Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9191.00
Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.
- 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
0.18–0.22· 2 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7521Wood Treaters0.22
- ISCO-08 8143Paper Products Machine Operators0.18
Task-level exposure
Show 16 hidden tasks17 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (5.9%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is 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
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required.51-9191.00 | 0.0019100.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
Maintain production records such as quantities, dimensions, and thicknesses of materials processed.O*NET Task ID 12603 | 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®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (16)
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 |
|---|---|
| Examine and measure completed materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as tape measures, gauges, or calipers. | Core |
| Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required. | Core |
| Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems. | Core |
| Read work orders and communicate with coworkers to determine machine and equipment settings and adjustments and supply and product specifications. | Core |
| Fill machines with glue, cement, or adhesives. | Core |
| Mount or load material such as paper, plastic, wood, or rubber in feeding mechanisms of cementing or gluing machines. | Core |
| Maintain production records such as quantities, dimensions, and thicknesses of materials processed. | Core |
| Start machines, and turn valves or move controls to feed, admit, apply, or transfer materials and adhesives, and to adjust temperature, pressure, and time settings. | Core |
| Perform test production runs and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that completed products meet standards and specifications. | Core |
| Remove jammed materials from machines and readjust components as necessary to resume normal operations. | Core |
| Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing. | Core |
| Observe gauges, meters, and control panels to obtain information about equipment temperatures and pressures, or the speed of feeders or conveyors. | Core |
| Remove and stack completed materials or products, and restock materials to be joined. | Core |
| Transport materials, supplies, and finished products between storage and work areas, using forklifts. | Core |
| Clean and maintain gluing and cementing machines, using solutions, lubricants, brushes, and scrapers. | Supplemental |
| Measure and mix ingredients to prepare glue. | Supplemental |
0.97/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Examine and measure completed materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as tape measures, gauges, or calipers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill machines with glue, cement, or adhesives. | E2 structured facilities |
| Mount or load material such as paper, plastic, wood, or rubber in feeding mechanisms of cementing or gluing machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines, and turn valves or move controls to feed, admit, apply, or transfer materials and adhesives, and to adjust temperature, pressure, and time settings. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform test production runs and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that completed products meet standards and specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove jammed materials from machines and readjust components as necessary to resume normal operations. | E0 none |
| Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove and stack completed materials or products, and restock materials to be joined. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Transport materials, supplies, and finished products between storage and work areas, using forklifts. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean and maintain gluing and cementing machines, using solutions, lubricants, brushes, and scrapers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and mix ingredients to prepare glue. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 12K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 12K
- Change (2025–35)
- +1.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,460
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89113 | 합판 생산기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 83241 | 고무제품 조립원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
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 7521Wood Treaters
- ISCO-08 8143Paper Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8189Stationary Plant and Machine Operators Not Elsewhere Classified
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.
- wood products assemblerESCO 8219.11This occupation is broader
Wood products assemblers put together products from premade pieces of wood. They operate machines, often hydraulic, that bind the various elements of a product together using joints, glue or other fasteners. Assemblers put the elements in place, operate the machine and look out for problems.
- corrugator operatorESCO 8143.2Overlapping, not the same
Corrugator operators tend a machine which folds a sheet of heavy paper in a wave-like pattern and covers it on both sides to create a lightweight, sturdy material suitable for packaging.
- edge bander operatorESCO 8189.1Overlapping, not the same
Edge bander operators tend machines that veneer materials, mostly wood, to increase durability and make them aesthetically pleasing. They also regulate the speed of the belt, set temperature control to regulate heat, brush glue on edges of panels and start and regulate the machine.
- engineered wood board machine operatorESCO 8172.4Overlapping, not the same
Engineered wood board machine operators work with machines to bond particles or fibres made from wood or cork. Various industrial glues or resins are applied to obtain fibre board, particle board or cork board.
- heat sealing machine operatorESCO 8183.5Overlapping, not the same
Heat sealing machine operators operate sealing and gluing machines to join items together for further processing or to seal products or packages, using heat.
- paperboard products assemblerESCO 8143.5Overlapping, not the same
Paperboard products assemblers construct the components or parts made from paperboard according to strictly laid down procedures. They assemble products such as tubes, spools, cardboard boxes, paper plates and craft boards.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H2202 | Conducteur / Conductrice de ligne de production en industrie du bois | Related, not a match |
| H2203 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines de fabrication de panneaux à base de bois | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8141 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de caucho y derivados de resinas naturales | Related, not a match |
| 8143 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de papel y cartón | Related, not a match |
| 8144 | Operadores de serrerías, de máquinas de fabricación de tableros y de instalaciones afines para el tratamiento de la madera y el corcho | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22182 | Berufe in der Kunststoff- und Kautschukherstellung und -verarbeitung (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 22322 | Berufe in der Produktion von Holzwerkstoffen und -bauteilen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 23122 | Berufe in der Papierverarbeitung und Verpackungstechnik - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 536 | 木・紙製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 538 | ゴム・プラスチック製品製造従事者 | 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