Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-9111.00
Will AI Replace Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders?
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
88out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
88/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
20
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
- ▸Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
- ▸Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
- ▸Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly.
- ▸Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product.
- ▸Stock and sort product for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheet, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides.
- ▸Stack finished packaged items, or wrap protective material around each item, and pack the items in cartons or containers.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (8)
- Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
- Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
- Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
- Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly.
- Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product.
- Stock and sort product for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheet, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
- Count and record finished and rejected packaged items.
- Clean and remove damaged or otherwise inferior materials to prepare raw products for processing.
👤Requires Humans (2)
- Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides.
- Stack finished packaged items, or wrap protective material around each item, and pack the items in cartons or containers.
⚡AI-Assisted (10)
- Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.
- Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
- Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
- Start machine by engaging controls.
- Tend or operate machine that packages product.
- Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.
- Supply materials to spindles, conveyors, hoppers, or other feeding devices and unload packaged product.
- Package the product in the form in which it will be sent out, for example, filling bags with flour from a chute or spout.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Equipment Maintenance
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Troubleshooting
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Related Occupations
Packers and Packagers, Hand
86/100 — Critical Risk
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
86/100 — Critical Risk
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
88/100 — Critical Risk
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
88/100 — Critical Risk
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
88/100 — Critical Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 88/100. 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