Sewing Machinist

Knowledge: A Sewing Machinist will have knowledge and understanding of:

The company they work for including:

• The companies’ product range and business model
• The companies’ overall manufacturing and production methods
• How the job role fits into the manufacturing process and structure of the company
• Workplace procedures and policies i.e. employer and employee legal obligations, employees’ rights and responsibilities, ethical trading standards, equality and diversity

Materials used in production including:

• The characteristics and behaviours of materials, threads and trimmings used in production i.e. woven, non-woven stretch, finish
• The significance of the materials to the product style i.e. waterproof, durable, drape
• Faults and flaws common to the materials used within production of sewn products i.e. shading, misprint, pulls, holes
• Awareness of material and resource costs

Specialist sewing machines including:

• Different types of industrial sewing machines used to produce sewn products i.e. Lockstitch, overlockers, overstitch, linkers and blind hemming machines

• Industrial sewing machine settings i.e. stitch length, threading, tension, pedal control

• Different types of industrial sewing machine needles and their uses
• Industrial sewing machine maintenance procedures
• The importance of machine test runs and the consequence of not carrying out test runs
• Health & safety procedures in relation to setting up and using industrial sewing machines

The production process including:

• Each stage of the manufacturing process required to make the finished product i.e. pattern making, sample making, cutting, sewing, final checks
• Work techniques and methods used in sewing production i.e. seam types, stitch type, fabric handling and finish
• Common product faults, their causes and remedy i.e. material defects, stitching defects, cutting errors
• The agreed reporting process and the consequence of unreported faults on production
• Stitching industry terminology i.e. stitch, seam and finish types
• Awareness of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement i.e. efficiency rates, organised workstation layouts, fast techniques

Quality & quantity requirements including:

• Different quality standards for sewn items including specifications, tolerances, seam allowance and finish
• The efficiency rates that apply when manufacturing sewn items i.e. standard minute value, non-productive minutes, down time, targets and deadlines

Supply chain & customer base including:

• Key clients and their expectations i.e. specific requirements, quality standards
• The supply chain – where raw materials come from and where the finished product goes.

Policies and procedures:

• Employment policies i.e. employer and employee legal obligations, employees’ rights and responsibilities, equality and diversity

• Health, safety, welfare, compliance and environmental policies and procedures.
• Safe working practices and workplace risks and hazards i.e. needle guards, belt guard, personal protective equipment.

• The companies’ communication protocol across all levels and departments involved in the manufacturing process
• How to accurately completes the companies work records and tracking process i.e. dockets, documentation or electronic systems.

Skills: Sewing Machinist will be able to:

Prepare workstation:

• Prepare an efficient workstation and organise workload to ensure a quick, smooth workflow
• Ensure the machine and working environment is safe to use
• Ensure the machine is in full working order and thread, components and tools are to hand
• Carry out test runs before production work to ensure quality of stitch
• Inspect cut components before sewing and report deviations.
• Adhere to any documentation accompanying the work to be done i.e. specifications, specific instruction.

Carry out stitching operations:

• Operate and control relevant specialist industrial sewing machines i.e. lockstitch, linker, blind hemmer, overlocker, cup seam, coverstitch machine
• Sew components, following the correct sequence of work i.e. Standard Operating Procedure
• Handle and sew materials in accordance with its characteristics and behaviour
• Apply a high level of hand/eye co-ordination when carrying out the sewing process
• Work to specifications i.e. seam allowance, tolerances, hem depths
• Work to quality standards i.e. neat finish, straight sewing, straight hems, stitch tension
• Meet production deadlines and targets
• Identify and report poor quality work i.e. uneven seams, bad stitching
• Consistently produce items of quality standard at the required rate of efficiency
• Complete the appropriate work tracking process i.e. work dockets, documentation or electronic tracking system.
• Pass work on to the next production operation, following company procedures to ensure continuous production.

Maintain machine and work station:

• Layout of workstation to ensure an efficient method and productive workflow 
• Monitor machine speed, feed and material flow and report problems
• Make machine adjustments as required for different products and materials
• Clean machine to prevent contamination i.e. oil, dirt on product, broken needles
• Recognise needle damage, select appropriate new needle and replace damaged needle
• Carry out routine machine maintenance i.e. stitch tension, spool replacement, lubrication
• Carry out test sews following maintenance and adjustments to prevent contamination and ensure stitch quality
• Identify and report machine problems that require a machine mechanic i.e. motor replacement, broken parts, machine electrical failure

Instructions/ specifications:

• Read, interpret and work to instructions i.e. specifications, standard operating procedure
• Interpret and follow work policies and procedures within a sewing production environment

Communication

• Develop and maintain effective communications with colleagues and sewing production staff to ensure a productive work environment i.e. supervisors, team leaders, fellow machinists, senior machinists
• Work as part of a sewing production team or individually demonstrating flexibility and adaptability
• Accurately complete work records and tracking process i.e. dockets, documentation or electronic systems.

Behaviour: A Sewing Machinist will:

• Strive for effective working relationships conducive to meeting sewing production targets with a co-operative attitude and approach

• Be efficient when working individually and as part of a sewing production team, with ambition to achieve in all aspects of work

• Take ownership of work, recognising the value of the role within the organisation and the value of the role others perform

• Commit to achieving and maintaining sewing production quality standards and efficiently rates

• Demonstrate a responsive, flexible approach to changing working environments and sewing production demands

• Demonstrate a positive work ethic and can-do attitude showing initiative and self motivation

• Be punctual and reliable, with an understanding of the consequences of absence from work and late arrival and the effect this may have on colleagues and sewing production

• Have a safety first attitude in sewing production and the wider work environment