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’.

The following job titles also refer to planer thicknesser operator:

thickness specialist
thickness operator
jointer technician
thicknesser specialist
planer operator
planer specialist
planer technician
planer thicknesser specialist
planer thicknesser
thickness planer technician
jointer operator
thickness planer operator
jointer specialist
thicknesser technician
planer thicknesser worker
thickness planer specialist
over-and-under technician
over-and-under operator
thickness technician
over-and-under specialist
thicknesser operator
planer thicknesser technician

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a planer thicknesser operator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Planer thicknesser operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to planer thicknesser operator.

nailing machine operator
wood boring machine operator
table saw operator
band saw operator
sawmill operator

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

pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
wood production supervisor
machine operator supervisor
wood assembly supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of planer thicknesser operator.

• Woodworking processes: Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
• Cutting technologies: The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
• 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 wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

These skills are necessary for the role of planer thicknesser operator.

• 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.
• Manipulate wood: Manipulate the properties, shape and size of wood.
• 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.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Dispose of cutting waste material: Dispose of possibly hazardous waste material created in the cutting process, such as swarf, scrap and slugs, sort according to regulations, and clean up workplace.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Adjust planer: Use handwheels to adjust table levels and pressure bars of the thickness planer according to the required cut and thickness of the stock.
• Adjust properties of cut: Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
• 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.
• Operate thickness planer machine: Feed wood materials into the thickness planer, after which a surfaced board is retrieved. Avoid ‘sniping’ by using an additional piece of wood with the same thickness.
• Maintain wood thickness: Maintain wood thickness by surfacing and sizing woodstock.
• 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.
• Set up the cutter head: Set up and install knives in the cutter head of the thickness planer.
• 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 planer thicknesser operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Sawing techniques: Various sawing techniques for using manual as well as electric saws.
• Woodworking tools: The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
• Mechanical systems: Mechanical systems, including gears, engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their functions and likely defects.
• Sanding techniques: The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.
• Types of planing cutters: Types of cutters used in the planing process of a workpiece, such as carbide tipped cutters, hydro planing cutters and others.

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

• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Operate manual planer: Operate a non-automatic or semi-automatic, manual planer for cutting workpiece surfaces, making them levelled.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• Inspect planed woodstock: Inspect planed woodstock to verify smoothness and thickness of the wood planks.
• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
• 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.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• 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.
• Sand wood: Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.
• 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.
• Sharpen edged tools: Identify dull edges to sharp tools, or any defect in the edge. Use appropriate equipment to safely and effectively sharpen the tool. Maintain and protect sharpened tools. Report irreparable faults to the appropriate person.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• 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.
• 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.
• Clean wood surface: Use a variety of techniques on a wood surface to ensure it is free of dust, sawdust, grease, stains, and other contaminants.
• Program a CNC controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Apply wood finishes: Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.

8172 – Wood processing plant operators

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References

1. Planer thicknesser operator – ESCO