Wire weaving machine operator

Wire weaving machine operators set up and tend wire weaving machines, designed to produce woven metal wire cloth out of the alloys or ductile metal that can be drawn into wire.

The following job titles also refer to wire weaving machine operator:

wire mesh operator
wire worker
wire bending operator
wire weaving operative
wire winding machine operator
wire winding machine operative
wire weaving operator
wire weaving loom operative
wire preparation weaving operative
wire worker apprentice
wire mesh knitter
wire weaving loom operator
wire bender
wire preparation weaving operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as wire weaving 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.

Wire weaving machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

chain making machine operator
metal drawing machine operator
spring maker
nailing machine operator
screw machine operator

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

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
metal production supervisor
industrial robot controller
welding inspector

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wire weaving machine operator.

• Types of weave for wire mesh: Various types of weave patterns used in the manufacturing of wire mesh, such as plain weave, Dutch weave, twilled weave, five heddle weave.
• 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 wire mesh: Various types of mesh used in the wire weaving process, such as crimped wire mesh, welded wire mesh, expanded wire mesh, perforated wire mesh.

These skills are necessary for the role of wire weaving machine operator.

• Supply machine with appropriate tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.
• Tend wire weaving machine: Tend a machine designed for weaving cold metal wire into mesh, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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

• Quality and cycle time optimisation: The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine’s processes.
• 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 typr, 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 light metal packaging: The manufacture of tins and cans for food products, collapsible tubes and boxes, and of metallic closures.
• 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 wire weaving 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.
• Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
• Perform product testing: Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
• 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.
• Tend wire drawing machine: Tend a drawing machine designed for forming cold or hot metal into wire, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
• Provide advice to technicians: Offer advice to service technicians in case of machinery malfunctions and other technical repair tasks.
• Maintain mechanical equipment: Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect malfunction. Service, repair, adjust, and test machines, parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical principles. Maintain and repair vehicles meant for cargo, passengers, farming and landscaping.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret 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.
• Ensure correct metal temperature: Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
• Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.

8121 – Metal processing plant operators

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References

1. ESCO