Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career Overview

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

Also Known As

Mill Operator
Rolling Mill Operator
Roughing Mill Operator
Tube Mill Operator

Alternate Job Titles

Bar Finish Operator
Bar Roller
Barrel Roller
Barrel Roller Operator
Bed Operator
Brass Roller
Breakdown Coordinator
Breakdown Mill Operator
Breakdown Operator
Bulldogger
Calender Operator
Caster Operator
Coiler Operator
Cold Form Operator
Cold Headerman

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.
Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.
Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms.
Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Mechanical

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Problem Sensitivity
Control Precision
Near Vision
Reaction Time
Rate Control
Manual Dexterity
Multilimb Coordination
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Static Strength
Finger Dexterity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Support
Relationships
Working Conditions
Independence
Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Tools & Equipment

Chain hoists
Cluster rolling mills
Crop shears
Diameter gauges
Digital calipers
Digital radius gauges
Digital strain gauges
Displacement transducers
Electric overhead traveling EOT cranes
Finishing mills
Fluid pressure transducers
Four-high rolling mills
Height gauges
Hot metal detectors
Industrial furnaces

Work Environment

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$37,090
Median	$48,630
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$67,500

Workers Employed Nationally: 22,350