Profession sewing machine operator

Sewing machine operators tend specific sewing machines in the industrial production chain of wearing apparel. They perform operations such as joining, assembling, reinforcing, repairing, and altering of wearing apparel.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Manufacturing of wearing apparel

  The  processes used to fabricate wearing apparel and the different technologies and machinery involved in the manufacturing processes.

• Apparel manufacturing technology

  Traditional and advanced apparel manufacturing technologies. Technologies including processes, machinery, etc. in order to compile and design pattern requirements, contribute to product costing and finalise assembly sequence and quality assurance criteria.

• Buttonholing

  The methods of buttonholing using specialised buttonholing machines in order to make buttonholes to wearing apparel.

• Properties of fabrics

  The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed. 

• Manufacturing of made-up textile articles

  Manufacturing processes in wearing apparel and made-up textiles. Different technologies and machinery involved in the manufacturing processes.

Skills

• Sew textile-based articles

  Sew different products based on textiles and wearing apparel articles. Combine good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and physical and mental stamina.

• Operate garment manufacturing machines

  Operate and monitor machines which make miscellaneous wearing apparel articles. Operate and monitor machines that fold cloth into measured length, and measure size of pieces.

• Distinguish accessories

  Distinguish accessories in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate accessories based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.

• Embroider fabrics

  Embroider fabrics of different proveniences or finished articles by using embroidery machines or by hand.

• Coordinate manufacturing production activities

  Coordinate manufacturing activities based on production strategies, policies and plans. Study details of the planning such as expected quality of the products, quantities, cost, and labour required to foresee any action needed. Adjust processes and resources to minimise costs.

• Distinguish fabrics

  Distinguish fabrics in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate fabrics based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.

• Alter wearing apparel

  Alter wearing apparel repairing or adjusting it to the clients/manufacturing specifications. Perform altering by hand or using equipment.

• Sew pieces of fabric

  Operate basic or specialised sewing machines whether domestic or industrial ones, sewing pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather in order to manufacture or repair wearing apparels, making sure the threads are selected according to specifications.

• Manufacture wearing apparel products

  Manufacture either mass-product or bespoke wearing apparels of various types, assembling and joining together wearing apparel components using processes such as sewing, gluing, bonding. Assemble wearing apparel components using stitches, seams such as collars, sleeves, top fronts, top backs, pockets.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB