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Manufacturing & Production · Updated Aug 2026

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
50/100
Moderate

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
47/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage87%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.High
69
Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.High
55
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.High
68
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.High
65
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.High
65
Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.High
68
Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.High
68
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.Medium
67
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.High
33
Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.Medium
39
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.High
24
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.High
24
Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.High
23
Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.Medium
24
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.69
  2. Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.68
  3. Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.68
  4. Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.68
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.01
  2. Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.02
  3. Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.03
  4. Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.04
  5. Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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AI risk 45

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AI risk 49

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency52
Physical dependency67
Adoption pressure54
Labour-market resilience55
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →