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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7213

Sheet metal worker

Sheet metal workers in construction use sheet metal to construct roofs, ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, gutters and other metal structures. They read plans and determine the type and amount of materials to be used, then measure, bend, cut, shape, and attach pieces of sheet metal to create the required structure.

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Check yourself in a minute: sheet metal worker

Rate 5 of the 20 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

apply arc welding techniques

use metalworking tools

apply spot welding techniques

inspect construction supplies

align components

Key skills in this occupation

Essential skills and knowledge areas from the European ESCO classification, 20 in total. The ones most specific to this occupation come first.

  1. apply arc welding techniques

    Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and others.

    practical skill
  2. use metalworking tools

    Use the appropriate metalworking tools to manipulate metal objects or surfaces.

    practical skill
  3. apply spot welding techniques

    Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of welding metal workpieces under pressure exercised by electrodes, such as projection welding, radius style electrodes spot welding, concentric electrodes spot…

    practical skill
  4. inspect construction supplies

    Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.

    practical skill
  5. align components

    Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.

    practical skill
  6. use sheet metal shears

    Use specialised heavy duty shears to safely cut sheet metal objects.

    practical skill
  7. operate handheld riveting equipment

    Operate 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.

    practical skillresilient to AI
  8. interpret 3D plans

    Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.

    practical skill

Check which of these skills you already have ↑

Knowledge (4)

metal joining technologies
The various technologies used for the joining and assembling of fabricated metal workpieces. More →
types of metal
Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others. More →
metal thermal conductivity
The property of metals to conduct heat. More →
rivet types
The 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. More →

Practical skills (8)

recognise signs of corrosion
Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion. More →
clip sheet metal objects together
Use sheet metal clips to securely clip sheet metal objects together. More →
interpret 2D plans
Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions. More →
tend metal sawing machine
Tend sawing machine designed for metal cutting processes, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. More →
work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials. More →
follow health and safety procedures in construction
Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks. More →
use safety equipment in construction
Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur. More →
follow safety procedures when working at heights
Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. More →
Optional skills (29) — show
cutting technologies
The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc. More →
mechatronics
Multidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the design of products… More →
robotics
The branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. More →
metal smoothing technologies
The various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces. More →
automation technology
Set of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems. More →
operate automated process control
Operate process control or automation system (PAS) used to control a production process automatically. More →
anchor sheet metal
Set sheet metal objects securely into place using a variety of anchors. More →
operate manual planer
Operate a non-automatic or semi-automatic, manual planer for cutting workpiece surfaces, making them levelled. More →
apply brazing techniques
Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of brazing, such as torch brazing, braze welding, dip brazing, and others. More →
transport construction supplies
Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration. More →
work in a construction team
Work as part of a team in a construction project. More →
ensure equipment availability
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures. More →
operate rust proofing spray gun
Operate a semi-automatic or handheld spray gun designed to provide the surface of a workpiece with a permanent, corrosion-protective finishing coat, safely and according to regulations. More →
maintain robotic equipment
Diagnose and detect malfunctions in robotic components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. More →
install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration ducts
Install ducts to deliver and remove air. More →
monitor automated machines
Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. More →
shape sheet metal objects
Use the appropriate tools and measurements to bend, fold and curve sheet metal objects into the correct shape. More →
tend punch press
Tend a punch press, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. More →
maintain mechatronic equipment
Diagnose and detect malfunctions in mechatronics components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. More →
replace defect components
Remove defective parts and replace them with functioning components. More →
operate oxy-fuel cutting torch
Operate a cutting torch fueled by oxyacetylene gas safely to perform cutting processes on a workpiece. More →
remove rust from motor vehicles
Wash the surface of the chrome to remove the dirt by using sponge. More →
keep personal administration
File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively. More →
process incoming construction supplies
Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system. More →
cut metal products
Operate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions. More →
program a CNC controller
Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing. More →
keep records of work progress
Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc. More →
set up temporary construction site infrastructure
Set up a variety of temporary infrastructure used on building sites. More →
operate soldering equipment
Use soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others. More →

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

structural ironworker16 shared essential skillsstructural ironwork supervisor10 shared essential skillsconstruction scaffolder8 shared essential skillswelder8 shared essential skillsbricklayer7 shared essential skillsconstruction painter7 shared essential skillsinsulation worker7 shared essential skillsrail layer7 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a sheet metal worker do?

Sheet metal workers in construction use sheet metal to construct roofs, ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, gutters and other metal structures. They read plans and determine the type and amount of materials to be used, then measure, bend, cut, shape, and attach pieces of sheet metal to create the required structure.

What skills does a sheet metal worker need?

A sheet metal worker needs 20 essential skills, including metal joining technologies, types of metal, metal thermal conductivity, rivet types, work ergonomically.

Will AI replace sheet metal worker jobs?

The AI disruption score for sheet metal worker is 26/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep personal administration, monitor automated machines, keep records of work progress. Most resilient: use safety equipment in construction, operate handheld riveting equipment, shape sheet metal objects.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers
Essential Skills20

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