National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.0
9 - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
This category contains supervisory, production and labouring occupations in manufacturing, processing and utilities.
Occupations in this category are characterized by either technical training or internal progression, and on-the-job training. Process control occupations in this category are increasingly technical and post-secondary training is usually required. For many occupations in this category, workers typically start out as labourers and progress to machine operation occupations through experience. Progression to supervisory positions requires experience in the occupations supervised. Mobility in some of these occupations may be limited by seniority provisions of collective agreements, or may require additional training.
94 - Processing and manufacturing machine operators and related production workers
This major group comprises occupations in processing and manufacturing machine operation and related production work which usually require completion of secondary school and experience or on-the-job training. It includes machine operators and related workers in mineral and metal products processing and manufacturing; chemical, plastic and rubber processing; pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing; textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing; food, beverage and associated products processing; and printing equipment operators and related occupations.
942 - Machine operators and related workers in chemical, plastic and rubber processing
This minor group includes chemical plant machine operators; plastics processing machine operators; and rubber processing machine operators and related workers. They are employed in chemical, cleaning compound, ink and adhesive industries; by chemical processing departments in other industries; plastic products manufacturing companies; and tire manufacturers and other rubber products manufacturing companies.
9421 - Chemical plant machine operators
Chemical plant machine operators monitor and operate units and machinery to blend, mix, process and package a wide range of specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cleaning and toiletry products. They are primarily employed in chemical, cleaning compound, ink and adhesive industries, but may also be employed by chemical processing departments in other industries.
Illustrative example(s)
- batch mixer - chemical processing
- blender - chemical processing
- capsule machine operator
- evaporator operator - chemical processing
- formulations blender operator
- glue blender
- granulator machine operator
- mixer - chemical processing
- screener - chemical processing
- soap maker
Exclusion(s)
- Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators (See 9232 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing)
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)
Main duties
Chemical plant machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Monitor meters, gauges and electronic instrumentation on one or more chemical or formulation units, such as mixers, kettles, blenders, dryers, tabletting, encapsulation, granulation and coating machines
- Measure, weigh and load chemical ingredients following formulation cards
- Start up, shut down, troubleshoot and clean equipment
- Adjust processing machines and equipment
- Monitor reaction processes and transfers of products in conformance with safety procedures
- Take samples and perform routine chemical and physical tests of products
- Record production data
- May operate equipment from a control room or from control consoles located near the production units.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of several months to one year of informal, on-the-job training within the company is required for most mixer and blender operators.
- Completion of more than one year of formal and informal company training may be required for some operators working in pharmaceutical, explosives and agricultural chemical or in specialty chemical plants.
- Previous experience in chemical products processing as an assistant, labourer or helper may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
- Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
Additional information
- Mobility between employers producing similar products is possible for some of the more skilled operators in this unit group.
- Progression to supervisory positions or to process control occupations is possible with experience.
- Personal protective equipment may be required when working with some types of chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
9422 - Plastics processing machine operators
Plastics processing machine operators set up and operate plastic mixing, calendering, extruding and moulding processing machines used in the manufacture of plastic parts and plastic products. They are employed by plastic products manufacturing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- bag machine operator
- banbury operator - plastic manufacturing
- blow moulding machine operator - plastic manufacturing
- calender operator - plastic manufacturing
- extruder operator - plastic manufacturing
- injection moulding operator - plastic manufacturing
- plastics press operator
- printing roller moulder - plastic manufacturing
- solution mixer operator - plastic manufacturing
- thermoforming operator
Exclusion(s)
- Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing (See 9615 Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing)
- Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors (See 9535 Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors)
- Rubber processing machine operators and related workers (See 9423 Rubber processing machine operators and related workers)
- Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing (See 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing)
Main duties
Mixing machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Weigh resins, colorants and other chemicals according to formula
- Place weighed materials in mixing machine and operate machine to blend plastic and other chemicals to a specified consistency or viscosity
- Monitor operation, regulate material supply and add chemicals and colorants to mixture
- Operate controls to regulate temperature, speed and other processing conditions
- Unload mixture into container or conveyor for further processing
- Maintain and perform minor repairs on machinery as required
- Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
Calendering process operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up and operate calendering machines which transform dough-consistent plastic mass into continuous sheets or films of specified thickness
- Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment and adjust calender rollers for production line change
- Monitor quality of material produced
- Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
Extruding process operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up and operate one or more extruding machines which extrude plastic composites products through a nozzle or die
- Change dies on extruding machines according to production line change
- Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment
- Monitor quality of material produced
- Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
Moulding process operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up and operate one or more moulding machines which mould plastic products according to specifications
- Change moulds and adjust equipment for production line change
- Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment
- Monitor quality of material produced and adjust machine settings as required
- Follow formulation card to mix ingredient batches for injection moulding process
- Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
Employment requirements
- For all operators in this unit group, completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Several years of experience as a helper, tender or packer in the same company may be required.
- Completion of a statistical process control (SPC) course may be required.
- Completion of courses in hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics systems may be required for moulding process operators.
- On-the-job training is provided.
Additional information
- Mobility among the various operators in this unit is possible.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
9423 - Rubber processing machine operators and related workers
Workers in this unit group operate rubber processing machinery and assemble and inspect rubber products. They are employed by tire manufacturers and other rubber products manufacturing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- banbury operator - rubber products manufacturing
- blow-out and test operator - rubber products
- calender machine operator - rubber products manufacturing
- cure operator - rubber products manufacturing
- extruder operator - rubber products manufacturing
- inspector, rubber products manufacturing
- moulding press tender - rubber products manufacturing
- refiner mill tender - rubber products manufacturing
- rubber belt builder
- rubber hose builder
- rubber processing machine operator
- rubber products assembler
- scrap rubber grinder - recycling
- tire builder
- tire inspector
Exclusion(s)
- Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing (See 9615 Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing)
- Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors (See 9535 Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors)
- Plastics processing machine operators (See 9422 Plastics processing machine operators)
- Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing (See 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing)
Main duties
Rubber processing machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up, operate and tend machinery used for mixing, calendering, extruding, moulding and curing rubber materials or rubber products
- Load or feed rubber, pigments, filler, oil and chemicals into machines
- Check and monitor processing conditions and product quality
- Adjust machines to proper setting as required
- Train or assist in training new workers.
Assemblers, rubber products perform some or all of the following duties:
- Lay out and prepare rubber materials for assembly
- Operate machines or equipment or use hand tools to cut, shape, splice, fit and cement rubber materials to form rubber parts or finished rubber products
- Operate finishing machines or equipment to trim, grind, or buff rubber products into final form
- Train or assist in training new workers.
Rubber products inspectors perform some or all of the following duties:
- Inspect finished rubber products for defects and conformance to specifications and quality standards, visually or using instruments
- Affix seals or tags to approved products and mark and reroute defective products for repair or recycle
- Fill out product inspection report
- May make minor adjustments or repairs to products.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Experience as a labourer in the same company may be required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
Additional information
- Mobility among the various labourers in this unit group is possible.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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