National Occupation Code (NOC): 9413

Machine operators in this unit group operate multi-function process control machinery or single-function machines to melt, form, cut or finish flat glass, glassware, bottles, and other glass products. Glass cutters cut flat glass of various thicknesses to specified sizes and shapes by hand. They are employed by glass and glass products manufacturing companies.

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Job Duties for Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters

Glass process control operators

• Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to mix and melt raw materials; heat, anneal, temper or form float glass or glass products; and coat glass with silver or other metals and materials
• Observe gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments as necessary
• Maintain shift log of production and other data
• May operate process control machinery to cut glass or assemble glass window units
• May clean and maintain process machinery
• May ensure adequate levels of oil, soap, talc or other materials used in machine production of glass.

Glass forming machine operators

• Set up and adjust automatic glass feeding, flowing and forming machines
• Operate and maintain machines that press or blow molten glass in moulds to form or shape containers, such as bottles, jars and drinking glasses
• Operate electric kilns that heat glass sheets and mould to the shape and curve of metal jigs
• Spray or swab moulds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass
• Weigh, measure and check production samples to assess conformance to specifications using scales and gauges and by visual verification.

Glass finishing machine operators

• Set up and adjust glass and glass-product finishing machines
• Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash or polish glass or glass products
• Visually inspect products for quality
• Record manufacturing information such as quantity, size and type of goods produced.

Glass cutters

• Jig, measure and mark glass or place pattern on or under glass for cutting
• Examine and mark defective glass to obtain best cut
• Cut glass along marked outlines or around pattern using hand tools
• Smooth rough edges using belt sander or smoothing wheels
• Set up, operate and adjust computerized or robotic glass cutting equipment
• Monitor process for product quality.

Working Conditions for Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters

Work takes place indoors, where safety measures are usually in place to prevent injury from glass, airborne particles, and high levels of heat.

Alternate Job Titles

• Annealer - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Automatic Glass-cutting Table Operator
• Automatic Sealing Gun Operator - Glass
• Batch Plant Tender - Glass
• Beaker Tester
• Bottle Inspector - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Bottle Machine Operator - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Bottle Maker Operator
• Bottle Maker Operator - Glass And Glass Products
• Bottle Tester
• Diamond Grinder Operator - Glass Finishing
• Diamond Wheel Edger - Glass Finishing
• Drawing Kiln Operator - Glass Forming
• Enamel Burner - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Enamelling Furnace Operator - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Enamelware Paint Baker - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Float Chief Operator - Glass Forming
• Float Operator - Glass Forming
• Forming-cutting Operator - Glass Products
• Gatherer - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Glass Bender
• Glass Beveller
• Glass Beveller Operator
• Glass Beveller Tender
• Glass Bonding Machine Operator
• Glass Breaker
• Glass Buffer
• Glass Chipper
• Glass Cut-off Machine Operator
• Glass Cutter
• Glass Cutter Operator
• Glass Cutter-framer
• Glass Drill Operator
• Glass Drill Tender
• Glass Edger
• Glass Edger Operator
• Glass Edger Tender
• Glass Etcher
• Glass Finisher
• Glass Forming Operator
• Glass Forming Specialist
• Glass Furnace Operator
• Glass Furnace Setter-operator
• Glass Furnace Set-up Operator
• Glass Grinder
• Glass Heater
• Glass Laminator
• Glass Lathe Operator
• Glass Lehr Attendant
• Glass Lehr Operator
• Glass Lehr Tender
• Glass Marker
• Glass Melter
• Glass Mixer
• Glass Mould Cleaner
• Glass Mould Polisher
• Glass Moulder
• Glass Polisher
• Glass Polisher Tender
• Glass Presser
• Glass Spin Mould Machine Set-up Operator
• Glass Tank Furnace Operator
• Glass Temperer
• Glass Windshield Autoclave Operator
• Glass Worker - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Glass-annealing Furnace Tender
• Glass-blowing Lathe Operator
• Glass-blowing Machine Operator
• Glass-blowing Machine Setter
• Glass-coating Line Operator
• Glass-decorating Machine Operator
• Glass-drawing Machine Operator
• Glass-edging Machine Feeder
• Glass-finishing Machine Operator
• Glass-forming Machine Operator
• Glass-forming Machine Setter
• Glass-forming Machine Set-up Person
• Glass-grinding Machine Feeder
• Glass-pressing And Glass-blowing Machine Operator
• Glass-pressing Machine Operator
• Glass-silvering Machine Operator
• Glass-stopper Grinder
• Glass-tempering Furnace Operator
• Glass-tube-expander Operator
• Glassware Grinder
• Glassware-banding Machine Tender
• Glassware-decorating Machine Operator
• Groove Grinder - Glass
• Hand Finisher, Glass Edges
• Hand Glass Cutter
• Hand Glass Edge Finisher
• Machine Operator - Glass Forming And Finishing
• Mirror Maker
• Mirror Silverer
• Mirror-silvering Equipment Operator
• Neon Sign Pumper
• Neon Sign Tube Bender
• Neon Tube Bender
• Neon Tube Pumper
• Ornamental Glass Production Worker
• Special Glass Cutter
• Stained Glass Production Worker
• Staple Cutter - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Strapping Machine Operator - Glass Manufacturing
• Tinted Glassware Maker
• Yardage Controller - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Annealer - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Automatic Glass-cutting Table Operator
• Automatic Sealing Gun Operator - Glass
• Batch Plant Tender - Glass
• Beaker Tester
• Bottle Inspector - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Bottle Machine Operator - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Bottle Maker Operator
• Bottle Maker Operator - Glass And Glass Products
• Bottle Tester
• Diamond Grinder Operator - Glass Finishing
• Diamond Wheel Edger - Glass Finishing
• Drawing Kiln Operator - Glass Forming
• Enamel Burner - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Enamelling Furnace Operator - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Enamelware Paint Baker - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Float Chief Operator - Glass Forming
• Float Operator - Glass Forming
• Forming-cutting Operator - Glass Products
• Gatherer - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Glass Bender
• Glass Beveller
• Glass Beveller Operator
• Glass Beveller Tender
• Glass Bonding Machine Operator
• Glass Breaker
• Glass Buffer
• Glass Chipper
• Glass Cut-off Machine Operator
• Glass Cutter
• Glass Cutter Operator
• Glass Cutter-framer
• Glass Drill Operator
• Glass Drill Tender
• Glass Edger
• Glass Edger Operator
• Glass Edger Tender
• Glass Etcher
• Glass Finisher
• Glass Forming Operator
• Glass Forming Specialist
• Glass Furnace Operator
• Glass Furnace Setter-operator
• Glass Furnace Set-up Operator
• Glass Grinder
• Glass Heater
• Glass Laminator
• Glass Lathe Operator
• Glass Lehr Attendant
• Glass Lehr Operator
• Glass Lehr Tender
• Glass Marker
• Glass Melter
• Glass Mixer
• Glass Mould Cleaner
• Glass Mould Polisher
• Glass Moulder
• Glass Polisher
• Glass Polisher Tender
• Glass Presser
• Glass Spin Mould Machine Set-up Operator
• Glass Tank Furnace Operator
• Glass Temperer
• Glass Windshield Autoclave Operator
• Glass Worker - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Glass-annealing Furnace Tender
• Glass-blowing Lathe Operator
• Glass-blowing Machine Operator
• Glass-blowing Machine Setter
• Glass-coating Line Operator
• Glass-decorating Machine Operator
• Glass-drawing Machine Operator
• Glass-edging Machine Feeder
• Glass-finishing Machine Operator
• Glass-forming Machine Operator
• Glass-forming Machine Setter
• Glass-forming Machine Set-up Person
• Glass-grinding Machine Feeder
• Glass-pressing And Glass-blowing Machine Operator
• Glass-pressing Machine Operator
• Glass-silvering Machine Operator
• Glass-stopper Grinder
• Glass-tempering Furnace Operator
• Glass-tube-expander Operator
• Glassware Grinder
• Glassware-banding Machine Tender
• Glassware-decorating Machine Operator
• Groove Grinder - Glass
• Hand Finisher, Glass Edges
• Hand Glass Cutter
• Hand Glass Edge Finisher
• Machine Operator - Glass Forming And Finishing
• Mirror Maker
• Mirror Silverer
• Mirror-silvering Equipment Operator
• Neon Sign Pumper
• Neon Sign Tube Bender
• Neon Tube Bender
• Neon Tube Pumper
• Ornamental Glass Production Worker
• Special Glass Cutter
• Stained Glass Production Worker
• Staple Cutter - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Strapping Machine Operator - Glass Manufacturing
• Tinted Glassware Maker
• Yardage Controller - Glass Products Manufacturing
• Painer