Sheet Metal Worker

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

AI and automation will increasingly assist sheet metal workers by optimizing design processes, automating repetitive cutting and bending tasks with robotic arms, and enhancing precision through AI-driven quality control systems. This shift will likely require workers to adapt to operating and maintaining advanced machinery, focusing more on complex installations and troubleshooting. The demand for skilled workers in installation and repair will remain, but fabrication roles may see efficiency gains.