Will AI replace Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

AI can do 8% of the work Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 21 tasks, while 2 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 17 physical tasks. 1 still needs a person.

AI is already doing this1 · 5% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.Mostly automated5% of time

AI could do this next2 · 4% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.2% of time
  • Notify supervisors of needed repairs.1% of time

Robots can technically do this17 · 88% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.Robots: structured workplaces24% of time
  • Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
  • Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.Robots: structured workplaces8% of time
  • Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Clean work areas.Robots: structured workplaces6% of time
  • Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools.Robots: structured workplaces5% of time
  • Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time

Still needs a person1 · 4% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools.4% of time

Your week is not the average

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 88% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Do the 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 2 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 17 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 1 task that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand3%Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders9%Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders8%Helpers--Production Workers8%Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders9%Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders7%

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