According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes. | 86% |
| Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers. | 82% |
| Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes. | 81% |
| Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools. | 81% |
| Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences. | 81% |
| Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components. | 79% |
| Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met. | 78% |
| Tack-weld fitted parts together. | 78% |
| Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes. | 78% |
| Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches. | 76% |
| Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone. | 75% |
| Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures. | 74% |
| Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting. | 74% |
| Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications. | 74% |
| Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies. | 74% |
| Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools. | 74% |
| Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal. | 74% |
| Install boilers, containers, and other structures. | 72% |
| Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld. | 71% |
| Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers. | 70% |
| Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves. | 70% |
| Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces. | 66% |
| Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches. | 64% |
