Description
Set up, operate, and monitor slitting machines to cut metal or plastic coils or sheets to specified widths, ensuring quality, safety, and efficient production.
- • Read work orders to determine materials, slit widths, tolerances, packaging, and delivery requirements.
- • Select, clean, and install slitter knives, spacers, rubber sleeves, and separators on arbors.
- • Install, align, and lock knives and tooling to match slit patterns using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools.
- • Load and mount coils on uncoilers using cranes or forklifts and secure with hold-downs or coil cars.
- • Thread coil ends from uncoiler through peeler, pinch rolls, guides, slitter head, and onto recoiler mandrels.
- • Set up edge guides, overarms, separators, and hold-downs to control strip tracking.
- • Set knife clearances, horizontal and vertical gaps, and side shifts to meet material specifications.
- • Set line speed, tensions, and brake/clutch settings for uncoiler, slitter, and recoiler.
- • Start machines, monitor operations, and record coil numbers, footage, scrap, and run parameters.
- • Measure slit widths, thickness, and burr using calipers, micrometers, and gauges to verify conformance.
- • Inspect edges and surfaces for defects such as camber, burrs, scratches, or coil set; segregate nonconforming material.
- • Adjust speeds, tensions, guides, and knife settings to correct quality issues.
- • Position, align, and secure material against stops and guides on the machine bed.
- • Set stops and make adjustments when running multiple or successive passes.
- • Replace dull or damaged knives, rubbers, spacers, bushings, or bearings as needed.
- • Turn valves to start coolant or air to the cut area when required.
- • Lubricate strip or tooling per job requirements.
- • Band, wrap, label, and tag finished slit coils; mark identifying data on workpieces.
- • Weigh and stage finished coils for shipment or the next operation.
- • Clean and lubricate machines; perform basic preventive maintenance.
- • Remove guards, holders, or accessories to replace worn parts and reinstall safely.
- • Maintain accurate production, quality, and downtime records in logs or ERP systems.
- • Plan efficient tooling layouts and sequences based on material properties and slit patterns.
- • Maintain housekeeping; clean work area and dispose of scrap safely.
- • Operate forklifts or coil cars to move materials.
- • Coordinate with quality and scheduling to meet deadlines and specifications.
- • Verify coil identification and certifications against work orders before setup.
- • Monitor scrap choppers or winders and empty as needed.
- • Manage knife inventory, send blades for sharpening, and maintain tooling records.
- • Follow safety procedures, including lockout/tagout and proper use of PPE.
- • Execute quick and accurate changeovers to minimize downtime.
- • Perform start-up and in-process quality checks per control plans.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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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
