Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-9195.05
Will AI Replace Potters, Manufacturing?
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
69out of 100
High Risk
AI Risk Score
69/100
Risk Level
High
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
18
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- ▸Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
- ▸Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Design spaces to display pottery for sale.
- ▸Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (3)
- Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
👤Requires Humans (2)
- Design spaces to display pottery for sale.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
⚡AI-Assisted (13)
- Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
- Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
- Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- Attach handles to pottery pieces.
- Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.75/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.38/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.38/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.38/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Potters, Manufacturing have a high risk of AI replacement with a score of 69/100. 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