Occupation Profile for Printing Machine Operators

opportunity | video

Set up or operate various types of printing machines, such as offset, letterset, intaglio, or gravure presses or screen printers to produce print on paper or other materials.

Signficant Points

  • Most printing machine operators are trained on the job.
  • Retirements of older press operators are expected to create openings for skilled workers.
  • Rising demand for customized print jobs will mean those skilled in digital printing operations will have the best job opportunities.
 

Tasks

  • Core — Push buttons, turn handles or move controls and levers to start and control printing machines.
  • Core — Inspect and examine printed products for print clarity, color accuracy, conformance to specifications, and external defects.
  • Core — Reposition printing plates, adjust pressure rolls, or otherwise adjust machines to improve print quality, using knobs, handwheels, or hand tools.
  • Core — Set and adjust speed, temperature, ink flow, and positions and pressure tolerances of equipment.
  • Core — Examine job orders to determine details such as quantities to be printed, production times, stock specifications, colors, and color sequences.

Activities

  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.