Chain making machine operator

Chain making machine operators tend and operate the proper equipment and machinery for the creation of metal chains, including precious metal chains such as for jewellery, and produce these in all steps of the production process. They feed the wire into the chainmaking machine, use pliers to hook the ends of the chain formed by the machine together and finish and trim the edges by soldering them to a smooth surface.

The following job titles also refer to chain making machine operator:

hand chain maker
novelty chainmaker
lay out worker
centrifugal casting machine operator
novelty chain maker
jewelry chainmaker
lay-out technician
lay out operative
lay out technician
fancy wire drawer
hand chain making operator
gold chain maker
engine turning operator
chain making machine tender
chain making machine operative
gold chainmaker
chain making machine setter
jewelery chain maker
lay-out worker
engine turner
chainmaker
jewellery chain maker
lay-out operator
jewellery chainmaker
chain maker
centrifugal casting machine technician

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a chain making machine operator. Experience is mostly gained through on-the-job training..

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Chain making machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to chain making machine operator.

metal drawing machine operator
wire weaving machine operator
nailing machine operator
tumbling machine operator
laser marking machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of chain making machine operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of chain making machine operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
metal production supervisor
welding inspector
container equipment assembly supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of chain making machine operator.

• Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Types of chain: Types of chain, such as industrial chain, novelty chain and jewellery chain.

These skills are necessary for the role of chain making machine operator.

• Operate hand tools in chain making: Operate hand tools such as pliers in the production of various types of chains, hooking the ends of a chain, formed by a machine, together.
• Remove inadequate workpieces: Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Remove processed workpiece: Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
• Monitor moving workpiece in a machine: Monitor the processing of a workpiece in motion, such as a piece of metal or wood moved linearly over a static manufacturing machine.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Safely handle metal wire under tension: Handle fabricated, drawn metal wire safely by calculating the risks and dangers of its unreliable nature due to spring force and resilience.
• Tend chain making machine: Tend a metalworking machine designed to form metal chains, monitor and operate it according to regulations.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chain making machine operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
• Metal forming technologies: The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
• Manufacturing of small metal parts: The manufacture of metal cable, plaited bands and other articles of that type, uninsulated or insulated cable not capable of being used as a conductor of electricity, coated or cored wire as well as barbed wire, wire fencing, grill, netting, cloth etc. Manufacture of coated electrodes for electric arc-welding, nails and pins, chain and springs (except watch springs): as well as leaves for springs.
• Dies: The qualities and applications of various kinds of dies, the different components of a die (such as the die block, punch plate, pierce punch and others) and the types of die used in specialised manufacturing processes ( such as extrusion dies, drawing dies, forming dies, cutting dies, compound dies, and others).
• Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
• Manufacturing of door furniture from metal: The manufacture of metal items that can be attached to a door in order to support its function and appearance. The manufacture of padlocks, locks, keys, hinges and the like, and hardware for buildings, furniture, vehicles etc.
• Watches and jewellery products: The offered watches and jewellery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Metal drawing processes: The various types of drawing processes in metal fabrication, such as wire drawing, bar drawing, tube drawing, and others.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chain making machine operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Monitor conveyor belt: Monitor the flow of the work pieces on the conveyor belt as they are processed by the machine to ensure optimal productivity.
• Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
• Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
• Mark processed workpiece: Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.

7223 – Metal working machine tool setters and operators

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References

1. Chain making machine operator – ESCO