Steel Product Manufacturing

Core Operations

Here is a quick look at each of the core operations taking place across this industry:

• Steel Wire Drawing

  Companies purchases iron or steel rods, bars or wire to produce wire. Very fine wires are used in many industries, such as tire wires, fences, and welding wires.

  

  Steel Wire Manufacturing

• Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing

  Companies roll or draw shapes (except wire). Examples of these shapes include plate, sheet, strip, rod, and bar. Hot-rolled and Cold-rolled strips (Coils) are a key input for automobiles.

  

  Rolling Hot Steel

• Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing

  Companies manufacture welded, riveted, or seamless pipe and tube. Steel pipes and tubes make up the 5th largest US exported item for the industry.

  

  Steel Pipe Manufacturing

Steel Occupations

Across all three of the steel product manufacturing operations, there around 54,000 employees. Here is a quick rundown of the occupations most likely requiring personal protective equipment:

Click an occupation to expand and learn more.

• Assemblers and Fabricators  

  Assemble finished products and parts. There are around 1,400 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find this worker assembling bolts, using many different types of tools, and moving heavy parts. They construct finished products and the parts that go into them. Assemblers and Fabricators use alot of tools, machines, and most importanly need their hands protected.

• Cutting, punching and press machine setters  

  Operate machines that saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal. Around 3,490 of this occupation works in Steel Product Manufacturing Industry. You will find these workers aligning metal parts and grinding out burrs or sharp edges. This makes cut resistant gloves a high priority for this worker. Common Job titles for this position are Die Setter, Press Operator, Machine Setter and Operator, Press Punch Operator.

  

  Employment of Cutting & Press Machine Setters and Operators by State

• Extruding and drawing machine setters 

  Operate machines that extrude metal materials into tubes, wires, and bars. Around 3,790 of this occupation works in the Steel Product Manufacturing Industry. You will find these workers loading materials into machines. Common Job titles for this position are Extruder Operator, Wire Mill Remover, Extrusion Press Operator and Metal Inspector.

• Forming machine setters, operators and tenders  

  Operate machines to taper, shape and form metal. Around 6% of the workforce falls into this occupation, around 7,000 workers. You will find these workers removing dies, forging hammers and moving metal work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Forger, Blacksmith, Hammer Operator, and Forge Presso Operators

• Grind, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Operators  

  Operate grinding tools that remove excess metal material or burrs. There are around 1,420 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers sharpening edges and corners, along with polishing metal. Common Job titles for this position are Deburrer, Finisher, Grinder, and Grinding Operator.

  

  Employment of Grinding, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Tool Setters / Operators by State

• Helpers - Production 

  Duties include supplying or holding materials, along with cleaning work areas and equipment. Around 1,010 of these workers are found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers attaching cables, changing machine gears and handling a lot of material. All of these activities make gloves extremely important. Common Job titles for this position are Laborer, Press Helper, and Material Handler.

• Industrial Machinery Mechanics  

  Worker activities include repairing, installing, and adjusting industrial machinery. There are around 1,870 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers cutting and welding metal to repair broken metal parts. Job titles for this position are Fixer, Industrial and Master Mechanic.

• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 

  Inspect machined, fabricated or assembled parts. There are around 2,080 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. Half of these workers are found in foundries. You will find these workers inspecting equipment and structures. Common Job titles for this position are Quality Technician, Inspector, and Picker / Pacer.

• Machine tool cutting setters and operators  

  Operate cutting and forming machines. There are around 5,900 of these workers found in the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find these workers changing cutting tools, aligning parts, and inspecting metalwork pieces. Common Job titles for this position are CNC Machine setter, CNC machinist, and CNC Operator. Exposure to hazardous equipment is always a concern.

• Machinists 

  Machinists are the workers who utilize the machine and cutting tools.  This occupation is highly skilled at operating machinery. There are around 1,130 of this occupation working acrss the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find this worker operating machine tools to produce precision parts. Job titles for this position Gear Machinist, Machine Operator and Maintenance Machinist.

  

  Employment of Machinists by State

• Material Moving Workers  

  These workers help move steel and other materials. There are around 5,380 of these workers in the Steel Product Manufacturing indusry. That is a large number of hands needing protected. You will find these workers operating conveyors, transporting materials, and operating machines. Common job titles are Laborer and Operator.

• Metal and plastic workers  

  Operate machines designed to cut, shape and form metal. There are roughly 21,640 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers fabricating metal products, lifting heavy materials and working with their hands. Be sure to check out our Metal Fabrication industry educational page.

• Milling and Planing Machine Operators  

  Operate machines to mill, plane, shape, and groove metal. There are around 660 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find this worker eeding materials and mounting materials into production equipment. Common job titles for this occupation are Machine Operator and Miller.

• Rolling Machine setters and operators 

  Operate machines that plate, roll and flatten steel. There are around 2,940 of these workers found in the Steel Product Manufacturing ndustry. Common Job titles for this position are Rolling Mill Operator, Mill Operator and Roll Form Operator.

• Welding Cutters and Fitters 

  Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, and brazing equipment to weld/join metal components, fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products. There are around 2,430 of these workers employed in the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find these workers welding components in flat, vertical or overhead positions. Common Job titles for this position are Maintenance Welder, Mig Welder, and Welder/Fabricator

• Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Operators 

  Operate welding, soldering or brazing machines that weld, braze, or heat treat metal products. There are around 2,680 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers adding material to work pieces, joining metal components, and annealing finished work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Fabricator, Mig Welder, Spot Welder, Fitter-Welder, and Braze Operators.