Home / Tasks / Select production input materials
In 3 of the 20 jobs that do this, AI or robots already show up on it, most often as robots doing it. In the other 17, there's no evidence yet. Jobs spend a median of 13m of an 8-hour shift on it, and about 1.4 million U.S. workers hold these jobs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersSelect and load materials such as workpieces, objects, and machine parts onto equipment used in coiling processes. | 48m | No evidence yet |
| Food BatchmakersSelect and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales. | 43m | No evidence yet |
| Wood Model MakersSelect wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors. | 38m | No evidence yet |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating WorkersSelect and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers. | 25m | No evidence yet |
| Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsSelect precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled. | 25m | No evidence yet |
| Hand SewersSelect thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles. | 19m | No evidence yet |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersDetermine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersSelect and acquire metals and gems for designs. | 13m | No evidence yet |
| Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and FinishersDetermine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products. | 13m | No evidence yet |
| Furniture FinishersSelect appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type. | 13m | No evidence yet |
| Shoe Machine Operators and TendersSelect and place spools of thread or pre-wound bobbins into shuttles, or onto spindles or loupers of stitching machines. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Wood PatternmakersSelect lumber to be used for patterns. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Sewing Machine OperatorsSelect supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements. | 6m | Robots |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and RepairersSelect materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Tool and Die MakersSelect metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Computer Systems AnalystsSpecify inputs accessed by the system and plan the distribution and use of the results. | 6m | Often handed to AI |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSelect coolants and lubricants, and start their flow. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Patternmakers, Metal and PlasticSelect pattern materials such as wood, resin, and fiberglass. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSelect the proper coolants and lubricants and start their flow. | 6m | Robots |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodSelect saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions. | 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.