Will “Materials Specialist” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Collect or prepare measurement, weight, or identification labels and attach them to products.

• Signal or instruct other workers to weigh, move, or check products.

• Count or estimate quantities of materials, parts, or products received or shipped.

• Operate scalehouse computers to obtain weight information about incoming shipments such as those from waste haulers.

• Collect product samples and prepare them for laboratory analysis or testing.

• Sort products or materials into predetermined sequences or groupings for display, packing, shipping, or storage.

• Unload or unpack incoming shipments.

• Examine products or materials, parts, subassemblies, and packaging for damage, defects, or shortages, using specification sheets, gauges, and standards charts.

• Inspect products and examination records to determine the number of defects per worker and the reasons for examiners' rejections.

• Transport materials, products, or samples to processing, shipping, or storage areas, manually or using conveyors, pumps, or hand trucks.

• Weigh or measure materials, equipment, or products to maintain relevant records, using volume meters, scales, rules, or calipers.

• Communicate with customers and vendors to exchange information regarding products, materials, and services.

• Remove from stock products or loads not meeting quality standards, and notify supervisors or appropriate departments of discrepancies or shortages.

• Maintain, monitor, and clean work areas, such as recycling collection sites, drop boxes, counters and windows, and areas around scale houses.

• Compare product labels, tags, or tickets, shipping manifests, purchase orders, and bills of lading to verify accuracy of shipment contents, quality specifications, or weights.

• Store samples of finished products in labeled cartons and record their location.

• Fill orders for products and samples, following order tickets, and forward or mail items.

• Document quantity, quality, type, weight, test result data, and value of materials or products to maintain shipping, receiving, and production records and files.