Sewing Machine Operators
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
- Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.
- Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
- Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
- Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
- Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
- Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
- Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
- Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
- Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
- Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
- Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
- Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles.
- Record quantities of materials processed.
- Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders.
- Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.
- Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches.
- Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications.
- Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.
- Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
- Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design.
- Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks.
- Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.
- Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.
- Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing.
- Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
92%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
86%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
86%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
75%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
69%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
64%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
64%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
63%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
62%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
61%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
57%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
57%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
57%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
51%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
50%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
49%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
47%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
45%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
43%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
42%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
42%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
41%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
40%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
40%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
37%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
33%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
28%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
26%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
22%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
22%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
21%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
21%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
20%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
19%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
19%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
19%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
16%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
16%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
16%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
14%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
13%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
12%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
12%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
12%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
11%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
9%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
9%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
5%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
3%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
2%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
1%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
0%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
0%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
0%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
0%
Education
Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
Associate's degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
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