Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Today’s drill and boring machines are already partly computer-controlled (CNC), and companies are adding AI tools to improve them. For example, experts describe “smart drilling” rigs that use sensors (force, vibration, sound, even thermal cameras) and AI models to watch the tool as it drills, spotting wear or chatter and predicting hole quality in real time ^{[1] [1]}. In some cases you can even retrofit old drills with AI monitors that warn the operator when the bit is getting dull ^{[1] [1]}.

Robots and automated carts are also taking over heavy tasks: in one new factory, autonomous robots roam the floor carrying large metal parts instead of human-porters or forklifts ^[2]. At the same time, many tasks still need a person’s touch. Robots today “only have eyes” and lack the fine touch or judgment humans have, so workers are usually needed to make delicate alignments, do final measuring, and lay out reference lines ^{[2] [3]}.

Factories may adopt more AI and robots because of labor and cost pressures. Industry leaders note that manufacturing faces a serious worker shortage, so companies are turning to automation to fill gaps ^{[2] [3]}. Robots can save money over time – one study found that using robots to move parts and inspect work brought “huge savings” vs. manual labor ^[2].

But automation is expensive up front, so firms often wait for prices to drop or for tax incentives to help cover robot costs ^{[2] [2]}. Unions generally agree that automation is okay if it makes work safer and easier ^[2]. In practice, AI today is being used more to help workers than replace them.

Companies say workers will need training to use AI tools, and many skilled jobs won’t be fully automated “for a very long time” ^{[2] [3]}.