Heat sealing machine operator

Heat sealing machine operators operate sealing and gluing machines to join items together for further processing or to seal products or packages, using heat.

The following job titles also refer to heat sealing machine operator:

heat seal machine worker
hot bar sealer operator
continuous heat sealer operative
heat sealing machine setter
heat sealing machine operative
heat seal operator
hot bar sealer tender
continuous heat sealer tender
continuous heat sealer setter
hot bar sealer operative
impulse heat sealer operator
impulse heat sealer tender
heat sealing machine tender
impulse heat sealer operative
heat seal machine tender
heat sealing machine worker
heat seal machine operative
heat seal operative
hot bar sealer setter
heat seal machine setter
impulse heat sealer setter
heat seal machine operator
continuous heat sealer operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a heat sealing machine operator.

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.

Heat sealing machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

insulating tube winder
edge bander operator
slitter operator
router operator
nailing machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of heat sealing 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 heat sealing machine operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
metal furnace operator
desalination technician
industrial robot controller

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of heat sealing machine operator.

• Thermoplastic materials: Types of materials of which the physical state changes when exposed to heat, as well as the specific manner in which the materials react to heat exposure.
• Types of heat sealing: The types of heat sealing that exist, for example induction sealing, induction welding, hot bar sealers, continuous heat sealing and impulse heat sealers and understand for which type of materials they are used.

These skills are necessary for the role of heat sealing machine operator.

• 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 public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
• Pack goods: Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
• 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.
• Set up machine controls: Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
• Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
• Heat materials: Put the materials in an oven and heat them for a certain amount of time and to a specific temperature to shape or cure the material.
• Maintain heat sealing machinery: Maintain machinery and equipment for sealing materials together, to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust when necessary, using hand and power tools.
• Operate heat sealing machinery: Operate machines and equipment used for sealing products, packaging or other thermoplastic materials using heat.
• Ensure conformity to specifications: Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

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

• Manufacturing of daily use goods: The manufacturing of items used in the daily life, personal use or daily practice. These products include protective safety equipment, drawing equipment, stamps, umbrellas, cigarette lighters, baskets, candles, and many other miscellaneous articles.
• Manufacturing of sports equipment: The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski’s, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.

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

• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• 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.
• Use heat gun: Use a heat gun to warm up various surfaces such as wood, plastic, or metals to shape them, remove paint or other substances.
• Repair heat sealing machinery: Repair broken components or systems of heat sealing machinery and equipment, using hand and power tools.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• 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.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• Weigh materials: Weigh materials and products, record weight and other relevant data on tags or labels.
• Check quality of products on the production line: Check products for quality on the production line and remove defective items before and after packaging.
• 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.
• Operate hot glue gun: Operate the electric machine used to apply hot melt adhesive to join two pieces of material.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Remove excess glue: Remove surplus of glue with a scraper.

8183 – Packing, bottling and labelling machine operators

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References

1. Heat sealing machine operator – ESCO