Potters, Manufacturing
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
- Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
- Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- Attach handles to pottery pieces.
- Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
- Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
- Design spaces to display pottery for sale.
- Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
- Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Teach pottery classes.
- Decorate pottery using tools such as brushes.
- Load and unload pottery from kilns.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
89%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
87%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
85%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
83%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
82%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
79%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
79%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
75%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
74%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
72%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
71%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
70%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
69%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
67%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
65%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
56%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
55%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
54%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
52%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
50%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
48%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
47%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
46%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
46%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
40%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
39%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
38%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
38%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
37%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
36%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
36%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
35%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
34%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
32%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
31%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
30%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
29%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
28%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
26%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
24%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
23%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
22%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
20%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
17%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
17%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
15%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
13%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
13%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
6%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
4%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
3%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
2%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
2%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
1%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
1%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
Education
Some college, no degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Bachelor's degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
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