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

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to see details at a distance.

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 identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.

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 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 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 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 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 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 Two: Some Preparation Needed

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

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

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 the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

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 relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

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 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.

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

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

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

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

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

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Painting Workers

Production Occupations

Other Production Occupations

Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.

Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.

Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.

Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.

Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.

Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.

Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.

Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons.

Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers.

Microsoft Excel

Inventory control software

Inventory management systems

Microsoft Outlook

Maintenance management software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Time recording software

Materials requirement planning MRP software

Scheduling software

Robotic painting software

High volume low pressure HVLP spray guns

Low volume high pressure LVHP sprayers

Paint spray guns

Paint sprayguns

Electrostatic paint systems

Paint booths

Protective respirators

Respiratory protection equipment

Electric hoists

Hoisting equipment

Blow torches

Gas torches

Paint viscometers

Viscosity meters

Paint application brushes

Specialized paint brushes

Automated paint mixing equipment

Power paint mixers

Adjustable hand wrenches

Adjustable wrench sets

Computer terminals

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

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

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

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

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

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

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

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

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

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Every day

Once a week or more but not every day

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

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

Never

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

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 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 it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers