Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

CNC press brakes and punch presses with AI-assisted nesting and parameter optimization can automate much of the setup and programming work for metal cutting and forming operations. Physical material handling, tooling changeovers on specialized equipment, and managing quality in high-mix low-volume environments still require skilled operators. Through 2027 automation will reduce headcount for purely repetitive stamping operations; operators who program and set up CNC equipment are more resilient than those who only tend automated machines.