Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-4022.00
Will AI Replace Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
85out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
85/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
11
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
- ▸Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
- ▸Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (1)
- Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
👤Requires Humans (3)
- Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
- Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
- Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
⚡AI-Assisted (7)
- Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
- Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
- Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
- Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Troubleshooting
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.75/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Equipment Maintenance
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Related Occupations
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 85/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research