94106 Machining tool operators

What this occupation covers

Machining tool operators set up and operate or tend metal-cutting machines designed for repetitive machining work. They are employed by metal products and other manufacturing companies and in machine shops. This unit group also includes workers who etch or chemically mill metal pieces.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 6 main duties for this code.

• Study job orders and interpret blueprints to determine machining operations to be performed
• Set up and operate machine tools to perform repetitive machining operations, such as turning, milling, drilling, boring, planing, honing, broaching, grinding or other machining operations
• Verify dimensions of parts machined using micrometers, callipers and other precision measuring instruments
• Prepare etching solution and immerse metal parts or workpiece in etching solution to remove unwanted portions
• Perform routine maintenance on equipment and machinery
• May enter codes specifying speed, feed and cut of the toolpath for computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 6 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
• 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• 72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 72101 Tool and die makers

Excluded from this code

• Computer numerical control (CNC) programmer (See 22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians)
• Computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) programmer (See 22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians)
• Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)
• Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (See 72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors)
• Tool and die makers (See 72101 Tool and die makers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

aircraft engine parts machine tool set-up operator · aircraft parts etcher · automated machine tool set-up operator · automatic screw machine operator · automatic transfer machine operator - metal machining · axle lathe operator · barrel rifler · bearing borer · bearing grinder · bench machine tool set-up operator · bolt-threading machine operator · boring machine operator - metal machining · boring mill operator - metal machining · boring mill set-up operator - metal machining · brake drum lathe operator · broaching machine operator - metal machining · broaching machine set-up operator - metal machining · Bullard multiple-spindle lathe operator · camming machine operator - metal machining · centreless cylindrical grinder set-up operator · centreless cylindrical-grinder operator · centreless grinder operator · centreless grinder set-up operator - metal machining · chucking machine set-up operator

Employment requirements

• Secondary school education is required.
• College or other courses in machining may be required.
• Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
• Senior positions in this unit group, such as set-up operator, require experience as a machine operator.