Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $26K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $31K
Median Salary: $38K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $48K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $60K
Demand
Core Tasks
Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment.
Add or mix chemicals or ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards.
Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures.
Record operational or production data on specified forms.
Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps or conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.
Transfer materials, supplies, or products between work areas, using moving equipment or hand tools.
Unload mixtures into containers or onto conveyors for further processing.
Clean and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Open valves to drain slurry from mixers into storage tanks.
Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery or equipment, using hand tools.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Production and Processing
86%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Chemistry
73%
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mathematics
73%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical
67%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security
66%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language
65%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
54%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Customer and Personal Service
53%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Transportation
52%
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management
51%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Top 10 Skills
Operation and Control
73%
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
73%
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring
65%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
65%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Equipment Maintenance
63%
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Quality Control Analysis
63%
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Learning
60%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
60%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
60%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
60%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Top 10 Abilities
Arm-Hand Steadiness
70%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Near Vision
70%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering
65%
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).
Manual Dexterity
65%
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Problem Sensitivity
65%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
65%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Control Precision
63%
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb Coordination
63%
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Oral Comprehension
63%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
63%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Top 10 Work Activities
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
80%
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Controlling Machines and Processes
79%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
79%
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information
78%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Handling and Moving Objects
77%
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
76%
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
74%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
72%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Processing Information
69%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
68%
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Detailed Work Activities
Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
Weigh finished products.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Operate mixing equipment.
Load materials into production equipment.
Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
Operate cooking, baking, or other food preparation equipment.
Operate pumping systems or equipment.
Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
Record operational or production data.
Clean production equipment.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
Clear equipment jams.
Work Context
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?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
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?
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?
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
In an Open Vehicle or Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Education
Interests
Realistic
100%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
67%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
53%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
19%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic
15%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social
15%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
94%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
90%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
88%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Stress Tolerance
88%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Independence
85%
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.
Integrity
85%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative
84%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control
83%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Concern for Others
80%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Adaptability/Flexibility
79%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Work Values
Support
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
41%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
29%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
29%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
