| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Production Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 4 years on grinding machines |
Grinder Operator job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Grinder Operator
Department: Production
Reports to: Production Supervisor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Grinder Operator finishes machined parts on surface or cylindrical grinding machines to close tolerance and fine surface finish. They dress the wheel, set the job, take light passes, and check dimensions and finish as they work. The role reports to the Production Supervisor. A good grinder operator holds tight size and surface finish on every part, dresses and changes wheels correctly, and avoids burning or cracking the work.
Key responsibilities
- Set the job on the magnetic chuck or between centres and check that it is clean and true.
- Select and mount the correct grinding wheel, balance it, and dress it for the finish required.
- Set the machine feed, speed and depth of cut for a controlled finishing pass.
- Grind the part to the drawing size, taking light passes to avoid heat and distortion.
- Measure size and surface finish with a micrometer and finish gauge and adjust as needed.
- Watch for wheel loading, chatter or burning, and dress or change the wheel before it spoils parts.
- Segregate any part outside tolerance and inform the supervisor when size drifts out.
- Keep coolant flowing to the wheel and job to control heat and clear grinding dust.
- Do daily machine checks and report faults, and keep the machine and guards clean.
- Record output and rejection on the machine log at the end of the shift.
Requirements
- ITI in Grinder or Machinist trade
- On-the-job grinding training accepted
- Ability to read drawing tolerances
- 1 to 4 years on grinding machines
KRAs and KPIs for a Grinder Operator
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Dimensional quality | Ground parts within tolerance on at least 99 percent of pieces each month |
| Surface finish | Finish held within the specified Ra value on every job |
| Scrap control | Parts scrapped from burning or cracking held below the monthly target |
| Wheel usage | Grinding wheel consumption kept within the standard per batch |
| Output | Daily grinding quantity met on at least 95 percent of shifts |
| Machine care | Daily checks done and faults reported before breakdown each shift |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Surface grinder, Cylindrical grinder, Micrometer and bore gauge, Surface finish tester, Wheel dresser.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Grinder Operator, Tool Room Operator, Production Supervisor
Interview questions for a Grinder Operator
- How do you dress a grinding wheel and why does dressing matter for finish?
- A part shows burn marks after grinding. What causes this and how do you prevent it?
- How do you hold a tolerance of a few microns on a ground diameter?
- What is surface finish measured in and how do you check it?
- How do you set a job true on a magnetic chuck?
- Tell me about a job where you struggled to hold size and how you fixed it.
Managing a Grinder Operator in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your production team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a grinder operator do?
A grinder operator finishes machined parts on surface or cylindrical grinders to close tolerance and fine surface finish. They dress and balance the wheel, set the job, take light passes, and measure size and finish as they work. They avoid burning or cracking the part and change the wheel before it spoils the work.
What is the difference between a grinder operator and a machinist?
A grinder operator specialises in finishing operations that bring a part to close size and fine finish using grinding wheels. A machinist removes more material to shape parts on lathes and milling machines. Grinding is usually a later, finishing step after the machinist has produced the rough form.
What qualifications do you need to be a grinder operator?
Most grinder operators hold an ITI in the grinder or machinist trade, and many learn the finer points on the job. Employers look for the ability to dress and balance wheels, hold tolerances of a few microns, measure surface finish, and control heat with coolant so parts do not burn or crack.