National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
- 9 - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
- 94 - Machine operators, assemblers and inspectors in processing, manufacturing and printing
- 941 - Processing and manufacturing machine operators and related production workers
- 9411 - Machine operators and related workers in chemical, plastic and rubber processing
94111 - 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 95104 Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing)
- Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors (See 94212 Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors)
- Rubber processing machine operators and related workers (See 94112 Rubber processing machine operators and related workers)
- Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing (See 92013 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Mixing machine operators
- Weigh resins, colourants 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 colourants 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
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