Knitting and Weaving Machine Operators

Key Responsibilities

• Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
• Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
• Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
• Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
• Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
• Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
• Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
• Set up, or set up and operate textile machines that perform textile processing and manufacturing operations such as winding, twisting, knitting, weaving, bonding, or stretching.
• Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
• Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
• Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
• Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
• Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
• Program electronic equipment.
• Adjust machine heating mechanisms, tensions, and speeds to produce specified products.
• Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
• Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
• Record information about work completed and machine settings.
• Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.