Replace worn equipment components.
Detailed work activity
Replace worn equipment components. is a detailed work activity in O*NET — a concrete unit of work shared across 32 occupations and seen in 34 occupation-specific tasks. It rolls up into the broader work activity Repair tools or equipment. in Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment .
Detailed work activities are the most granular shared layer in O*NET's work-activity hierarchy (Generalized → Intermediate → Detailed → occupation-specific task). The figures below describe how this activity shows up across the economy and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the work will be automated.
AI exposure
Of the 34 tasks under this activity that the OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rated, 0 (0%) are flagged as directly exposed to language models (E1) or exposed via model-powered tools (E2).
Exposure estimates overlap with model capabilities — whether a model could speed the task up — not whether the work will be done by software. Observed AI use is augmentation and assistance today, not jobs replaced.
Member tasks
Occupation-specific tasks O*NET maps to this detailed work activity, most important first.
- Remove and replace dull cutting tools. · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators · importance 4.5 · no direct exposure
- Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches. · Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.5 · no direct exposure
- Adjust machine feed and speed, change cutting tools, or adjust machine controls when automatic programming is faulty or if machines malfunction. · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators · importance 4.4 · no direct exposure
- Maintain machines and remove and replace broken or worn machine tools, using hand tools. · Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators · importance 4.4 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace damaged equipment. · Chemical Plant and System Operators · importance 4.3 · no direct exposure
- Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. · Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood · importance 4.3 · no direct exposure
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation. · Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · importance 4.3 · no direct exposure
- Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles. · Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders · importance 4.3 · no direct exposure
- Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines. · Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.2 · no direct exposure
- Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders. · Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.2 · no direct exposure
- Remove and replace worn parts, bits, belts, sandpaper, or shaping tools. · Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing · importance 4.2 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools. · Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders · importance 4.1 · no direct exposure
- Change worn machine accessories, such as cutting tools or brushes, using hand tools. · Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.1 · no direct exposure
- Rework, repair, or replace damaged parts or assemblies. · Engine and Other Machine Assemblers · importance 4.1 · no direct exposure
- Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools or power tools to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed. · Machinists · importance 4.0 · no direct exposure
- Change or replace saw blades, cables, cutter heads, and grinding wheels, using hand tools. · Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders · importance 4.0 · no direct exposure
- Remove and replace worn or broken machine parts, using hand tools. · Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners · importance 4.0 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools. · Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Replace defective blades or wheels, using hand tools. · Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Rebuild, repair, or replace biofuels processing equipment components. · Biofuels Processing Technicians · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies. · Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws. · Cutters and Trimmers, Hand · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines. · Sewing Machine Operators · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Repair, replace, and maintain furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools. · Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.9 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools. · Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders · importance 3.8 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required. · Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.8 · no direct exposure
- Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing. · Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers · importance 3.8 · no direct exposure
- Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications. · Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.7 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes. · Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.7 · no direct exposure
- Perform minor repairs to machines, such as replacing damaged or worn parts. · Helpers--Production Workers · importance 3.6 · no direct exposure
- Replace worn parts and adjust equipment components, using hand tools. · Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.6 · no direct exposure
- Replace worn or defective equipment parts, using hand tools. · Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders · importance 3.5 · no direct exposure
- Maintain and repair laboratory equipment. · Physics Teachers, Postsecondary · importance 3.4 · no direct exposure
- Repair or replace gas piping. · Power Plant Operators · no direct exposure
Occupations that perform this
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Machinists
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
- Sewing Machine Operators
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Helpers--Production Workers
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Power Plant Operators
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Singulariki. "Replace worn equipment components.." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/detailed-activities/replace-worn-equipment-components
Singulariki. (2026). Replace worn equipment components.. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/detailed-activities/replace-worn-equipment-components
@misc{singulariki-replace-worn-equipment-components,
title = {Replace worn equipment components.},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/detailed-activities/replace-worn-equipment-components}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.