Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

• Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters, or computer numerically controlled cutting devices.
• Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
• Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
• Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
• Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
• Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, and/or speeds to produce specified products.
• Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine whether machines require adjustment.
• Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
• Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
• Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
• Record information about work completed and machine settings.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

• Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
• Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets; or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
• Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
• Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
• Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, and/or needles to set up machinery for operation.
• Program electronic equipment.
• Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.