Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-9021.00
Will AI Replace Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
88out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
88/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
13
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- ▸Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- ▸Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (3)
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
👤Requires Humans (1)
- Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
⚡AI-Assisted (9)
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
- Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
- Clean work areas.
- Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Equipment Maintenance
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Related Occupations
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89/100 — Critical Risk
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86/100 — Critical Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 88/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research