Perform machine maintenance

Description

Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.

Alternative labels

supervise appliance and component inspections
undertake machine maintenance
supervise machine maintenance
complete appliance and component inspections
implement appliance and component inspections
complete machine maintenance
undertake appliance and component inspections
implement machine maintenance

Skill type

skill/competence

Skill reusability level

cross-sector

Relationships with occupations

Essential skill

Perform machine maintenance is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Engraving machine operator: Engraving machine operators set up, programme, and tend engraving machines designed to precisely carve a design in the surface of a metal workpiece by a diamond stylus on the mechanical cutting machine that creates small, separate printing dots existing from cut cells. They read engraving machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the precise engraving controls, such as the depth of the incisions and the engraving speed.
Container equipment assembler: Container equipment assemblers manufacture containers such as boilers or pressure vessels. They read blueprints and technical drawings to assemble parts and to build piping and fittings.
Grinding machine operator: Grinding machine operators set up, program and control grinding machines, designed to apply abrasive processes in order to remove small amounts of excess material and smoothen metal workpieces by using an abrasive wheel with diamond teeth as a cutting device for very precise and light cuts. They read grinding machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the grinding controls, such as the depth of cuts and the rotation speed.
Water jet cutter operator: Water jet cutter operators set up and operate a water jet cutter, designed to cut excess material from a metal workpiece by using a high-pressure jet of water, or an abrasive substance mixed with water.
Textile machinery technician: Textile machinery technicians set up, maintain, inspect and repair mechanical and computer-controlled machinery used in textile manufacturing such as weaving, dyeing and finishing machines.
 
Filing machine operator: Filing machine operators set up and tend filing machines such as band files, reciprocating files and bench filing machines in order to smoothen metal, wood or plastic surfaces by precisely cutting and removing small amounts of excess material.
Industrial robot controller: Industrial robot controllers operate and monitor industrial robots used in automation processes to perform various manufacturing activities such as lifting, welding and assembling. They ensure that the machines are working correctly and in sync with other industrial robots, maintain and repair defective parts, assess risks and perform tests.
Forge equipment technician: Forge equipment technicians maintain and repair forge machinery such as presses and material handling equipment. They perform evaluations of the equipment, perform preventative maintenance activities, and repair faults. They also assist in the installation of the equipment and ensure proper functionality.
Computer numerical control machine operator: Computer numerical control machine operators set-up, maintain and control a computer numerical control machine in order to execute the product orders. They are responsible for programming the machines, ensuring the required parameters and measurements are met while maintaining the quality and safety standards.
Maintenance and repair engineer: Maintenance and repair engineers focus on the optimization of equipment, procedures, machineries and infrastructure. They ensure their maximum availability at minimum costs.
Lathe and turning machine operator: Lathe and turning machine operators set up, program and tend lathe and turning machines designed to cut excess metal from a metal workpiece using a hardened cutting tool moved by computer-controlled motors. They read lathe and turning machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the lathe controls, such as the depth of cuts and the rotation speed.
Automated assembly line operator: Automated assembly line operators operate, maintain and clean production machines. They are responsible for the assembly of a whole product or a part of a product. Automated assembly line operators perform all tasks in a production process via a rotation system.
Milling machine operator: Milling machine operators set up, program and control milling machines, designed to cut excess material from metal workpieces using a computer-controlled rotary-cutting, milling cutter. They read milling machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the milling controls, such as the depth of cuts or the rotation speed.
Construction equipment technician: Construction equipment technicians inspect, maintain and repair heavy-duty vehicles used in construction, forestry and earthworks such as bulldozers, excavators and harvesters. They perform evaluations of the equipment, and ensure the safety and optimal efficiency of the machinery.
Pulp technician: Pulp technicians perform technical tasks in the production of pulp. They work in pulp production teams where they maintain machines, resolve technical malfunctions and ensure the production process runs according to specifications.
Laser cutting machine operator: Laser cutting machine operators set up, program and tend laser cutting machines, designed to cut, or rather burn off and melt, excess material from a metal workpiece by directing a computer-motion-controlled powerful laser beam through laser optics. They read laser cutting machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the milling controls, such as the intensity of the laser beam and its positioning.
Industrial machinery assembler: Industrial machinery assemblers manufacture industrial equipment such as industrial robots, assembly line machines, and labeling machines. They use hand tools and computer-controlled machines.
Laser beam welder: Laser beam welders set up and tend laser beam welding machines designed to join separate metal workpieces together through the use of a laser beam radiating a concentrated heat source that allows for precise welding.
Electron beam welder: Electron beam welders set up and tend machines designed to join separate metal workpieces together through the use of a high-velocity electron beam. They monitor the machining processes providing an alteration in the kinetic energy of the electrons that allows for them to transform into heat for the metal to melt and join together in a process of precise welding.
Agricultural machinery technician: Agricultural equipment technicians repair, overhaul and maintain agricultural equipment including tractors, tillage equipment, seeding equipment and harvesting equipment. They perform evaluations of the equipment, perform preventive maintenance activities and repair faults.
Punch press operator: Punch press operators set up and tend punch presses designed to cut workpieces into their desired shape by propelling a hydraulic ram to punch holes into them with a single die set that pushes through the top dead centre, through the surface, and to the bottom dead centre of the workpiece.

Optional skill

Perform machine maintenance is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Metal drawing machine operator: Metal drawing machine operators set up and operate drawing machines for ferrous and non-ferrous metal products, designed to provide wires, bars, pipes, hollow profiles and tubes with their specific form by reducing its cross-section and by pulling the working materials through a series of drawing dies.
Gear machinist: Gear machinists make precision parts for gears and other driving elements. They use a variety of machine tools.
Table saw operator: Table saw operators work with industrial saws that cut with a rotating circular blade. The saw is built into a table. The operator sets the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Particular attention is paid to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.
Flexographic press operator: Flexographic press operators use flexographic relief plate to print on almost any material. The relief plate is inked and pressed onto the material to be printed.
Riveter: Riveters assemble several metal parts together by riveting guns, rivet set and hammers, or by operating a riveting machine that all perform the purpose of drilling holes on the rivet shank of the metal part and of inserting rivets, bolts, into these holes in order to fasten them together.
Hydraulic forging press worker: Hydraulic forging press workers set up and tend hydraulic forging presses, designed to shape ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces including pipes, tubes and hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel in their desired form by use of compressive forces generated by a piston and fluid pressure.
Tissue paper perforating and rewinding operator: Tissue paper perforating and rewinding operators tend a machine that takes in tissue paper, perforates it, and rolls it up to create various types of sanitary paper.
Boring machine operator: Boring machine operators prepare, operate, and maintain single or multiple spindle machines using a boring bar with a hardened, rotary, multipointed cutting tool in order to enlarge an existing hole in a fabricated workpiece. 
Tumbling machine operator: Tumbling machine operators set up and operate tumbling machines, often wet or drie tumbling barrels, designed to remove excess material and burrs of heavy metal workpieces and precious metals and to improve surface appearance, by rotating the metal pieces in a barrel together with grit and potentially water, allowing for the friction between the pieces mutually and with the grit to cause a rounding, smooth effect.
Veneer slicer operator: Veneer slicer operators slice lumber into thin sheets to be used as a cover for other materials, such as particle board or fibre board. Veneer slicers may use various machines to obtain different cuts of wood: a rotary lathe to produce cuts peripendicular to the growth rings, a slicing machine to create plank-like cuts, or a half-round lathe which gives the operator the freedom to make a selection of the most interesting cuts.
Lacquer maker: Lacquer makers operate and maintain laquers and syntetic paints mixers and jar mills, making sure the end product is according to formula.
Paper cutter operator: Paper cutter operators tend a machine that cuts paper to the desired size and shape. Paper cutters may also cut and perforate other materials that come in sheets, such as metal foil.
Machine operator supervisor: Machine operator supervisors coordinate and direct workers who set up and operate machines. They monitor the production process and the flow of materials, and they make sure that the products meet the requirements.
Asphalt plant operator: Asphalt plant operators extract raw materials such as sand and stones and operate mobile equipment for their transport to the plant. They tend automated machines to crush and sort out stones, and to mix the sand and stones with asphalt cement. They take samples to check the quality of the mix and arrange for its transport to the construction site.
Screw machine operator: Screw machine operators set up and tend mechanical screw machines designed to manufacture (threaded) screws out of processed metal workpieces, specifically small- to medium-sized ones that have been turned by a lathe and turn machine.
Paper pulp moulding operator: Paper pulp moulding operators tend a machine that moulds paper pulp in various shapes, usually for use in lightweight but sturdy packaging material, such as egg boxes.
Metal sawing machine operator: Metal sawing machine operators set up and operate metal sawing machines designed to cut excess metal from a metal workpiece by the use of a (or several) large toothed-edges blade(s). They also trim clean finished shapes out of metal using tin snips, metal shears or wire cutters.  They also smoothen and trim sharp or rough edges using various tools.
Bleacher operator: Bleacher operators tend a machine that bleaches wood pulp to serve in the production of white paper. Different bleaching techniques are used to complement the various pulping methods, and to obtain different grades of whiteness.
Planer thicknesser operator: Planer thicknesser operators use machinery to shave wood planks to a uniform thickness. The machine usually planes both sides of the plank in one operation. They feed the plank into the machine carefully to prevent excess planing at the edge known as ‘snipe’.
Bindery operator: Bindery operators tend machines that bind printed or unprinted paper into volumes using staples, twine, glue or other binding technologies.
Paper machine operator: Paper machine operators tend a machine that takes in pulp slurry, spread it out over a screen, and drains out the water. The drained slurry is then pressed and dried to produce paper.
Paper embosing press operator: Paper embossing press operators use a press to raise or recess certain areas of the medium, so as to create relief on the print. Two matching engraved dies are placed around the paper and pressure is applied to change the surface of the material.
Cooper: Coopers build barrels and related products made of segments of wood, like wooden buckets. They shape the wood, fit hoops around them, and shape the barrel to hold the product, which contemporarily is usually premium alcoholic beverages.
Oxy fuel burning machine operator: Oxy fuel burning machine operators set up and tend machines designed to cut, or rather burn off, excess material from the metal workpiece using a torch that heats the metal workpiece to its kindling temperature and subsequently burns it into a metal oxide upon its reaction with an emitted stream of oxygen, flowing out of the workpiece’s created kerf as slag.
Debarker operator: Debarker operators operate debarking machines to strip harvested trees of their bark. The tree is fed into the machine, after which the bark is stripped using abrasion or cutting.
Boilermaker: Boilermakers operate a variety of equipment and machinery to create, repipe and retube hot water and steam boilers, producing them in all steps of the production process. They cut, gouge and shape the metal sheets and tubes for the boilers to size, using oxy-acetylene gas torches, assemble them by shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding, and finish them by the approprate machine tools, power tools and coating.
Pottery and porcelain caster: Pottery and porcelain casters fill moulds with clay to cast pottery and porcelain wares. They pour excess slip out of the mould when needed, drain moulds, remove the cast from the mould, smooth the casting surfaces to remove marks and place the castings on boards to dry.
Stamping press operator: Stamping press operators set up and tend stamping presses designed to form metal workpieces in their desired shape by applying pressure through the up and down movement of a bolster plate and a die attached to a stamping ram on the metal, resulting in the die producing smaller metal parts of the workpiece fed to the press.
Digital printer: Digital printers work with machines that print directly to the medium, without an intervening plate. Digital printers usually use laser or inkjet technology to print individual pages without lengthy or labour intensive technical steps intervening between the finished digital product and the print.
Envelope maker: Envelope makers tend a machine that takes in paper and executes the steps to creat envelopes: cut and fold the paper and glue it, then apply a weaker food-grade glue to the flap of the envelope for the consumer to seal it.
Metal nibbling operator: Metal nibbling operators cut detailed patterns from metal surfaces by using manual or powered metal nibblers, such as a handheld nibbling drill or a nibbling machine.
Metal rolling mill operator: Metal rolling mill operators set up and tend metal rolling mills designed to form metal workpieces into their desired shape by passing them through one or several pairs of rolls in order to decrease the metal’s thickness and to make it homogeneous. They also take into account the proper temperature for this rolling process.
Wood fuel pelletiser: Wood fuel pelletisers operate a hammer mill to turn wood waste products into pellets for use as fuel. The milled product is afterward pressed through a die, producing the standardised shape and size of a pellet.
Paper stationery machine operator: Paper stationery machine operators work with machines that perform one or more operations on paper to make it suitable for specific markets, such as punching holes, perforating, creasing, and collating with a carbon coated sheet.
Froth flotation deinking operator: Froth flotation deinking operators tend a tank that takes in recycled paper and mixes it with water. The solution is brought to a temperature around 50°C Celsius, after which air bubbles are blown into the tank. The air bubbles lift ink particles to the surface of the suspension and form a froth that is then removed.
Paper bag machine operator: Paper bag machine operators tend a machine that takes in paper, folds it and glues it to produce paper bags of various sizes, shapes, and grades of strength.
Laser marking machine operator: Laser marking machine operators set up and tend laser marking or engraving machines designed to precisely carve a design in the surface of a metal workpiece by use of a moving controller and an engraving laser beam point attached to it that traces patterns on the metal workpiece’s surface. They make adjustments to the machine in terms of laser beam intensity, direction and speed of movement. They also ensure the laser table, used to perform laser machine engravings on and guides the laser beam, is properly set up.
Thread rolling machine operator: Thread rolling machine operators set up and tend thread rolling machines designed to form metal workpieces into external and internal screw threads by pressing a thread rolling die against metal blank rods, creating a larger diameter than those of the original blank workpieces.
Reprographics technician: Reprographics technicians are responsible for the full or partial process of reproduction of graphical documents through mechanical-driven or digital means, such as photography, scanning or digital printing. These activities are commonly performed for purposes of maintaining archives or other structured catalogues.
Metalworking lathe operator: Metalworking lathe operators set up and tend a metalworking lathe manually, which is responsible for cutting metal to its desired size and shape by usage of a gear train or a swapping gear that propels the main lead-screw at a variable speed ratio, thus rotating the metal workpiece on its axis, facilitating the cutting process. They check the lathe equipment for wear and handle the metal workpieces as they have been cut by the lathe.
Wood boring machine operator: Wood boring machine operators use milling machines or specialise boring jigs to cut holes in wood workpieces. Wood boring differs from routing mainly in that the main movement is into the workpiece as opposed to across its surface.
Wood products assembler: Wood products assemblers put together products from premade pieces of wood. They operate machines, often hydraulic, that bind the various elements of a product together using joints, glue or other fasteners. Assemblers put the elements in place, operate the machine and look out for problems.
Book-sewing machine operator: Book-sewing machine operators tend a machine that stitches paper together to form a volume. They check that signatures are inserted the right way and the machine does not jam.
Gravure press operator: Gravure press operators work with gravure presses, where the image is engraved directly on a roll. They set up the press and monitor it during the operation, taking care of safety and resolving problems.
Deburring machine operator: Deburring machine operators set up and tend mechanical deburring machines designed to strip metal workpieces of their rough edges, or burrs, by hammering over their surfaces in order to smoothen them or to roll over their edges in case of uneven slits or sheers in order to flatten them into the surface.
Concrete products machine operator: Concrete products machine operators tend machines used to produce moulded concrete products. They perform greasing, assembling and stripping of moulds. They also participate in the cement mixing process.
Wash deinking operator: Wash deinking operators operate a tank where recycled paper is mixed with water and dispersants to wash out printing inks. The solution, called a pulp slurry, is then dewatered to flush out the dissolved inks.
Upsetting machine operator: Upsetting machine operators set up and tend upsetting machines, primarily crank presses, designed to form through forging processes metal workpieces, usually wires, rods, or bars, into their desired shape by having split dies with mulitiple cavities compress the workpieces’ length and hereby increasing their diameter.
Laminating machine operator: Laminating machine operators tend a machine that applies a plastic layer to paper to strenghten it and protect it from wetness and stains.
Drop forging hammer worker: Drop forging hammer workers utilise forging machinery and equipment, specifically machined hammers, in order to form ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces to their desired shape. They tend the forging hammers that are dropped onto the workpiece in order to reshape it after the form of the die, which can be closed or open, fully enclosing the workpiece or not.
Spot welder: Spot welders set up and tend spot welding machines designed to press and join metal workpieces together. The metal resistance to the passage of electrical current and the subsequent heat created in the process allows for the local melting and joining of the parts.  
Block machine operator: Block machine operators control, maintain and operate concrete blocks casting machine which fills and vibrate molds to compact wet concrete into finished blocks.
Extrusion machine operator: Extrusion machine operators set up, monitor and maintain machines which heat or melt raw materials, and pull or push the heated material through a shaped die to form it into a continuous profile with a preset cross section such as tubes, pipes and sheeting. They may also clean and maintain the equipment.
Optical disc moulding machine operator: Optical disc moulding machine operators tend moulding machines that melts polycarbonate pellets and inject the plastic into a mould cavity. The plastic is then cooled and solidifies, bearing the marks that can be digitally read.
Metal planer operator: Metal planer operators set up and operate a planer, which is a metalworking machine designed to cut excess material from a metal workpiece using linear relative motion between the planer’s cutting tool and the workpiece in order to create a linear toolpath and cut.
Straightening machine operator: Straightening machine operators set up and tend straightening machines designed to form metal workpieces into their desired shape using pressing practices. They adjust the angle and the height of the straightening rolls and select the settings for the pressing force required to straighten the workpiece, taking into account the end product’s yield strenght and size, without excess work hardening.
Wood pallet maker: Wood pallet makers create wood pallets for use in storage, shipping and manipulation of goods. Pallet makers operate a machine that takes in usually low-grade softwood planks treated with heat or chemicals and nails them together. The material and shape of the pallets, the treatment methods, and the number and pattern of nails used are all highly standardised to make exchange of used pallets possible.
Band saw operator: Band saw operators work with industrial saws that feature a continuous flexible blade revolving around two or more wheels. Band saws are most effective at producing irregular shapes.
Screen printer: Screen printers tend a press that presses ink through a screen. Industrial screen printing is often used to print on materials that are hard to use with other processes, like rigid plastic surfaces.
Drill press operator: Drill press operators set up and operate drill presses designed to cut excess material from or enlarge a hole in a fabricated workpiece using a hardened, rotary, multipointed cutting tool that inserts the drill into the workpiece axially.
Lithographer: Lithographers make and prepare metal plates to be used as the original in various printing processes and media. Plates are usually laser-etched from digital sources with computer-to-plate technology, but can also be made by applying types of emulsions to the printing plate.
Woodturner: Woodturners use a lathe to remove superfluous material from wood. The lathe turns the workpiece around its axis, as shape tools are used to obtain the desired shape.
Record press operator: Record press operators tend a machine that presses vinyl with a negative impression of a master disc. As pressure is applied, the vinyl is forced into the grooves of the master disc and a playable record is obtained.
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.
Rubber products machine operator: Rubber products machine operators operate machines which knead, blend, calender, mould, extrude and cure rubber products from natural and synthetic rubber. They measure the ingredients for mixing and load them into the machine. Rubber products machine operators monitor and control the tempature, pressure and speed during production.
Wood treater: Wood treaters apply treatments to wood to make it resistant to environmental factors like mould, cold, moisture, or staining. Treatments may also contribute to the colour of the wood. Wood treaters may use chemicals, heat, gasses, UV light, or a combination of these to treat wood.
Mechanical forging press worker: Mechanical forging press workers set up and tend mechanical forging presses, designed to shape ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces including pipes, tubes and hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel in their desired form by use of preset, compressive forces provided by cranks, cams and toggles at reproducible strokes.
Engineered wood board machine operator: Engineered wood board machine operators work with machines to bond particles or fibres made from wood or cork. Various industrial glues or resins are applied to obtain fibre board, particle board or cork board.
Print folding operator: Print folding operators tend a machine that folds paper and bundles of paper.
Spring maker: Spring makers operate a variety of equipment and machinery designed to manufacture different types of spring, including leaf, coil, torsion, clock, tension, and extension spring.
Digester operator: Digester operators, or cooks, cook wood chips with soda ash or acid to separate the wood pulp from unwanted constituents. They test the resulting solution.
Ornamental metal worker: Ornamental metal workers use finishing equipment and machinery to shape and finish fabricated ornamental metal workpieces, often used for the installation process in construction, such as railings, staircases, open steel flooring, fences and gates, and others.
Absorbent pad machine operator: Absorbent pad machine operators tend a machine that takes in cellulose fibres and compresses them to a highly absorbent pad material for use in hygienic products such as diapers and tampons.
Varnish maker: Varnish makers operate equipment and mixers for varnish production, by melting, mixing and cooking the required chemical ingredients, according to specifications.
Nailing machine operator: Nailing machine operators work with machines that nail wooden elements together, usually hydraulically. They put the elements to be nailed in the right position, and monitor the process to prevent downtime.
Prepress operator: Prepress operators create a prepress proof, or sample of what the finished product will look like. In many printing contracts, the client at this stage decides whether the print can go through as planned. Since the printing processes for proofs are different from those used in the final process, proofs are always an approximation.
Metal polisher: Metal polishers use metal working equipment and machinery to polish and buff almost finished metal workpieces in order to enhance their smoothness and appearance and to remove oxidisation, tarnishing the metal after the other fabrication processes. They may operate equipment using diamond solutions, silicon-made polishing pads, or working wheels with a leather polishing strop, and tend to these materials ensuring their effectiveness.
Pulp control operator: Pulp control operators operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of wood, scrap pulp, recycable paper and other cellulose materials in the production of pulp. They set up, operate and maintain the machinery, analyse the production results and adjust the process when necessary.
Precision mechanic: Precision mechanics manufacture precision metal components for machines and assemble them into functional units. They also build electronic measuring and control components. Precision mechanics use milling, drilling, grinding and honing machines.
Swaging machine operator: Swaging machine operators set up and tend rotary swaging machines, designed to alter round ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces into their desired shape by first hammering them into a smaller diameter through the compressive force of two or more dies and then tagging them using a rotary swager, a process through which no excess material is lost.
Offset printer: Offset printers handle an offset press in order to print an image. The offset press transfers an inked image from the plate to a rubber blanket before to print it onto the printing surface.
Corrugator operator: Corrugator operators tend a machine which folds a sheet of heavy paper in a wave-like pattern and covers it on both sides to create a lightweight, sturdy material suitable for packaging.
Tool and die maker: Tool and die makers operate a variety of equipment and machinery designed to create metal tools and dies, which are both needed in several areas of manufacturing, and produce these tools in all steps of the production process. They design the tools and dies, then cut and shape them to size and finish them by manually operated machine tools, power tools, hand tools, or programming and tending CNC tool and die making machines.
Paperboard products assembler: Paperboard products assemblers construct the components or parts made from paperboard according to strictly laid down procedures. They assemble products such as tubes, spools, cardboard boxes, paper plates and craft boards.

 


 

References

  1. Perform machine maintenance – ESCO

 

Last updated on September 20, 2022