Sewing machinists work in the manufacturing sector. They produce sewn products and may also conduct repairs.
Sewn products include aviation textiles, clothing, leather goods, marine textiles, medical textiles, and soft furnishings.
Companies who employ sewing machinists may be large, small, or micro sized. They may specialise in certain sewn products, or the sewn product may be part of a wider manufacturing process.
Sewing machinists use industrial sewing machines, which may be supported by hand sewing techniques. They use techniques such as lockstitching, blind hemming, cover stitch, cup seaming, ruffling, and linking. They complete quality checks, prepare materials for the next stage in the process and complete work records. Conducting basic sewing machine maintenance is also part of the role. They also contribute to maintaining the work area and improvement work.
A sewing machinist may work alone or as part of a team, on one aspect of the sewn product's production or on various operations. They may also have contact with people from other functions for example, quality, engineers, and warehouse staff. They work under supervision.
They must ensure that their work meets product specifications, quality and speed requirements and supports production plans. They must work to health and safety rules. They must also support sustainability. For example, by minimising waste and recycling.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Prepare for sewing machinist operations. For example, obtain materials and accessories, and prepare equipment and machinery. |
K1 K2 K5 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
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Duty 2 Carry out sewing machinist operations to meet product instructions, quality and speed standards. |
K1 K2 K5 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
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Duty 3 Complete quality assurance activities. For example, check stitching. |
K1 K2 K10 K11 K12 K15 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
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Duty 4 Rectify sewn product output issues. For example, undo stitching and re-sew items. |
K2 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15 K18 K21 K22 K24 K28
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Duty 5 Prepare sewn products for next stage in process for example, organising batches, packing, and dispatch. |
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Duty 6 Contribute to maintaining the workplace environment: health, safety, and environment and sustainable practice. |
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Duty 7 Conduct basic maintenance to ensure equipment and machinery efficiency meets production expectations. |
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Duty 8 Complete work records -digital or paperbased. For example, production and quality check data. |
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Duty 9 Contribute to continuous improvement and problem-solving activities. For example, work as part of an improvement team, identify issues, and put ideas forward. |
K1 K2 K3 K10 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
K1: Sewing machinist role and responsibilities, relationship with different functions, and awareness of impact on costs. Reporting procedures.
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K2: The sewn product manufacturing sector: products, supply chains, customers, and business models.
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K3: Production systems: make through, straight line, modular manufacturing.
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K4: Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), fire safety - hazards and prevention, Health and Safety at Work Act, safety signage, occupational health, slips and trips.
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K5: Industrial sewing machine health and safety requirements for set up and use: ergonomics, finger guards, belt guard, and eye guard.
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K6: Hazards and risks. Safe working practices: personal protective equipment, manual handling, and housekeeping.
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K7: Ethical principles in sewn manufacturing operations: sourcing of materials and working conditions of company and suppliers.
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K8: Sustainability principles.
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K9: Re-use and recycling of materials, and the safe disposal of waste requirements.
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K10: Sewn items manufacturing efficiency rates: standard minute value, non-productive minutes, and down time.
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K11: Workstation layout principles.
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K12: Different types of industrial sewing machines: lockstitch, and overlockers.
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K13: Sewing machine set up requirements: needle, presser foot, spool (bobbin), thread, and settings for stitch length and tension.
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K14: Different types of sewing machine needles and their uses.
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K15: Sewing machine test runs requirements and purpose.
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K16: Basic maintenance requirements for sewing machines.
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K17: The characteristics and behaviours of materials used in sewn product production: woven, non-woven stretch, and leather.
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K18: Common sewn product material faults and flaws: shading, misprint, pulls, and holes.
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K19: Types of threads and their application.
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K20: Types of trimmings and their application.
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K21: Sewn product manufacturing process stages: pattern making, sample making, cutting, sewing, final checks.
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K22: Work techniques and methods used in sewing production: seam types, stitch type, and fabric handling.
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K23: Common sewing faults and issues in sewn product production: needle damage, stitching defects, and cutting errors.
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K24: Quality standards and specifications.
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K25: Manufacturing documentation requirements.
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K26: Basic continuous improvement techniques.
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K27: Information and digital technology used in sewn product manufacturing. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
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K28: Sewn product industry terminology: stitches, seams, design, and fabric types.
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K29: Communication techniques.
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K30: Team working principles.
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K31: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
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S1: Follow work instructions for example, specifications, standard operating procedures, and specific instructions.
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S2: Organise resources for example, equipment, components, and tools.
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S3: Check working environment for hazards.
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S4: Apply safe working practices including guards, seat positioning, safety clothing, and manual handling.
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S5: Apply sustainability principles for example, minimise energy usage and waste.
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S6: Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
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S7: Lay out equipment, components, and resources.
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S8: Inspect cut or pre-sewn components before sewing; identify and resolve issues.
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S9: Select and insert needles.
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S10: Select thread.
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S11: Fill and insert spool and thread a sewing machine.
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S12: Select the sewing machine settings.
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S13: Conduct sewing machine test run for example, pre-production, following threading up, adjustments, or maintenance.
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S14: Make sewing machine adjustments for example, stitch tension.
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S15: Operate, monitor, and control a sewing machine for example, lockstitch, linker, blind hemmer, overlocker, cup seam, and coverstitch machine.
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S16: Control material feed.
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S17: Conduct quality checks.
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S18: Identify needle damage.
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S19: Identify and resolve sewing issues for example, skip stitch, lose stitch, or pucker stitch.
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S20: Follow post-production procedure for example, re-bundle, bag up, and attach work ticket.
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S21: Enter information to track work process for example, work dockets, documentation, or electronic tracking system.
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S22: Select maintenance tools.
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S23: Remove and replace sewing machine parts for example, the presser foot, throat plate, spool, and spool case.
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S24: Clean sewing machine and machine parts.
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S25: Check oil.
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S26: Use information technology and digital systems for example, real time system or computerised sewing machine settings.
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S27: Communicate with others for example, other machinists, senior machinists, production staff, supervisors, and team leaders.
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S28: Report issues for example, product quality and machine faults.
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S29: Apply team working principles.
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S30: Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
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S31: Monitor own performance.
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S32: Complete and record learning and development activities.
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B1: Put health and safety first.
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B2: Consider the impact on the environment.
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B3: Take ownership for quality of given work.
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B4: Commit to achieving targets and deadlines.
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B5: Team-focus to meet work goals including support for inclusivity.
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B6: Seek learning and development opportunities.
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English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
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