Beijing Paradise BBS Backup/PARADISE.ISO/software/BBSDOORW/JOB4.ZIP/OOHB0255.HBK

Text File | 1995-10-24 | 13.6 KB | 270 lines

268
Woodworking Occupations

(A list of D.O.T.  codes is available on request.  See page 468.)

Nature of the Work

Wood is one of the oldest, most basic building materials.  Even in
our age of sophisticated composites and alloys, the demand for wood
products continues unabated.  Helping to meet this demand are
production woodworkers and precision woodworkers.  Production
woodworkers can be found in primary industries, such as sawmills and
plywood mills, as well as in secondary industries that manufacture
furniture, kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, and other
fabricated wood products.  Precision woodworkers, on the other hand,
usually work in small shops that make architectural woodwork,
furniture, and many other specialty items.

   Woodworkers are employed at some stage of the process through which
logs of wood are transformed into finished products.  Some of these
workers produce the structural elements of buildings; others mill
hardwood and softwood lumber; still others assemble finished wood
products.  They operate machines that cut, shape, assemble, and
finish raw wood to make the doors, windows, cabinets, trusses,
plywood, flooring, paneling, molding, and trim that are components
of most homes.  Others may fashion home accessories such as beds,
sofas, tables, dressers, and chairs.  In addition to these household
goods, they also make sporting goods items, including baseball bats,
racquets, and oars, as well as musical instruments, toys, caskets,
tool handles, and thousands of other wooden items.

   Production workers usually set up, operate, and tend woodworking
machines such as power saws, planers, sanders, lathes, jointers, and
routers to cut and shape components from lumber, plywood, and other
wood panel products.  Working from blueprints, instructions from
supervisors, or shop drawings that they produce, woodworkers
determine the method of shaping and sequence of assembling parts.
Before cutting, they must often measure and mark the materials to be
cut.  They verify dimensions to adhere to specifications and may
trim parts to insure a tight fit, using handtools such as planes,
chisels, wood files, or sandpaper.

   Production woodworkers generally operate a specific woodworking
machine; however, some wood machine operators are responsible for a
variety of machines.  Lower skilled operators may merely press a
switch on a woodworking machine and monitor or tend the automatic
operation, while more highly skilled operators set up their
equipment, cut and shape wooden parts, and verify dimensions using a
template, caliper, or rule.  In sawmills, machine operators cut logs
into planks, timbers, or boards.  In veneer mills, they cut veneer
sheets from logs for making plywood.  While in furniture plants,
they make furniture components such as table legs, drawers, rails,
and spindles.

   Many companies have installed computer-controlled machinery, which
lends itself to precision, accuracy, and less waste.  With
computerized numerical controls, an operator can program a machine
to perform a sequence of operations automatically, resulting in
greater precision and reliability.  The integration of computers
with equipment has improved production speeds and capabilities,
simplified setup and maintenance requirements, and increased the
demand for workers with strong mathematical skills.

   Whether computer-controlled or manual equipment was used to machine
the parts, the next step in the manufacturing process is the
production of subassemblies using fasteners and adhesives.  These
pieces are then brought together to form a complete unit.  The
product is then finish sanded, stained, sealed, and if necessary,
coated with a sealer such as lacquer or varnish.  Woodworkers may
perform this work in teams or be assisted by a helper.

   Precision or custom woodworkers, such as cabinetmakers, wood pattern
and model makers, wood machinists, and furniture and wood finishers,
work on a customized basis, often building one-of-a-kind items.  For
this reason, they normally need substantial training and an ability
to work from detailed instructions and specifications.  They often
are required to exercise independent judgment when undertaking an
assignment.  Precision woodworkers generally perform a complete
cycle of cutting, shaping, surface preparation, and assembling
prepared parts of complex wood components into a finished wood
product.

   Woodworking employment is highly sensitive to the condition of the
overall economy.

Working Conditions

Working conditions vary from industry to industry, and job to job.
In primary industries, such as logging and sawmilling, working
conditions are physically demanding due to the handling of heavy,
bulky material.  Workers in this area may also encounter excessive
noise and dust and other air quality pollutants.  However, these
factors can be controlled by using earplugs and respirators.  Rigid
adherence to safety precautions minimizes risk of injury from
contact with rough woodstock, and from the use of sharp tools and
power equipment.  The risk of injury is also lowered by the
installation of computer-controlled equipment that reduces the
physical labor and the hands-on contact with the machine.

   In secondary industries, such as furniture and kitchen cabinet
manufacturing, working conditions also depend on the industry and
the particular job.  Those employees who operate machinery must wear
ear and eye protection, and must always follow safety regulations
concerning machine operation and the use of safety shields or
guards.  Those who work in the finishing area must either be
provided with an appropriate dust or vapor mask, a complete
protective safety suit, or they must be in a finishing environment
that removes all vapors and particle matter from the atmosphere.
Prolonged standing, lifting, and fitting heavy objects are also
common characteristics of the job.

Employment

Workers in woodworking occupations held about 341,000 jobs in 1992.
One of every 7, mostly cabinetmakers and furniture and wood
finishers, was self-employed.  Employment was distributed as
follows:

Woodworkers, precision......................................220,000
Woodworking machine setters and operators...................121,000
Head sawyers................................................ 59,000
Woodworking machine operators............................... 62,000


   Eight of every 10 salaried woodworkers worked in manufacturing
industries.  One in 4 was employed in establishments fabricating
household and office furniture; 1 of every 5 was in establishments
making millwork, plywood, and structural wood members, used
primarily in construction; and 1 in 8 worked in sawmills and planing
mills manufacturing a variety of raw, intermediate, and finished
woodstock.  Woodworkers also were employed by wholesale and retail
lumber dealers, furniture stores, reupholstery and furniture repair
shops, and construction firms.

   Woodworking jobs are found throughout the country.  However,
production jobs are concentrated in the South and Northwest, close
to the supply of wood, while furniture makers are more prevalent in
the East.  Custom shops can be found everywhere, but are generally
concentrated in or near highly populated areas.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Most woodworkers are trained on the job, picking up skills
informally from experienced workers.  Some acquire skills through
vocational education or by working as carpenters on construction
jobs.  Others may attend colleges or universities that offer
training in many areas including wood technology, furniture
manufacturing, wood engineering, and production management.  These
programs prepare students for positions in production, supervision,
engineering, or management.

   Beginners usually observe and help experienced machine operators.
They may supply material or remove fabricated products from the
machine.  Trainees do simple machine operating jobs and are at first
closely supervised by experienced workers.  As they gain experience,
they perform more complex jobs with less supervision.  Some may
learn to read blueprints, set up machines, and plan the sequence of
their work.  Most woodworkers learn the basic machine operations or
job tasks in a few months, but becoming a skilled woodworker often
requires 2 years or more.

   In the past, a high school education was seldom required.  However,
persons seeking woodworking jobs can enhance their employment and
advancement prospects by completing high school.  Training in
mathematics, science, and computer applications will be beneficial
in the future as woodworking technology becomes more sophisticated,
and as more companies install computerized equipment.  Employers
often look for individuals with mechanical ability, manual
dexterity, and the ability to pay attention to detail.

   Advancement opportunities are often limited and depend upon
availability, seniority, and a worker's skills and initiative.
Experienced woodworkers may become inspectors or supervisors
responsible for the work of a group of woodworkers.  Production
workers can advance into these positions by assuming additional
responsibilities and by attending workshops, seminars, or college
programs.  Those who are highly skilled may set up their own
woodworking shops.

Job Outlook

Employment in the woodworking occupations is expected to grow more
slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2005.
As the Nation's population, personal income, and business
expenditures grow, the demand for wood products will increase.  In
addition, the continuing need for repair and renovation of
residential and commercial properties is expected to stimulate
demand.  Opportunities for woodworkers who specialize in such items
as moldings, cabinets, stairs, and windows, should therefore be
particularly good.

   Several factors may limit the growth of woodworking occupations in
coming years.  Environmental measures designed to control various
pollutants used in or generated by woodworking processes are likely
to have a significant impact on employment, especially in secondary
industries.  Primary industries will be more affected by a shortage
of timber as the harvesting of old growth forests on Federal lands
becomes more restricted.  Technological advances like computerized
numerical control machinery and computer-aided design packages will
prevent employment from rising as fast as the demand for wood
products, particularly in the mills and manufacturing plants where
many of the processes can be automated.  In addition, some jobs will
be lost in the United States as imports continue to grow and as U.S.
firms move production to other countries.  Finally, materials such
as metal, plastic, and fiberglass will continue to be used as
alternatives to wood in many products, primarily because they are
cheaper, stronger, or easier to shape.

   As a result of these trends, employment opportunities in the primary
wood industries may be more limited than those in the secondary
industries.  Also, as firms automate production, the demand for well
educated workers will increase.  Employment in all of the
woodworking occupations is highly sensitive to economic cycles, so
the growth in these occupations will be primarily affected by the
overall state of the economy.  Although this growth will be modest,
thousands of openings will arise each year because of the need to
replace experienced workers who transfer to other occupations or
leave the labor force.

Earnings

Median weekly earnings for salaried full-time precision woodworkers
were about $385 in 1992.  The middle 50 percent earned between $294
and $443.  The lowest 10 percent earned less than $244, while the
highest 10 percent earned over $630.  Median weekly earnings for
full-time woodworking machine operators were around $306 in 1992.
The middle 50 percent earned between $237 and $392.  The lowest 10
percent earned less than $185, while the highest 10 percent earned
over $495.  Earnings vary by industry, geographic region, skill,
educational level, and by the complexity of the machinery operated.
Woodworkers usually receive a basic benefit package including
medical and dental benefits and a pension plan.

   Some woodworkers who are engaged in processing primary wood and
building materials, such as those in logging or sawmills, are
members of the International Woodworkers of America.  Others may
belong to the United Furniture Workers of America or the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

Related Occupations

Many woodworkers follow blueprints and drawings and use machines to
shape and form raw wood into a final product.  Workers who perform
similar functions working with other materials include precision
metalworkers, metalworking and plastics-working machine operators,
metal fabricators, molders and shapers, and leather workers.

Sources of Additional Information

   For information about woodworking occupations, contact local
furniture manufacturers, sawmills and planing mills, cabinetmaking
or millwork firms, lumber dealers, a local of one of the unions
mentioned above, or the nearest office of the State employment
service.

   For general information about furniture woodworking occupations,
contact:

   American Furniture Manufacturers Association, Manufacturing Services
Division, P.O.  Box HP-7, High Point, NC 27261.

   Furniture Center, North Carolina State University, Furniture
Extension, Campus Box 7906, Raleigh, NC 27695-7906.


Miscellaneous Production Occupations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
!