Career & application guide

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders do?

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Beveler Operator
  • Cullet Trucker
  • Grinder
  • Grinder Operator
  • Machine Operator
  • Machine Tender
  • Miller
  • Polisher

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • 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.
  • Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
  • Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
  • Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
  • Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
  • Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
  • Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
  • Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
  • Clean work areas.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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