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Version:
NOC 2006 Version 1.0

7231 – Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors

Machinists set up and operate a variety of machine tools to cut or grind metal, plastic or other materials to make or modify parts or products with precise dimensions. Machining and tooling inspectors inspect machined parts and tooling in order to maintain quality control standards. They are employed by machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, automotive parts, aircraft and other metal products manufacturing companies and by machine shops.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • Aircraft engine parts machinist
  • Aircraft machinist
  • Apprentice automotive machinist
  • Apprentice machinist
  • Auto parts machine shop inspector
  • Automotive machinist
  • Aviation machinist
  • Bench machinist
  • Charge hand, machine shop
  • CNC (computer numerical control) machinist
  • Computer numerical control (CNC) machinist
  • Computer-assisted machinist
  • Diesel engine machinist
  • Differential gear testing machinist
  • Electrical machinist
  • Firearms machining inspector
  • Firearms model maker machinist
  • Gear inspector-machinist
  • Gear tester-machinist
  • General machinist
  • Inspector, auto parts machine shop
  • Inspector, firearms machining
  • Inspector, machine shop
  • Inspector, machined parts
  • Inspector, machining
  • Inspector, machining and tooling
  • Inspector, propellers - machining
  • Inspector, tool and die
  • Inspector, tool and gauge
  • Inspector, tooling
  • Inspector, toolroom
  • Journeyman/woman machinist
  • Machine shop charge hand
  • Machine shop inspector
  • Machine shop inspector, auto parts
  • Machined parts inspector
  • Machining and tooling inspector
  • Machining inspector
  • Machining inspector, firearms
  • Machinist
  • Machinist - military
  • Machinist apprentice
  • Machinist, aircraft engine parts
  • Machinist, automotive
  • Machinist, ballistic laboratory
  • Machinist, bench
  • Machinist, CNC (computer numerical control)
  • Machinist, diesel engines
  • Machinist, differential gear testing
  • Machinist, experimental
  • Machinist, maintenance
  • Machinist, model maker
  • Machinist, motion picture equipment
  • Machinist, mouldmaking
  • Machinist, moulds and cores
  • Machinist, precision
  • Machinist, toolroom
  • Maintenance machinist
  • Master machinist
  • Mould and core machinist
  • Mouldmaking machinist
  • NC (numerically controlled) machinist
  • Precision machinist
  • Printing press machinist
  • Propeller inspector - machining
  • Prototype machinist
  • Set-up machinist
  • Tool and die inspector
  • Tool and gauge inspector
  • Tooling inspector
  • Toolroom inspector
  • Toolroom machinist
  • Turbine blade machinist
  • Automotive machinist
  • Aviation machinist
  • General machinist
  • Machine shop inspector
  • Machined parts inspector
  • Machining inspector
  • Machinist
  • Machinist apprentice
  • Tooling inspector

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Machinists perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, charts and tables or study sample parts to determine machining operation to be performed, and plan best sequence of operations
    • Compute dimensions and tolerances and measure and lay out work pieces
    • Set up, operate and maintain a variety of machine tools including computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools to perform precision, non-repetitive machining operations such as sawing, turning, milling, boring, planing, drilling, precision grinding and other operations
    • Fit and assemble machined metal parts and subassemblies using hand and power tools
    • Verify dimensions of products for accuracy and conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments
    • May set up and program machine tools for use by machining tool operators.
  • Machining and tooling inspectors perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Verify dimensions of machined parts or tooling using micrometers, verniers, callipers, height gauges, optical comparators, co-ordinate measuring machines (CMM) or other specialized measuring instruments
    • Maintain, repair and calibrate precision measuring instruments such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, height gauges and other measuring devices
    • Report deviations from specifications and tolerances to supervisor
    • Maintain inspection records and complete inspection reports.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in machining is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Trade certification for machinists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
  • Trade certification for automotive machinists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
  • Trade certification for machinists (CNC) is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
  • Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified machinists.
  • Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker or machining tool operator may be required for machining and tooling inspectors.

Additional information

  • Familiarity with exotic and composite materials may be required for machinists in aviation and other advanced manufacturing sectors.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
  • Red Seal trade certification allows for interprovincial mobility.

Exclusions

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
7 – Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations
Skill level
B – Occupations usually require college education or apprenticeship training.
Major group
72 – Trades and Skilled Transport and Equipment Operators
Minor group
723 – Machinists and Related Occupations
Version
NOC 2006 Version 1.0