Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-6091.00
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 20 hidden tasks21 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (4.8%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 4 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record details of machine malfunctions.O*NET Task ID 14212 | 1.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (17)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers. | Core |
| Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates. | Core |
| Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines. | Core |
| Record details of machine malfunctions. | Core |
| Notify other workers of defects, and direct them to adjust extruding and forming machines. | Core |
| Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected. | Core |
| Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators. | Core |
| Clean and maintain extruding and forming machines, using hand tools. | Core |
| Remove excess, entangled, or completed filaments from machines, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Start metering pumps and observe operation of machines and equipment to ensure continuous flow of filaments extruded through spinnerettes and to detect processing defects. | Supplemental |
| Observe flow of finish across finish rollers, and turn valves to adjust flow to specifications. | Supplemental |
| Open cabinet doors to cut multifilament threadlines away from guides, using scissors. | Supplemental |
| Press metering-pump buttons and turn valves to stop flow of polymers. | Supplemental |
| Remove polymer deposits from spinnerettes and equipment, using silicone spray, brass chisels, and bronze-wool pads. | Supplemental |
| Record operational data on tags, and attach tags to machines. | Supplemental |
| Lower pans inside cabinets to catch molten filaments until flow of polymer through packs has stopped. | Supplemental |
| Wipe finish rollers with cloths and wash finish trays with water when necessary. | Supplemental |
1.15/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form filaments from synthetic materials such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers. | E2 structured facilities |
| Load materials into extruding and forming machines, using hand tools, and adjust feed mechanisms to set feed rates. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move controls to activate and adjust extruding and forming machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Press buttons to stop machines when processes are complete or when malfunctions are detected. | E2 structured facilities |
| Observe machine operations, control boards, and gauges to detect malfunctions such as clogged bushings and defective binder applicators. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and maintain extruding and forming machines, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Remove excess, entangled, or completed filaments from machines, using hand tools. | E2 structured facilities |
| Start metering pumps and observe operation of machines and equipment to ensure continuous flow of filaments extruded through spinnerettes and to detect processing defects. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Observe flow of finish across finish rollers, and turn valves to adjust flow to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open cabinet doors to cut multifilament threadlines away from guides, using scissors. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Press metering-pump buttons and turn valves to stop flow of polymers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove polymer deposits from spinnerettes and equipment, using silicone spray, brass chisels, and bronze-wool pads. | E2 structured facilities |
| Record operational data on tags, and attach tags to machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lower pans inside cabinets to catch molten filaments until flow of polymer through packs has stopped. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Wipe finish rollers with cloths and wash finish trays with water when necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 14K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 13K
- Change (2025–35)
- -3.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,350
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82110 | 섬유 제조 기계 조작원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
| 84319 | 그 외 유리 제조 및 가공기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 86322 | 전기제품 제조 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | reviewed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- fibre machine tenderESCO 8181.6Same scope
Fibre machine tenders operate and maintain extrusion machines that form sliver from filaments. They work with synthetic materials such as fiberglass or liquid polymer or non-synthetic materials such as rayon.
- nonwoven textile technicianESCO 8159.7This occupation is broader
Nonwoven textile technicians perform operations related to setting up non-woven processes.
- nonwoven filament machine operatorESCO 8131.15This occupation is broader
Nonwoven filament machine operators perform chemical nonwoven processing operations.
- extrusion machine operatorESCO 8121.2Overlapping, not the same
Extrusion machine operators set up, monitor and maintain machines which heat or melt raw materials, and pull or push the heated material through a shaped die to form it into a continuous profile with a preset cross section such as tubes, pipes and sheeting. They may also clean and maintain the equipment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2807 | Bobineur / Bobineuse de fils et fibres de verre | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2404 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machine de production et transformation des fils | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H2405 | Conducteur / Conductrice de ligne de production de textiles non-tissés | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3204 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production des matières plastiques et du caoutchouc | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8131 | Operadores en plantas industriales químicas | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 8142 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de material plástico | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 8191 | Operadores de hornos e instalaciones de vidriería y cerámica | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 21312 | Berufe in der Glasherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 28122 | Berufe in der Textilherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 28132 | Berufe in der Garn- und Seilherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 531 | 化学製品製造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 501 | 化学製品生産設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a match |
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources