A wood machinist can work for many different industries, including house and ship building, product and furniture design, and even the manufacturing of musical instruments.
The machinist will operate one or several machines at once, although specifc training is needed for certain machines. The machines will also need to be altered depending on the job in hand and it is the responsibly of the job holder to ensure that safety measures are in place.
Attributes required for this position include attention to detail, an analytical mind and the ability to problem solve. Due to machines often malfunctioning, the operator will often need to correct the problem themselves, so sound knowledge of the systems is important. Good mathematical and IT skills will also be necessary to calculate measurements before imputing them into the systems.
No formal qualifications are needed for an entry level wood machinist role as most employees offer on the job training. The average salary for this position is between £13,000 and £32,000.