Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-4122.00
Will AI Replace Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
86out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
86/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
20
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- ▸Record operational information on specified production reports.
- ▸Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- ▸Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
- ▸Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (5)
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
👤Requires Humans (1)
- Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
⚡AI-Assisted (14)
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
- Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
- Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.38/5.00
Equipment Maintenance
Importance: 2.38/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.25/5.00
Related Occupations
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
87/100 — Critical Risk
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
89/100 — Critical Risk
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
84/100 — Critical Risk
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
88/100 — Critical Risk
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
87/100 — Critical Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 86/100. 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