Printing Press Operator
Other Titles
Flexographic Press Operator, Offset Pressman, Press Leader, Press Operator, Pressman, Printer, Printing Press Operator, Printing Pressman
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Printing Press Operators operate a wide range of printing machines and perform various related activities. In doing so, they are responsible for the technical aspects of the printing process. In this role, they operate printing machines on a daily basis. Their job is to ensure that the printing machine has the right type and category of paper as well as the right ink colors before it begins a printing operation. A part of their job is to adjust other settings such as printing speed and drying temperature. They are also responsible for the maintenance of printing equipment.
Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.
Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains.
Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.
Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.
Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools.
Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
Maintain time or production records.
Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.
Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.
Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated.
Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
Direct or monitor work of press crews.
Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments.
Monitor inventory levels on a regular basis, ordering or requesting additional supplies, as necessary.
Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines.
Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control→ Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Equipment Maintenance→ Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
Evaluate quality of materials or products.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Operate photographic developing or print production equipment.
Install mechanical components in production equipment.
Load materials into production equipment.
Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Clean production equipment.
Program equipment to perform production tasks.
Lubricate production equipment.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
Record operational or production data.
Download data.
Direct operational or production activities.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Operate cutting equipment.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Calendar and scheduling software -- Job scheduling software
Database user interface and query software -- Printing management system software; Management Information Systems (MIS software)
Desktop publishing software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign; Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker; QuarkXPress; Microsoft Publisher; Scribus; Corel Ventura; MadCap Flare; MadCap Software MadCap Flare
Document management software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat; Xerox FreeFlow Print Server; Adobe Systems Adobe LifeCycle Production Print ES
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software -- Print ERP software; Print management system; Print MIS workflow software
Financial analysis software -- SWOT Analysis software; Xerox ProfitQuick
Graphics or photo imaging software -- Image editing software; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite; Graphics software
Industrial control software -- Engraving software; Printing management system software
Inventory management software -- Inventory tracking software
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace; Apache OpenOffice.org
Project management software -- Job tracking software; Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets
Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs
Adjustable wrenches→ Adjustable crescent wrenches
Air dryers→ Air knives; Infrared dryers
Ball peen hammer→ Ball peen hammers
Belt conveyors→ Material conveyors; Materials conveyors
Claw hammer→ Claw hammers
Conductivity meters→ Conductivity indicators
Dating or numbering machines→ Numbering machines
Densitometers→ Printing densitometers
Desktop computers
Digital cameras
Document camera→ Process cameras
Ear muffs
Ear plugs
Flexographic printer→ Flexo presses; Flexographic presses
Grease guns→ Grease dispensing guns
Hand trucks or accessories→ Hand trucks
Height gauges→ Packing gauges
Hex keys→ Allen wrenches
High capacity removable media drives→ Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Hoists→ Chain hoists
Industrial shrink wrap equipment→ Shrink wrap machines
Laminators→ Laminating machines
Laser printers→ Large format printers
Letter folders→ Paper folders
Letterpress equipment→ Digital letterpresses; Letter presses
Levels→ Torpedo levels
Lifts→ Electric lifts
Locking pliers→ Vise grip pliers
Magnifiers→ Handheld magnifiers
Micrometers→ Printing micrometers
Notebook computers→ Laptop computers
Offset printing plate processors→ Offset printing plate processing equipment
Offset printing presses→ Offset presses; Offset printing equipment; Platen presses; Roll-fed offset presses; Sheet-fed presses; Web presses (se
Pad printer→ Pad printing machines
Pallet trucks→ Pallet jacks
Paper cutting machines or accessories→ Paper cutting machines
Paper drilling machines→ Paper drills
Paper jogging machines→ Back joggers; Paper joggers
Perforating machines→ Perforators
Personal computers→ Workstation platforms
pH meters→ pH indicators; pH testers
Photocopiers→ Digital copiers; Photocopying equipment
Photogravure printing machines→ Gravure presses
Platemakers→ External drum imagesetters; Flat-bed imagesetters; Internal drum imagesetters; Photopolymer platemaking equipment; Platemaking equipment; Printing platemakers; Thermal platemaking equipment
Printing assemblers→ Folding equipment; Stitching equipment
Printing collators or decollators→ Collating equipment
Printing cutters→ Cutting equipment
Printing guillotines→ Power paper cutters
Printing presses→ Digital printing presses; Multicolor presses; Sheetfed presses
Punches or nail sets or drifts→ Drift punches
Putty knives
Ratchets→ Ratchet sets
Rulers→ Line gauge rulers
Safety glasses
Scanners→ Color separation scanners; Drum scanners
Screwdrivers→ Phillips head screwdrivers; Slotted screwdrivers
Silk screen printing machines→ Screen printing presses
Silk screen vacuum printing frames→ Silk screen vacuum printer frames
Spectrophotometers→ Printing spectrophotometers
Stackers→ Printing stackers
Stapler units→ Stapling machines
Tape measures→ Measuring tapes
Thermal book binding machines→ Thermal book binders
Wrapping machinery→ Strapping machines
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.