Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.

“Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.” is a supplemental task performed by Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. Among the occupation's 29 rated tasks, workers place it 10th by importance (#20 most important). About 67% of workers say it is relevant to their job.

This is a single occupation-specific task statement from O*NET. The figures below describe how central the task is to the job and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the task will be automated.

Work activities this task rolls up to

O*NET groups concrete tasks into broader work activities shared across many occupations.

• Determine resource needs of projects or operations. in Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Maintain operational records. in Documenting/Recording Information

AI exposure

The OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rates this task E1. Direct exposure — a language model could plausibly cut the time to do this task by at least half.

Exposure measures whether a model could meaningfully speed the task up — it is an estimate of overlap with model capabilities, not a measure of whether the work will be done by software. The study's intermediate score (β) for this task is 1.00. Automation potential label: T1.

Other tasks in this occupation

• Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications. · importance 4.2
• Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices. · importance 4.2
• Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces. · importance 4.0
• Record operational information on specified production reports. · importance 4.0
• Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies. · importance 4.0
• Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices. · importance 4.0
• Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records. · importance 4.0
• Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary. · importance 4.0
• Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills. · importance 4.0
• Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes. · importance 4.0
• Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off. · importance 3.9
• Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines. · importance 3.9
• Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components. · importance 3.9
• Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment. · importance 3.9

See all tasks on the Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders page.

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.

@misc{singulariki-task-10283,
  title  = {Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.},
  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/tasks/task-10283}
}