Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Medical Appliance Technicians

Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

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

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

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

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Medical, Dental, and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Production Occupations

Other Production Occupations

Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.

Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.

Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.

Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.

Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.

Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.

Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.

Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.

Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.

Fit appliances onto patients, and make any necessary adjustments.

Autodesk AutoCAD

Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System

Seattle Systems Shapemaker

SoftSource CADview

Footmaxx Metascan software

Gait analysis software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Orthotic fabrication software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Band saws

Pneumatic oscillating saws

Rotary saws

Table saws

High temperature laboratory ovens

Laboratory infrared ovens

Laboratory mechanical benchtop convection ovens

Grinding equipment

Grinding wheels

Metal grinders

Allen wrenches

Hex wrenches

3D scanning systems

Digitizers

Prosthetic bench vises

Workshop bench vises

Flatbed sewing machines

Longarm sewing machines

Power routing tools

Vertical routers

Disk sanders

Drum sanders

Bending brakes

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

Every day

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Once a week or more but not every day

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

About half the time

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Once a month or more but not every week

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

Medical Appliance Technicians

Overview

Career

What Medical Appliance Technicians Do

Other Job Titles Medical Appliance Technicians May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Medical Appliance Technicians

Overview

Career

What Medical Appliance Technicians Do

Other Job Titles Medical Appliance Technicians May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Medical Appliance Technicians

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders