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Machine operator/machinist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Miles Free
Machine operator/machinist example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical machine operator/machinist skills. We ranked the top skills for machine operators/machinist based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.9% of machine operator/machinist resumes contained cnc lathes as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a machine operator/machinist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 machine operator/machinist skills for your resume and career

1. CNC Lathes

Here's how machine operators/machinist use cnc lathes:
  • Set up and operate CNC lathes and table saws, occasionally ran CNC mills, engine lathe, and Bridgeport.
  • Operated various types of manual lathes, mills and grinders as well as CNC lathes and mills and grinders.

2. Grinders

Here's how machine operators/machinist use grinders:
  • Operated Vertical Turret Lathes, ID/OD Grinders and honing machines to machine RB211 Rotating Discs, LPT Seals and tooling.
  • Utilized manual lathes, Radial drills, and Blanchard grinders, while holding tolerances within a .002 +/- tolerance.

3. Math

Here's how machine operators/machinist use math:
  • Used strong math skills involving complex geometry and trigonometry to write programs and keep tolerances with .001 inches.
  • Have a certificate of basic machine shop class that has basic math skills and measurement skills Activities

4. Calipers

Here's how machine operators/machinist use calipers:
  • Performed hourly quality inspections - dimensional measurements with calipers and micrometers.
  • Measured work piece using electronic components, measuring instruments, gauges, calipers, micrometers etc for conformance to precise specifications.

5. CNC Machines

Here's how machine operators/machinist use cnc machines:
  • Performed preventative maintenance on various CNC machines
  • Operate a 5-axis CNC Machine, and make appropriate program changes to keep parts in tolerances according to customer specifications.

6. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use safety procedures:
  • Maintain security of operations by adhering to safety procedures and standards.
  • Followed safety procedures and instructions.

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7. Micrometers

A micrometer is a measuring instrument used in various laboratories to measure even the tiniest components in-depth with great precision and accuracy and to make precise linear measurements of dimensions such as diameters, thicknesses, and lengths of solid bodies. They are essential measuring instruments used by mechanical engineers, machinists, and workers in other technical professions. They allow workers to take extremely precise measurements, which can be viewed either in imperial or metric format. Most micrometers are designed to measure within one-thousandth of an inch! It's a snug fit. Accurate measurements like this are needed when even the smallest distance between objects can cause problems or difficulties.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use micrometers:
  • lnspected parts with measuring tools such as micrometers, depth gauges, protractors and height gauges
  • Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and fernier calipers.

8. Machine Shop

Here's how machine operators/machinist use machine shop:
  • Worked on the Bridgeport mill and manual lathe daily along with many other practical machine shop tools and machines.
  • Operate various machine shop equipment to manufacture, fabricate and repair a myriad of projects for numerous customers.

9. Drill Press

A drill press refers to a device used to produce holes in hard substances. When drilling the holes, you need to clamp the workpiece on a table and hold the drill in a rotating spindle and feed it into the workpiece.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use drill press:
  • Worked in the manufacturing department and used power tools such as routers, drill presses, table saws.
  • Operate cut-off saws, grinding machines, drill presses, and other duties ask to perform

10. Quality Standards

Quality standards are a specific level of standards of products that are set by the companies for the customers that have to be met and maintained throughout the process until the time of delivery. Quality standards are information that includes the customer's requirements, guidelines, and characteristics for the needed final product or service.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use quality standards:
  • Tested machines, tools, and ink velocity to meet highest quality standards.
  • Tested machines, tools, and ink velocity to meet higher quality standards Performed daily set-ups and routine maintenance of machine.

11. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use troubleshoot:
  • Demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot effectively in order to minimize Production down time.
  • Repair, Rebuild, Troubleshoot, Modify and Design Machinery.

12. Quality Checks

Quality checks are a component of quality control aimed at ensuring that quality requirements are met. Internally, quality checks provide assurance to managers, and externally, it provides assurance to clients, federal departments, authorities, and certifiers.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use quality checks:
  • Performed quality checks, preformed maintenance on machines, facilitated manufacturing functions
  • Load material and run parts to blueprint specifications, do routine quality checks on parts being run to ensure quality parts.

13. Machine Operation

Here's how machine operators/machinist use machine operation:
  • Utilize general injection molding machine operational skills such as setting up and monitoring the injection molding equipment.
  • Attend monthly safety meeting to ensure machine operation safety.

14. Aerospace

Aerospace refers to the physical science focusing on designing and developing, testing, and producing systems that aid in navigation to space or traverse through the earth's atmospheric zone.

Here's how machine operators/machinist use aerospace:
  • Worked closely with management and engineering staff to ensure efficient and safe methods were utilized in producing high quality aerospace components.
  • Machined and inspected metal parts used in aerospace industry under military contract (Federal Aviation Administration).

15. ISO

Here's how machine operators/machinist use iso:
  • Manufactured water system components following ISO and US government procedures.
  • Machined parts according to API, ISO and production standards.
top-skills

What skills help Machine Operators/Machinist find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young machine operator/machinists need?

Miles FreeMiles Free LinkedIn profile

Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association

Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.

Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.

List of machine operator/machinist skills to add to your resume

Machine operator/machinist skills

The most important skills for a machine operator/machinist resume and required skills for a machine operator/machinist to have include:

  • CNC Lathes
  • Grinders
  • Math
  • Calipers
  • CNC Machines
  • Safety Procedures
  • Micrometers
  • Machine Shop
  • Drill Press
  • Quality Standards
  • Troubleshoot
  • Quality Checks
  • Machine Operation
  • Aerospace
  • ISO
  • Shop Mathematics
  • Operate CNC
  • Mazak
  • G Code
  • FANUC
  • Haas
  • Routine Maintenance
  • Manual Lathes
  • CNC Mill
  • Grinding Machines
  • CMM
  • Band Saws
  • CAD
  • Punch Press
  • EDM
  • Machine Tools
  • Stainless Steel
  • M Codes
  • Reference Points
  • MIG
  • Vernier Calipers
  • Okuma
  • Jigs
  • Vertical Milling Machines
  • Manual Machines
  • Production Runs
  • Manual Mill
  • Edit Programs
  • Assembly Line
  • Surface Grinders
  • Screw Machines
  • Comparators
  • Precision Tools

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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