6 Key Attributes Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, And Weighers Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Sophia Miller

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. They may also use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

The core tasks that inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are likely to carry out include:

Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
Analyze and interpret blueprints, data, manuals, and other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment and certification methods, formulas, and measuring instruments required.
Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
Notify supervisors and other personnel of production problems, and assist in identifying and correcting these problems.
Discuss inspection results with those responsible for products, and recommend necessary corrective actions.
Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. 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.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 95.29%

Having a strong preference for realistic work environments. 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.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 90.43%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83.4%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83.4%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81.6%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.8%