Millwrights
Official O*NET title: Millwrights (49-9044.00)
Also called: maintenance mechanic, maintenance millwright, millwright, millwright business representative, millwright foreman
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Troubleshoot equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, or other mechanical systems
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing millwrights work
1 of 19 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 5%. 3 newer tasks are not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Troubleshoot equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, or other mechanical systems (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Align machines or equipment, using hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers, lasers, or plumb bobs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Insert shims, adjust tension on nuts and bolts, or position parts, using hand tools and measuring instruments, to set specified clearances between moving and stationary parts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Signal crane operator to lower basic assembly units to bedplate, and align unit to centerline (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct preventative maintenance and repair, and lubricate machines and equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assemble and install equipment, using hand tools and power tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assemble machines, and bolt, weld, rivet, or otherwise fasten them to foundation or other structures, using hand tools and power tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Move machinery and equipment, using hoists, dollies, rollers, and trucks (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Level bedplate and establish centerline, using straightedge, levels, and transit (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Dismantle machines, using hammers, wrenches, crowbars, and other hand tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Bolt parts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Lay out mounting holes, using measuring instruments, and drill holes with power drill (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Attach moving parts and subassemblies to basic assembly unit, using hand tools and power tools (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Weld, repair, and fabricate equipment or machinery (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Shrink-fit bushings, sleeves, rings, liners, gears, and wheels to specified items, using portable gas heating equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Dismantle machinery and equipment for shipment to installation site, performing installation and maintenance work as part of team (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Connect power unit to machines or steam piping to equipment, and test unit to evaluate its mechanical operation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Position steel beams to support bedplates of machines and equipment, using blueprints and schematic drawings to determine work procedures (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Fabricate and dismantle parts, equipment, and machines, using a cutting torch or other cutting equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Construct foundation for machines, using hand tools and building materials such as wood, cement, and steel (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Operate engine lathe to grind, file, and turn machine parts to dimensional specifications (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Install robot and modify its program, using teach pendant — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Troubleshoot equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, or other mechanical systems”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and millwrights
Will AI replace millwrights?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 22 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 19 of the 23 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which millwright tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: troubleshoot equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, or other mechanical systems.
Which millwright tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: align machines or equipment, using hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers, lasers, or plumb bobs; insert shims, adjust tension on nuts and bolts, or position parts, using hand tools and measuring instruments, to set specified clearances between moving and stationary parts; signal crane operator to lower basic assembly units to bedplate, and align unit to centerline. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 17% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a millwright start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Millwrights ranks #557 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #37 of 44 in Trades & Repair. It’s in our top 50 jobs AI is least likely to replace.
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