Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Operators

• Conduct test runs of production equipment.
• Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
• Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
• Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
• Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
• Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
• Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
• Attach decorative or functional accessories to products.
• Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools.
• Feed materials or products into or through equipment.

• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Frequent decision-making.
• Working with a group or team.
• Close physical proximity with other people.
• Exposure to hazardous conditions.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Responsibility for others' health and safety.

Enrolling in a community college can be a great place to start your four-year degree. While all 31 Minnesota State community colleges, technical colleges and universities offer all or part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (a 40-credit package of general education courses accepted for transfer to other state colleges and universities, the University of Minnesota, and some private colleges and universities), not all two-year colleges offer degrees intended to transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree.

If you plan to transfer to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree, it is important to know which degree path is right for you:

• Associate of Arts (AA) degrees offered at community colleges are designed to transfer into liberal arts four-year majors.
• Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degrees offered at community and technical colleges transfer into specific four-year majors and will likely require completing additional general education courses at a university.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees offered at technical and community colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
• Diplomas and certificates offered at technical colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.

Talk to a transfer specialist as early as possible to determine the best associate degree for your goals. Be sure to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) each semester to best prepare for transfer. Get more help understanding transfer using the tools below.

• Visit Transferology to see if your courses will transfer.
• Search Articulation Agreements to find formal transfer agreements between schools.

• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Production and Processing—Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

• Synthetic and Glass Fiber Extruding and Forming Machine Operators
• Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Operators
• Wood Sawing Machine Operators
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operators
• Rolling Machine Operators
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Operators
• Heat Treating Equipment Operators
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Operators
• Molders, Shapers, and Casters

• Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
• Paper Manufacturing
• Machinery Manufacturing
• Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
• Wood Product Manufacturing

• Synthetic and Glass Fiber Extruding and Forming Machine Operators
• Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Operators
• Wood Sawing Machine Operators
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operators
• Rolling Machine Operators
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Operators
• Heat Treating Equipment Operators
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Operators
• Molders, Shapers, and Casters