Description
Use hand tools and hand-held power tools to trim, finish, and clean edges on manufactured items such as molded plastics, textiles, glass, stone, or rubber, removing excess material to meet quality specifications.
- • Inspect items and mark or discard pieces with defects such as spots, chips, scratches, or bad finishes.
- • Trim flash, excess material, or loose threads to produce smooth, clean edges.
- • Cut, shape, and finish edges using knives, scissors, snips, files, and portable power tools.
- • Sort materials or products by size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
- • Mark identification numbers, grades, sizes, or lot data on products.
- • Read work orders or specifications to determine trim dimensions, locations, and quantities.
- • Count, weigh, and bundle trimmed items.
- • Mark trim lines or follow templates and layout points using rules, squares, straightedges, and chalk or pencils.
- • Unroll, lay out, attach, or secure materials or parts on benches, fixtures, or cutting tables.
- • Stack trimmed items and load them on racks, conveyors, or trucks.
- • Fold or form materials before or after trimming.
- • Deburr, sand, buff, or polish finished edges and surfaces using hand tools and cleaning solutions.
- • Position templates or measure materials to locate trim points and maximize yield.
- • Create cutouts or reliefs using portable routers, grinders, or hand tools.
- • Replace or sharpen dull blades, knives, and bits.
- • Operate bench-mounted trimmers, cutting wheels, or saws to achieve specified sizes.
- • Set and adjust guides, stops, and guards to control depth and width of trims.
- • Move items to work or storage areas using carts.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Available on paid plans only
Interview time
Related Pathways
Advanced Manufacturing
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
