People Team AI Ask about a date

How exposed to AI is a Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

Of the 15 tasks O*NET lists for milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 13 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator)CNC Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator)CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator)CNC Mill Set Up Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Set Up Operator)Machine OperatorMachine Set Up OperatorMill OperatorMillerMilling OperatorSetup Man
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
15
tasks rated for this occupation
19%
hold a degree, from a survey of 20
15k
people do this job in the US
53 of 107
least protected in production

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

2
  • Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools
  • Record production output

Cannot be sped up

13
  • Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists
  • Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers
  • Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers
  • Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications
  • Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances
  • Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics
  • Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations
  • Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics
  • Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines
  • Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders
  • Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas
  • Mount attachments and tools, such as pantographs, engravers, or routers, to perform other operations, such as drilling or boring
  • Make templates or cutting tools
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.