Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning
Little of this can be handed to software today.
This happens in the physical world, so software agents do not touch it. Automation here means robotics and machinery, which is a different market from the one mapped on this site, on a much slower clock.
| How automatable | Barely automatable |
|---|---|
| Kind of work | Physical, manual and inspection work |
| Jobs that do it | 22 occupations |
| Tool categories that apply | None |
| O*NET activity | Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (4.A.3.b.5) |
What this looks like on the job
Not our paraphrase. These are real task statements recorded against this activity, spread across the 22 occupations that perform it.
- Clean, oil, or adjust mechanical parts to maintain machines' operating efficiency and to prevent breakdowns.
- Perform routine maintenance on equipment, including adjusting and lubricating components and painting worn or exposed areas.
- Lubricate moving parts.
- Service and maintain aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and or moving parts.
- Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
- Clean and lubricate parts.
- Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles.
- Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.
- Lubricate door closer oil chambers, and pack spindles with leather washers.
- Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.
- Clean, lubricate, and touch up minor defects on newly installed or repaired appliances.
- Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
- Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures.
- Conduct preventative maintenance and repair, and lubricate machines and equipment.
- Clean and lubricate cameras and polish camera lenses, using cleaning materials and work aids.
- Perform preventive maintenance or service, such as cleaning, lubricating, or adjusting equipment.
- Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
- Oil moving parts of timepieces.
What we would actually use
Nothing in our landscape addresses this work. That is the honest answer rather than a padded list: this activity needs a person present, or a machine rather than a software agent.
Nothing on this site applies. Automation here is robotics and machinery, a different market on a much slower clock, and no software subscription moves it.
Chosen for the cheapest thing that does the job, not the best funded. Nothing on this site is sponsored, and the full landscape is there when you want to disagree with us.
How people actually do it
No workflow names this activity yet, but these automate the same kind of work, with the prompts to paste and what to keep for yourself.
Who does this work
22 occupations in the O*NET database perform this activity. Each one has a full breakdown of its other tasks.
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
- Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Home Appliance Repairers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Mechanical Door Repairers
- Medical Equipment Repairers
- Millwrights
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
- Watch and Clock Repairers
Work that goes with it
O*NET groups these under “Maintain tools or equipment”. In practice they tend to be done by the same person, in the same sitting.
Method. The activity, its taxonomy placement and the occupations that perform it come straight from the public-domain O*NET 30.3 database. The automatability band is ours: we map each of O*NET’s 41 generalized work activities to how much of its output current software can produce, assuming a person still reviews and owns the result. It is a coarse three-way judgment on purpose. A precise-looking percentage here would be invented.