Sewing Machine Operators

• 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.
• Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
• Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
• 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.
• Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
• Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
• Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.
• Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
• Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
• Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
• Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
• 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.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sewing Machine Operators.

• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sewing Machine Operators.