Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

On the job, you would:

Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		82%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		81%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		74%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		72%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		70%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		69%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		67%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		65%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		59%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		58%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		58%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		57%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		56%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		53%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		95%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		61%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		67%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		60%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		56%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		56%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
		56%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		53%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
		53%	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Job Details

Responsibilities

Inspect finished products to locate flaws.

Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.

Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.

Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.

Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.

Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.

Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.

Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.

Load materials into production equipment.

Feed materials or products into or through equipment.

Load materials into production equipment.

Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.

Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.

Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.

Stack finished items for further processing or shipment.

Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.

Load materials into production equipment.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		97%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		95%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		93%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		92%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		91%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		88%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		86%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		86%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		83%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		82%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		78%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		78%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		78%	Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
		74%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		73%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		66%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		64%	Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
		63%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		63%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		63%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		62%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		61%	Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings - How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
		61%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		61%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		61%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		60%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		56%	Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
		54%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		65%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		86%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		83%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		81%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		80%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		75%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		74%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		71%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		67%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		67%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		67%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		65%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		65%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		64%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		63%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		63%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		57%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		57%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		57%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		56%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		56%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		55%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		54%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		53%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		52%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Getting Started

Education:

69%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

20%

Less than a High School Diploma

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

Getting Started