular machines and when loading materials into machines.
  • Squatting, kneeling or crouching may be required when inspecting machines and finished plastic products.
  • Twisting of the body or neck may be required on an occasional basis.
  • Frequent lifting is required up to a heavy level.
  • Bends occasionally over machines, conveyer belts and when picking up supplies or products from low levels.
  • Repetitive large hand and arm movements may occasionally be required for some tasks.
  • Driving is not required.
  • Employees use a range of plastics processing machines or may specialise in the operation of one machine.
  • Mental skills necessary include technical knowledge, machine operation and other practical and problem-solving skills.
Entry signal Reviewed

Enter via experience or on-the-job training; no mandatory pre-entry qualification. Flagged next-day ready.

Entry barrier Experience or on-job training
Licence / registration No licence required
ANZSCO skill level 4
Next-day ready Yes

How this was determined (model-generated): Skill 4 plastics machine operator; on-the-job training sufficient, no licence gate.

Entry Requirements

An NZQF Level 2 or 3 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 4). At least one year of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.

Further Comments

  • There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.