Home / Tasks / Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences
In 3 of the 37 jobs that do this, AI or robots already show up on it, most often as work people hand to AI. In the other 34, there's no evidence yet. Jobs spend a median of 24m of an 8-hour shift on it, and about 3.6 million U.S. workers hold these jobs.
34No evidence yet
3Often handed to AI
Every job that does this
Each job words the task its own way. Minutes are that job's estimate for a typical shift; the label is the evidence for that job's version.
| Job and its version of the task | Per shift | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Metal and PlasticRead and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences. | 47m | No evidence yet |
| Model Makers, Metal and PlasticStudy blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences. | 37m | No evidence yet |
| Electrical and Electronic Equipment AssemblersRead and interpret schematic drawings, diagrams, blueprints, specifications, work orders, or reports to determine materials requirements or assembly instructions. | 36m | Often handed to AI |
| Electromechanical Equipment AssemblersRead blueprints and specifications to determine component parts and assembly sequences of electromechanical units. | 36m | No evidence yet |
| Engine and Other Machine AssemblersRead and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations. | 36m | No evidence yet |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersRead blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts. | 35m | Often handed to AI |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticStudy machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements. | 31m | No evidence yet |
| Tool and Die MakersStudy blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies. | 31m | No evidence yet |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticStudy blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations. | 30m | No evidence yet |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersStudy engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences. | 29m | No evidence yet |
| MachinistsStudy sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products. | 29m | No evidence yet |
| Stone Cutters and Carvers, ManufacturingStudy artistic objects or graphic materials, such as models, sketches, or blueprints, to plan carving or cutting techniques. | 26m | No evidence yet |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating WorkersRead job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required. | 25m | No evidence yet |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersStudy blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersRead blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticStudy blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticRead production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersEstablish the specifications of articles to be constructed or repaired, or plan the methods or operations for shaping or assembling parts, based on blueprints, drawings, diagrams, or oral or written instructions. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersRead blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Printing Press OperatorsExamine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions. | 24m | No evidence yet |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticRead rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures. | 23m | No evidence yet |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticStudy blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences. | 23m | No evidence yet |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticRead blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences. | 23m | No evidence yet |
| Etchers and EngraversExamine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces. | 21m | No evidence yet |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine OperatorsRead work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment. | 21m | No evidence yet |
| Timing Device Assemblers and AdjustersReview blueprints, sketches, or work orders to gather information about tasks to be completed. | 20m | Often handed to AI |
| Construction ManagersStudy job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods. | 20m | No evidence yet |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticRead specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticRead work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersAnalyze engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, sketches, work orders, and material safety data sheets to plan layout, assembly, and operations. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Semiconductor Processing TechniciansStudy work orders, instructions, formulas, and processing charts to determine specifications and sequence of operations. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersReview work orders, specifications, or instructions to determine materials, ingredients, procedures, components, settings, and adjustments for extruding, forming, pressing, or compacting machines. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersRead and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules. | 17m | No evidence yet |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersRead work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications. | 13m | No evidence yet |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodExamine blueprints, drawings, work orders, or patterns to determine equipment set-up or selection details, procedures to be used, or dimensions of final products. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersRead plant specifications to determine products, ingredients, or prescribed modifications of plant procedures. | 11m | No evidence yet |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandStudy blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates. | 6m | No evidence yet |
How to read this
This task type comes from O*NET's detailed work activities, which link similar tasks across jobs. A label applies to one job's version of the task: AI use comes from real AI conversations (Anthropic Economic Index) and robot evidence from deployments in real workplaces. "No evidence yet" may just mean the task is rare in the data. How we keep time.
See all 250 shared tasks, or find any job on the big clock.