Plating and Coating Machine Operators
On the Job
Plating and Coating Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines that coat metal or plastic products. The machines usually coat with materials like chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces.
Physical Demands
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
- Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
- Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
- Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools.
- Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
- Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
- Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
- Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
- Install mechanical components in production equipment.
- Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Exposure to hazardous conditions.
- Working with a group or team.
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
- Responsibility for outcomes and results.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.