Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operators

ANZSCO ID 711511

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
80
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
96%
Female Share
4%
Average age
49

Summary

Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operators operate extruding machines to encase wire, cord, cable and optic fibre in plastic or rubber.

Specialisations: Insulation Extruder Operator, Optic Fibre Drawer, Wire Drawer (Plastics).

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operator. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in polymer processing.

Tasks

  • Operates controls to regulate temperature, pressure, speed and flow of operation.

  • Measures and loads materials, items and ingredients for mixing into machines and feeding mechanisms.

  • Monitors operation, regulates material supply and adds chemicals and colorants to mixture.

  • Threads uncoated wire and cable through plastic coating machines, around take-up reels and through dies and cooling chambers.

  • Operates rollers to remove air.

  • Operates vulcaniser presses and controls curing.

  • Examines output for defects and conformity to specifications.

  • Performs minor repairs and maintains production records.


Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Plastics and Rubber Production Machine Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 96% of people employed as Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 30 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
75.0%
2
Information Media and Telecommunications
6.3%
3
Construction
3.8%

Regions

Employment across Australia


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
49
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
4%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operators is 49 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 4% of the workforce. This is 44 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operators All Jobs Average

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Plastic Cablemaking Machine Operator. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in polymer processing.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Plastics, Rubber & Cablemaking VET training pathways.

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Plastics and Rubber Production Machine Operators who are hardworking, can work well with others and are reliable.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 52%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 50%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 48%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 46%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 41%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 39%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 37%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 36%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 36%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 36%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 34%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 29%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 60%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 42%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 41%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 41%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 37%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 29%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 28%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 28%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 27%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 27%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 23%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 22%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 19%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 17%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 13%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 12%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 12%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 9%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 9%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 8%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 50%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 50%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 46%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 45%

    Rate control

    Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • 45%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 45%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 43%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 75%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 74%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 60%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 59%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 58%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 58%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 56%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 56%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 55%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 55%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 54%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 52%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 50%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 49%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 49%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 49%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 47%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 42%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 40%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 35%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 38%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 24%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 71%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 62%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 38%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 36%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 29%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 29%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 95%

    Pace of work set by equipment

    Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.

  • 93%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 92%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 89%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 88%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 87%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 86%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 83%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 80%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 80%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 80%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 77%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 76%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 76%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 74%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 72%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 70%

    Angry or unpleasant people

    Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.

  • 69%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 69%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-4021.00 - Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.


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