Job Check
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.
10 main tasks · most important first
Your main tasks and AI
Importance- 01Read and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 02Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.Mostly human for now
- 03Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment.Mostly human for now
- 04Repair and rework templates and patterns.Mostly human for now
- 05Clean and finish patterns or templates, using emery cloths, files, scrapers, and power grinders.Mostly human for now
- 06Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns.Mostly human for now
- 07Mark identification numbers or symbols onto patterns or templates.Mostly human for now
- 08Lay out and draw or scribe patterns onto material, using compasses, protractors, rulers, scribes, or other instruments.AI could speed this up, with extra tools
- 09Design and create templates, patterns, or coreboxes according to work orders, sample parts, or mockups.Mostly human for now
- 10Construct platforms, fixtures, and jigs for holding and placing patterns.Mostly human for now
Tasks from O*NET® 31.0 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0, changed by us), most important first. “Already use” comes from Anthropic’s data on real work chats with Claude; “could speed up” from task ratings made with GPT-4 in 2023.
Four studies, side by side
None is a forecast of job lossToo little dataNot enough work use was seen to measure. This does not mean the job is safe from AI.Anthropic, 2026
15%of this job’s tasks an AI model could do in half the time, counting tasks that need extra tools as half (rated in 2023).Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, 2023
Above 47% of jobsin how often and how well AI helped with this job’s work in Microsoft Copilot chats (2024 data).Microsoft Research (Tomlinson et al.), 2025
Above 74% of jobsin how much of this job’s physical work robots have been shown to do, from factories to homes (2026).Anthropic, 2026
Your human edge
The main tasks with no real AI use seen and no big speed-up expected. This is where your skill counts most today.
- Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.
- Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment.
- Repair and rework templates and patterns.