About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends machines that wind or twist textiles; or draws out and combines sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Includes slubber machine and drawing frame operators.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Notifies supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
• Threads yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
• Inspects machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
• Starts machines, monitors operation, and makes adjustments as needed.
• Records production data such as numbers and types of bobbins wound.
• Replaces depleted supply packages with full packages.
• Stops machines when specified amount of products has been produced.
• Tends machines that twist together two or more strands of yarn or insert additional twists into single strands of yarn to increase strength, smoothness, or uniformity of yarn.
• Inspects products to verify that they meet specifications and to determine whether machine adjustment is needed.
• Observes operations to detect defects, malfunctions, or supply shortages.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work