Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7214

Riveter

Riveters assemble several metal parts together by riveting guns, rivet set and hammers, or by operating a riveting machine that all perform the purpose of drilling holes on the rivet shank of the metal part and of inserting rivets, bolts, into these holes in order to fasten them together.

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Check yourself in a minute: riveter

Rate 5 of the 10 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

prepare pieces for joining

apply preliminary treatment to workpieces

remove inadequate workpieces

troubleshoot

remove processed workpiece

About riveter

As a riveter, you will be responsible for joining metal parts together using a variety of riveting techniques and equipment, creating strong, durable connections essential to countless manufactured products. Your daily work involves operating riveting machines, handheld riveting guns, and using rivet sets and hammers to secure metal components. You'll position workpieces, insert rivets into pre-drilled holes, and perform quality checks to ensure that all connections meet strict specifications. This role is critical in industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and heavy machinery manufacturing, where the integrity of riveted joints directly impacts product safety and performance. Your technical knowledge of different metal types, rivet specifications, and proper riveting techniques ensures that each joint is executed flawlessly. Riveters in Poland continue to find strong employment opportunities, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors, with solid prospects for career advancement to supervisory or specialized riveting roles.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a riveter.

Workpiece Preparation and Treatment

Inspect metal pieces for proper alignment and positioning before riveting
Prepare pieces for joining by ensuring all surfaces are clean and ready
Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces such as cleaning or light deburring

Riveting Operation and Execution

Operate riveting machines or handheld riveting guns with precision and consistency
Position rivets into pre-drilled holes and secure them using rivet sets and hammers
Join multiple metal parts together according to specifications and technical drawings

Quality Control and Verification

Perform test runs on sample workpieces to verify proper riveting before full production runs
Remove inadequate workpieces that fail to meet quality standards or specifications
Inspect completed joints for strength, alignment, and compliance with quality standards

Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot equipment problems and perform maintenance to keep riveting machines operational
Ensure equipment availability through regular maintenance and preventive care
Maintain proper functioning of riveting tools and machinery according to manufacturer specifications

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (10)

types of metaltypes of metalQualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.rivet typesrivet typesThe various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.prepare pieces for joiningprepare pieces for joiningPrepare metal or other material workpieces for joining processes by cleaning the workpieces, checking their measurements with the technical plan and marking on the pieces where they'll be joined.apply preliminary treatment to workpiecesapply preliminary treatment to workpiecesApply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.remove inadequate workpiecesremove inadequate workpiecesEvaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.remove processed workpieceremove processed workpieceRemove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.

Optional (27) — show

riveting machine typesriveting machine typesThe various types of machines used for riveting purposes, their qualities and applications, such as the impact riveting machine, radial riveting machine, orbital riveting machine, rollerform riveting ...manufacturing of metal structuresmanufacturing of metal structuresThe production of metal structures for construction.metal joining technologiesmetal joining technologiesThe various technologies used for the joining and assembling of fabricated metal workpieces.quality and cycle time optimisationquality and cycle time optimisationThe most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine's processes.ferrous metal processingferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.manufacturing of metal containersmanufacturing of metal containersThe manufacture of reservoirs, tanks and similar containers of metal, of types normally installed as fixtures for storage or manufacturing use. The manufacture of metal containers for compressed or li...manufacturing of metal assembly productsmanufacturing of metal assembly productsThe manufacture of rivets, washers and similar non-threaded products, screw machine products, screws, nuts and similar threaded products.types of metal manufacturing processestypes of metal manufacturing processesMetal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.manufacturing of steam generatorsmanufacturing of steam generatorsThe manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The man...inspect quality of productsinspect quality of productsUse various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.supply machine with appropriate toolssupply machine with appropriate toolsSupply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.record production data for quality controlrecord production data for quality controlKeep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.operate handheld riveting equipmentoperate handheld riveting equipmentOperate various kinds of tools and equipment used in riveting processes, such a pin hammer and a rivet set, handheld squeezers, a hammer and bucking bar, a pneumatic hammer, a rivet gun, and others.use CAM softwareuse CAM softwareUse computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.monitor automated machinesmonitor automated machinesContinuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment...perform machine maintenanceperform machine maintenancePerform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.supply machinesupply machineEnsure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.consult technical resourcesconsult technical resourcesRead and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.program a CNC controllerprogram a CNC controllerSet up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.set up the controller of a machineset up the controller of a machineSet up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.tend riveting machinetend riveting machineTend a metalworking machine designed to join metal pieces by automatically shooting mechanical fasteners, rivets, into them, monitor and operate it according to regulations.interpret geometric dimensions and tolerancesinterpret geometric dimensions and tolerancesUnderstand and assess the models and symbolic language of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) systems indicating engineering tolerances.advise on machinery malfunctionsadvise on machinery malfunctionsOffer advice to service technicians in case of machinery malfunctions and other technical repair tasks.statistical process controlstatistical process controlMethod of quality control that uses statistics to monitor processes.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a riveter do?

What skills does a riveter need?

A riveter needs 10 essential skills, including types of metal, quality standards, rivet types, prepare pieces for joining, apply preliminary treatment to workpieces.

Will AI replace riveter jobs?

The AI disruption score for riveter is 58/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record production data for quality control, remove processed workpiece, quality standards. Most resilient: riveting machine types, operate handheld riveting equipment, types of metal.

AI Replacement Risk

58/ 100

High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

record production data for quality control remove processed workpiece quality standards

Skills resilient to automation

riveting machine types operate handheld riveting equipment types of metal

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Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production

ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers

Essential Skills10

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