About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Removes defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
• Inspects products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
• Observes woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
• Threads yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
• Examines looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
• Notifies supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
• Sets up, or sets up and operates textile machines that perform textile processing and manufacturing operations such as winding, twisting, knitting, weaving, bonding, or stretching.
• Inspects machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
• Starts machines, monitors operations, and makes adjustments as needed.
• Records information about work completed and machine settings.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most 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
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work