Plastics processing machine operators

Plastics processing machine operators

NOC
94111

set up and operate plastic mixing, extruding and moulding processing machines used in the manufacture of plastic parts and products.

Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Undetermined
Undetermined

3-Year Job Openings

27
 

Median Hourly Wage

$24.55
$18.16
Low
$30.01
High

Average Salary

$53,000
 

Typically Required

High school / on-the-job training

Employed

195
 
Job details

Full NOC Description

Plastics processing machine operators set up and operate plastic mixing, calendering, extruding and moulding processing machines used in the manufacture of plastic parts and plastic products. They are employed by plastic products manufacturing companies.

Main Duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Mixing machine operators
  • Weigh resins, colourants and other chemicals according to formula
  • Place weighed materials in mixing machine and operate machine to blend plastic and other chemicals to a specified consistency or viscosity
  • Monitor operation, regulate material supply and add chemicals and colourants to mixture
  • Operate controls to regulate temperature, speed and other processing conditions
  • Unload mixture into container or conveyor for further processing
  • Maintain and perform minor repairs on machinery as required
  • Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
  • Calendering process operators
  • Set up and operate calendering machines which transform dough-consistent plastic mass into continuous sheets or films of specified thickness
  • Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment and adjust calender rollers for production line change
  • Monitor quality of material produced
  • Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
  • Extruding process operators
  • Set up and operate one or more extruding machines which extrude plastic composites products through a nozzle or die
  • Change dies on extruding machines according to production line change
  • Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment
  • Monitor quality of material produced
  • Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.
  • Moulding process operators
  • Set up and operate one or more moulding machines which mould plastic products according to specifications
  • Change moulds and adjust equipment for production line change
  • Troubleshoot, maintain and make minor repairs to equipment
  • Monitor quality of material produced and adjust machine settings as required
  • Follow formulation card to mix ingredient batches for injection moulding process
  • Maintain inventory of material and clean working area.

Also Known As

  • bag machine operator
  • banbury operator - plastic manufacturing
  • blow moulding machine operator - plastic manufacturing
  • calender operator - plastic manufacturing
  • extruder operator - plastic manufacturing
  • injection moulding operator - plastic manufacturing
  • plastics press operator
  • printing roller moulder - plastic manufacturing
  • solution mixer operator - plastic manufacturing
  • thermoforming operator
Requirements

Employment Requirements

  • For all operators in this unit group, completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Several years of experience as a helper, tender or packer in the same company may be required.
  • Completion of a statistical process control (SPC) course may be required.
  • Completion of courses in hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics systems may be required for moulding process operators.
  • On-the-job training is provided.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Gender

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

20.9%
Women
79.1%
Men
Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

11.6%
15-24
18.6%
25-34
27.9%
35-44
11.6%
45-54
27.9%
55-64
2.3%
65+
Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

14.0%
No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
65.1%
High School, Diploma or Equivalent
Suppressed
Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
Suppressed
College or University Below Bachelor Level
7.0%
University - Bachelor Level or Above
Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

86.0%
Manufacturing
Suppressed
Suppressed
Suppressed
Suppressed
14.0%
All Other Industries
Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

9.30%
Northeast
18.60%
Southeast
27.90%
Southwest
Suppressed
Central
37.20%
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

Suppressed
Northeast
Suppressed
Southeast
$66,000
Southwest
Suppressed
Central
$46,000
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Northeast

$21.04
$15.90
Low
$32.09
High

Southeast

$25.06
$17.40
Low
$34.03
High

Southwest

$27.07
$21.32
Low
$37.57
High
No Data Available

Northwest

$23.84
$19.18
Low
$26.98
High
Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

New Brunswick

$53,000

Newfoundland

N/A

Prince Edward Island

N/A

Nova Scotia

$51,200

Canada

$51,700
Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

27
 

New Jobs: 3-Year

18
 

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

7
 

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

87
 

New Jobs: 10-Year

55
 

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

29