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51-4062.00 · Learning planner

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: a task-based learning plan

Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

Explore the complete task inventory first →

Understand the profile before choosing priorities

The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 34 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.

SkillImportance / 5Level / 7Rating date
Operation and Control3.253.0008/2026 · Analyst
Operations Monitoring3.123.1208/2026 · Analyst
Quality Control Analysis3.123.1208/2026 · Analyst
Reading Comprehension3.123.0008/2026 · Analyst
Critical Thinking3.123.0008/2026 · Analyst
Monitoring3.003.0008/2026 · Analyst
Active Listening3.002.8808/2026 · Analyst
Speaking3.002.8808/2026 · Analyst
Time Management3.002.7508/2026 · Analyst
Complex Problem Solving2.883.0008/2026 · Analyst

Anchor the plan in an actual task

Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper

Level 4: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled

Which authorized training and documented operating limits would you need to understand first?

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 4: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line

Level 2: Monitor completion times while running a computer program

Which indicator would you observe, what is its expected range, and how would you record an exception?

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 4: Assess new parts for precision and accuracy to specifications

Level 2: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)

What is being checked, what defines a defect, and what evidence would be retained?

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form

Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies

Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late

Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses

What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Proofread and correct a letter

Level 4: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed

What result or exception would you inspect during the task, and when would you revisit it?

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Take a customer's order

Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references

What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions

Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history

How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments

Level 4: Allocate the time of subordinates to projects for the coming week

What needs to happen first, where is the deadline, and what would you do if time runs short?

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for patternmakers, metal and plastic.

Level 2: Lay out tools to complete a job

Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques

How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?

Review the result

Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.