Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Sheet metal operator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sheet metal operator skills. We ranked the top skills for sheet metal operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 25.2% of sheet metal operator resumes contained cnc as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sheet metal operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sheet metal operator skills for your resume and career

1. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how sheet metal operators use cnc:

Operated all production machinery presses, punches, shears, CNC machines and automated welding machines.
Operate CNC machine to fabricate parts For Kits to be installed.

2. Punch Press

Here's how sheet metal operators use punch press:

Set up punch presses to presswork metals involving deep draws, broaching, reverse and progressive draws and multiple operations.
Punch Press Operator set up and lead Assist other departments as needed (floater)

3. Spot Welding

Here's how sheet metal operators use spot welding:

Wrap insulation* Spot welding* Load and unload materials
Spot welding studs onto base pans and support beams to side walls of units.

4. MIG

MIG is a specific type of welding in which two base materials are welded together using a solid wire electrode fed through a welding gun and into the weld pool.

Here's how sheet metal operators use mig:

Perform all-position MIG welding to join steel and aluminum metals from 1/16 to 1 thick plate.
Performed MIG welding and labor duties building driers for paper mills * Some experience with press-brake

5. Stamping Presses

Here's how sheet metal operators use stamping presses:

Operated office equipment to aid in the production of the printing of training certificate for operating stamping presses safely.

6. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, carbon, and some other metals with corrosion-resistant properties. The components of steel include less than 1% carbon, 1% manganese, and small quantities of other elements such as phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, and oxygen. Iron and carbon are the two essential components of steel. Stainless steel is resistant to tarnishing and rust.

Here's how sheet metal operators use stainless steel:

Worked at The Medical College of Wisconsin installing stainless steel duct work and welding stainless steel duct work.
Welded various types of materials including steel, aluminum, stainless steel in a food processing plant.

Choose from 10+ customizable sheet metal operator resume templates

Build a professional sheet metal operator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sheet metal operator resume.

7. Safety Practices

Here's how sheet metal operators use safety practices:

Observed safety practices and procedures to maintain a safe and clean work environment.
Utilize safety practices and procedures following established safety rules and regulations and maintains a safe and clean work environment.

8. Assembly Line

Assembly line is a process used in industries to ensure the production of products in a cost effective manner by dividing up the responsibilities of each labor. Assembly lines enabled industries to hire more workers, therefore providing more employment opportunities to labors. This is possible because in this process the burden of all the tasks related to production are not laid on a single person, they are divided into small baby steps for each labor.

Here's how sheet metal operators use assembly line:

Assess the impact of and provide input to the assembly line.
Form parts for assembly lines.

9. Blueprint Specifications

Blueprints are layouts or designs about the construction of a building or structure. It consists of accurate engineering drawing on light-sensitive sheets allowing to create copies easily.

Here's how sheet metal operators use blueprint specifications:

Programmed and set up machines to bend parts efficiently and safely to produce quality parts according to blueprint specifications.
Inspect own part in accordance to the blueprint specifications.

10. Smooth Surfaces

Here's how sheet metal operators use smooth surfaces:

Trim, file, grind, buff, and smooth surfaces, seams, and joints of assembled parts,

11. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how sheet metal operators use construction sites:

Inspected and installed assembled signs at construction sites.
Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.

12. RAN

RAN stands for "revenue anticipation note," which refers to a practice where an organization (often the government) borrows money to support a specific project. When these funds are then repaid, the money given to the lenders comes from the profits generated by the business originally funded.

Here's how sheet metal operators use ran:

Worked as a duct installer when not in the shop and ran a rough-in crew for the last three years there.
Set up and ran both mechanical and hydraulic, manual and numerical controlled brakes for both ram and back gauge

13. Tape Measure

A tape measure is a thin, flexible strip of plastic or metal that can be rolled up when it is not being used. The tape measure has numbers marked on it linearly which is used for measuring length.

Here's how sheet metal operators use tape measure:

Verified size of sheared items, using tape measurer, caliper, or template.
Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors.

14. Amada

Here's how sheet metal operators use amada:

Coordinate with engineers and supervisor for setting up Amada press brake, forming sheet metal chassis and parts for productions.
Used Amada machine press Brakes.

15. Product Specifications

A product specification is a document detailing all the requirements and key features of a product that's about to be built. It's mostly called a blueprint because it's the product in its theoretical form which is also the preliminary stage of product design.

Here's how sheet metal operators use product specifications:

Performed Quality assurance inspections on all products to ensure conformance with product specifications.
Selected gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.

5 Sheet Metal Operator resume examples

Build a professional sheet metal operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your sheet metal operator resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Sheet Metal Operators find jobs?

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

List of sheet metal operator skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a sheet metal operator resume and required skills for a sheet metal operator to have include:

CNC
Punch Press
Spot Welding
MIG
Stamping Presses
Stainless Steel

Safety Practices
Assembly Line
Blueprint Specifications
Smooth Surfaces
Construction Sites
RAN

Tape Measure
Amada
Product Specifications
Air Hand Tools
Product Quality
Punch Holes

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse construction and extraction jobs