Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

The occupation "Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic" has an automation risk of 33.2%, which is only slightly below the base risk of 33.6%. This risk level indicates that just under one-third of the job’s tasks are susceptible to being performed by machines or automated systems with current technology. The relatively moderate automation risk arises because while several aspects of the role are routine and structured, a significant portion still requires human intervention and judgement, thus resisting full automation. The work often involves handling complex machinery, making real-time adjustments, and ensuring product quality—tasks that, although increasingly supplemented by technology, still benefit from human oversight and skill. The most automatable tasks within this occupation are those which follow structured, repetitive processes. For instance, examining completed workpieces for defects such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and then sorting them according to the type of flaw can be effectively performed by vision systems and conveyors. Similarly, measuring workpieces to verify they meet specifications is straightforward with automated calipers and sensors that ensure consistency and accuracy. Additionally, setting machine stops, changing dies, and adjusting machine components for different production runs are tasks that have already seen significant automation in modern factories, as programmable machines and robotics can now perform these adjustments with speed and precision. Conversely, certain tasks remain resistant to automation due to the nuanced judgment and manual dexterity they require. Tasks such as honing cutters with oilstones to remove nicks, sharpening dulled blades using bench grinders or lathes, and preheating workpieces with furnaces or hand torches are often dependent on the operator’s experience and tactile feedback. These activities involve irregular and context-dependent actions that are challenging to codify and automate reliably. The bottleneck skill in this occupation is "Originality," with an importance level of 2.3% and 1.9% for the most demanding tasks, reflecting the ongoing need for creative problem-solving and adaptability—qualities that currently elude even advanced automated systems. This reliance on originality and dexterous skill sustains a significant portion of the occupation’s resilience against automation.