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Engineering Machinist and Toolmaker - Personal requirements

Kaihanga Take Pūkaha/Taputapu

Skills & knowledge

Engineering machinists and toolmakers need to have:

knowledge of tool and instrument construction
knowledge of the properties of metals and plastics
the ability to read and interpret plans and drawings
practical skills to operate computer-controlled machinery
analytical and problem-solving skills
maths skills
excellent communication skills
planning and organisational ability
good computer skills, including the ability to use computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Personal Qualities

Engineering machinists and toolmakers need to be:

accurate
able to follow instructions
patient
safety-conscious
disciplined
able to work well independently, and as part of a team.

"It's mentally challenging because you're working with high accuracy all the time."

Wayne Muschamp - Toolmaker

Physical Requirements

Engineering machinists and toolmakers need to be reasonably fit, as there can be some heavy lifting involved. They also need to have good hand-eye co-ordination and good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses).

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Updated September 2009

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