What does a set-up operator do?
A machine set-up operator operates machinery such as grinders, bores, and mills. They prepare machines to be used by organizing tools, setting valve directions, sharpening tools as needed, positioning tools, and conducting regular maintenance.
Set-up operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real set-up operator resumes:
- Manage daily scheduling of production workload to be setup and run on machinery.
- Use and replacement of drills, taps, broaches, and reamers.
- Manufacture parts according to blueprints, work with stainless steel aluminum, brass and plastics.
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders.
- Use of exact measuring instruments as CMM, optical comparators, mics, bore gauges and many other tools.
- Produce parts from different materials such as cold roll steel, stainless steel, no lead brass and regular brass.
- Measure thickness and diameter of parts with micrometers and calipers to verify conformity to size and surface specifications.
- Change tooling, drills, mills, taps.
- Attend ISO and all quality assurace team meetings.
- Perform QA and QC, ISO production and routing procedures.
- Experience working in prototype aerospace company with small quantity runs.
- Machine aluminum castings to specifications drawn out in blue prints.
- Process check sheets with AQL levels follow with FDA requirements.
- Work with tooling inserts, reamers, drills and c'bores.
- Measure parts using precision measuring devices such as Opti-View and CMM.
Set-up operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Set-Up Operators are proficient in Calipers, CNC Machines, and Hand Tools. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Dexterity, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Set-Up Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Calipers, 9%
Inspected machine parts for conformance to product specifications using calipers, micrometers and dial indicators.
- CNC Machines, 7%
Produce quality pistons within specifications using CNC machines while meeting production numbers.
- Hand Tools, 7%
Set up machine blades/cutters by determining position/depth using ruler, square, shims, templates, hand tools & gauges.
- Math, 6%
Read and understood blueprints and math as required.
- Quality Checks, 6%
Repaired minor machine problems, completed federally regulated quality checks
- Preventative Maintenance, 6%
Perform all necessary repairs and monthly preventative maintenance.
"calipers," "cnc machines," and "hand tools" are among the most common skills that set-up operators use at work. You can find even more set-up operator responsibilities below, including:
Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for a set-up operator to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "metal and plastic machine workers often must be able to use programmable devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor." Additionally, a set-up operator resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "utilized computer software to effectively complete extrusion and compounding tasks. "
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform set-up operator duties is dexterity. Set-up operators responsibilities require that "metal and plastic machine workers who work in metal and plastic machined goods manufacturing use precise hand movements to make the necessary shapes, cuts, and edges that designs require." Set-up operators also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "transport equipment, raw material and product by use of forklifts and overhead cranes. "
Physical strength. This is an important skill for set-up operators to perform their duties. For an example of how set-up operator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "metal and plastic machine workers must be strong enough to guide and load heavy and bulky parts and materials into machines." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a set-up operator: "operated mill machine , a physically demanding and focus essential piece of equipment and other machines following spec. ".
Mechanical skills. set-up operator responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machinery." This resume example shows what set-up operators do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "utilize troubleshooting math, mechanical, tool, inspection, and blueprints skills learned in college. "
The three companies that hire the most set-up operators are:
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Compare different set-up operators
Set-up operator vs. Technical machine operator
Set up technicians are skilled employees who assemble and disassemble manufacturing machines as well as perform preventative maintenance to ensure that the manufacturing firm can produce high-quality products. These technicians must inspect products so that they can locate malfunctions in machine operations and then inform their supervisor about the repairs needed. They must observe production equipment to ensure its correct operation and collaborate with the engineering team to adjust the equipment when needed. Set up technicians must also assist in teaching new operators about the firm's standard operating procedures of production equipment.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, set-up operator responsibilities require skills like "calipers," "cnc machines," "hand tools," and "micrometers." Meanwhile a typical technical machine operator has skills in areas such as "safety regulations," "cnc," "continuous improvement," and "trouble shoot." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Technical machine operators really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $35,834. Comparatively, set-up operators tend to make the most money in the automotive industry with an average salary of $44,628.The education levels that technical machine operators earn slightly differ from set-up operators. In particular, technical machine operators are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a set-up operator. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Set-up operator vs. Machine operator/machinist
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that set-up operator responsibilities requires skills like "hand tools," "preventative maintenance," "basic math," and "gmp." But a machine operator/machinist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "grinders," "machine shop," "troubleshoot," and "aerospace."
In general, machine operators/machinist achieve similar levels of education than set-up operators. They're 0.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Set-up operator vs. Set up technician
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, set-up operators are more likely to have skills like "cnc machines," "micrometers," "cnc lathes," and "gmp." But a set up technician is more likely to have skills like "cnc," "good communication," "auxiliary equipment," and "work ethic."
Set up technicians make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $38,989. On the other hand, set-up operators are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $44,628.When it comes to education, set up technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to set-up operators. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Set-up operator vs. Grinding machine operator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between set-up operators and grinding machine operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a set-up operator might have more use for skills like "cnc machines," "math," "preventative maintenance," and "safety procedures." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of grinding machine operators require skills like "grinders," "cnc," "gauges," and "ran. "
Grinding machine operators enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $40,910. For comparison, set-up operators earn the highest salary in the automotive industry.In general, grinding machine operators hold similar degree levels compared to set-up operators. Grinding machine operators are 0.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of set-up operator
Updated January 8, 2025
