Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Also Called:

Dryer Feeder,

Feeder,

Machine Feeder,

Offbearer

What they do: Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

What do they typically do on the job?

  • Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications.
  • Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed.
  • Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment.

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

Interests

Career interests describe the perspectives and interests of people who enjoy the type of work involved in this career.

Discover what your interests are by taking the Interest Profiler Quiz

Knowledge

People who want to pursue this career have knowledge in these areas.

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • Manufacture and distribution of products

Engineering and Technology
  • Mechanical

Math and Science
  • Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Abilities

Whether you have received formal training or not, these types of abilities are helpful in this career.

Hand and Finger Use
  • Keep your arm or hand steady

  • Hold or move items with your hands

Controlled Movement
  • Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

  • Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving

Skills

People who want to pursue this career have skills in these areas.

Basic Skills
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Social
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions

Work Values

Work values describe how your core beliefs align with those commonly needed for this career.

Relationships

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?

1. Do some research
  • Identify how your interests, values, and strengths match this occupation
  • Talk to someone who works in this field or spend a day job shadowing
  • Use the colleges and training directory to explore programs related to this career
2. Plan your next move

Data for NSI career cards comes from the following: Idaho Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, MyNextMove, and Career OneStop