About This Career

Weighs, measures, and checks materials, supplies, and equipment for the purpose of keeping relevant records. Duties are primarily clerical by nature. Includes workers who collect and keep record of samples of products or materials.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Quality Assurance pathway.

A person in this career:

• Documents quantity, quality, type, weight, test result data, and value of materials or products to maintain shipping, receiving, and production records and files.
• Weighs or measures materials, equipment, or products to maintain relevant records, using volume meters, scales, rules, or calipers.
• Collects or prepares measurement, weight, or identification labels and attaches them to products.
• Examines products or materials, parts, subassemblies, and packaging for damage, defects, or shortages, using specification sheets, gauges, and standards charts.
• Signals or instructs other workers to weigh, move, or check products.
• Collects product samples and prepares them for laboratory analysis or testing.
• Maintains, monitors, and cleans work areas, such as recycling collection sites, drop boxes, counters and windows, and areas around scale houses.
• Compares product labels, tags, or tickets, shipping manifests, purchase orders, and bills of lading to verify accuracy of shipment contents, quality specifications, or weights.
• Removes from stock products or loads not meeting quality standards, and notifies supervisors or appropriate departments of discrepancies or shortages.
• Inspects products and examination records to determine the number of defects per worker and the reasons for examiners' rejections.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work