Seadistaja

Seadistaja is an Estonian occupational title referring to a person whose primary duty is to set up and calibrate machinery or systems for production, testing, or quality control. In industry, seadistaja can be described as a machine setter, calibrator, or setup technician. The term is commonly used in manufacturing, printing, textiles, metalworking, woodworking, and electronics assembly.

Typical duties include interpreting work orders, selecting tools and fixtures, configuring machine parameters (such as speed, feed, temperature, or pressure), changing tooling and offsets, aligning components, and performing trial runs. A seadistaja measures outputs against specifications, makes adjustments to achieve required tolerances, conducts calibration checks, and documents settings for repeatability. The role often involves coordinating with machine operators and quality control, maintaining tooling inventories, and contributing to efficient changeovers and process improvements.

Skills and training commonly required or preferred include technical education (vocational school or apprenticeship), mechanical aptitude, and the ability to read technical drawings and manuals. Knowledge of CNC or manual machine operation, metrology tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges), and basic programming or diagnostic software is advantageous. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and adherence to safety and quality standards are essential. Experience with lean manufacturing concepts such as reducing setup times (changeover) is often valued.

In summary, a seadistaja ensures that equipment is correctly configured and calibrated to produce consistent, quality products. The term is closely related to equivalents such as machine setter or setup operator in other languages and reflects a critical function in production readiness and process stability.