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Sewing Machine Operators - 51-6031.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Line Closer
  • Machine Operator
  • Prototype Sewer
  • Sample Maker
  • Seamer
  • Seamstress
  • Sew On Operator
  • Sewer
  • Sewing Machine Operator
  • Zipper Machine Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000 Production Occupations
51-6000 Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers
51-6030 Sewing Machine Operators
51-6031.00 Sewing Machine Operators

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders.
  • Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications.
  • Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.
  • Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
  • Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.
  • Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design.
  • Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
  • Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
  • Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
  • Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
  • Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
  • Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
  • Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.
  • Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
  • Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking.
  • Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
  • Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing.
  • Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
  • Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.
  • Record quantities of materials processed.
  • Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
  • Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches.
  • Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
  • 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.
  • Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks.
  • Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
  • Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
  • Attach decorative or functional accessories to products.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
  • Cut fabrics.
  • Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
  • Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
  • Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Repair textiles or apparel.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Airborne and Air Delivery Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Apprentice, Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Apprentice, Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Craftsman, Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Craftsman, Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Helper, Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Helper, Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman, Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman, Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Flight Equipment Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Life Support Systems Intermediate Level Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Life Support Systems Organizational Level Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Survival Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Flight Equipment Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Parachute Rigger (Army - Enlisted)
  • Special Operations Parachute Rigger (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Fur Finisher
  • Industrial Sewing Machine Operator

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Appliquer, Zigzag
  • Armhole Baster, Jumpbasting
  • Armhole Feller, Handstitching Machine
  • Armhole-Sew-and-Trim Operator, Lockstitch
  • Back Maker, Lockstitch
  • Basting-Machine Operator
  • Binder
  • Binder, Chainstitch
  • Binder, Coverstitch
  • Binder, Lockstitch
  • Blindstitch-Machine Operator
  • Bouffant-Curtain-Machine Tender
  • Brim Stitcher I
  • Button-Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Buttonhole-and-Button-Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Buttonhole-Machine Operator
  • Canvas Baster, Jumpbasting
  • Carpet Sewer
  • Chainstitch Sewing Machine Operator
  • Coat Joiner, Lockstitch
  • Collar Baster, Jumpbasting
  • Collar Feller, Handstitching Machine
  • Collar Setter, Lockstitch
  • Collar Setter, Overlock
  • Coverstitch-Machine Operator
  • Cup Setter, Lockstitch
  • Drapery Operator
  • Elastic Attacher, Chainstitch
  • Elastic Attacher, Coverstitch
  • Elastic Attacher, Overlock
  • Elastic Attacher, Zigzag
  • Embroidery-Machine Operator
  • Facing Baster, Jumpbasting
  • Fastener-Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Felled-Seam Operator, Chainstitch
  • Flatlock-Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Folder-Seamer, Automatic
  • Front Maker, Lockstitch
  • Front-Edge-Tape Sewer, Lockstitch
  • Fur Finisher
  • Fur-Machine Operator
  • Glove Sewer
  • Hat-and-Cap Sewer
  • Hemmer
  • Hemmer, Automatic
  • Hemmer, Blindstitch
  • Hemmer, Chainstitch
  • Hemmer, Lockstitch
  • Hemmer, Overlock
  • Hemming-and-Tacking-Machine Operator
  • Hemstitching-Machine Operator
  • Jumpbasting-Machine Operator
  • Lapel Padder, Blindstitch
  • Lining Baster, Jumpbasting
  • Lining Feller, Blindstitch
  • Lining Maker, Lockstitch
  • Lining Setter, Lockstitch
  • Lockstitch-Machine Operator
  • Lockstitch-Sewing-Machine Operator, Complete Garment
  • Multineedle-Chainstitch-Machine Operator
  • Necktie Operator, Pockets and Pieces
  • Necktie-Centralizing-Machine Operator I
  • Necktie-Centralizing-Machine Operator II
  • Overedge Sewer
  • Overlock Sewing Machine Operator
  • Overlock-Machine Operator, Complete Garment
  • Pants Outseamer, Chainstitch
  • Picked-Edge Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Piped-Pocket-Machine Operator
  • Pleater
  • Pocket Setter, Lockstitch
  • Profile-Stitching-Machine Operator
  • Quilting-Machine Operator
  • Repair Operator
  • Roll-or-Tape-Edge-Machine Operator
  • Rooter Operator
  • Sack Repairer
  • Seat Joiner, Chainstitch
  • Serging-Machine Operator, Automatic
  • Sewer and Inspector
  • Sewing Machine Operator
  • Sewing Machine Operator I
  • Sewing-Machine Operator
  • Sewing-Machine Operator II
  • Sewing-Machine Operator, Paper Bags
  • Sewing-Machine Operator, Semiautomatic
  • Sewing-Machine Operator, Special Equipment
  • Sewing-Machine Operator, Zipper
  • Shirring-Machine Operator
  • Shirring-Machine Operator, Automatic
  • Shoulder Joiner, Lockstitch
  • Sleeve Maker, Lockstitch
  • Sleeve Setter, Lockstitch
  • Sleeve Setter, Overlock
  • Slip-Cover Sewer
  • Splicing-Machine Operator
  • Stitch-Bonding-Machine Tender
  • Stitcher
  • Stripe Matcher
  • Tacking-Machine Operator
  • Toe-Closing-Machine Tender
  • Topstitcher, Lockstitch
  • Topstitcher, Zigzag
  • Trimming Sewer, Automatic
  • Tucking-Machine Operator
  • Tunnel-Elastic Operator, Chainstitch
  • Tunnel-Elastic Operator, Lockstitch
  • Tunnel-Elastic Operator, Zigzag
  • Ultrasonic-Seaming-Machine Operator
  • Upholstery Sewer
  • Utility Operator
  • Waistband Setter, Lockstitch
  • Waistline Joiner, Lockstitch
  • Waistline Joiner, Overlock
  • Watcher, Automat
  • Watcher, Pantograph
  • Window-Shade-Ring Sewer
  • Zigzag-Machine Operator
  • Zipper Setter
  • Zipper Setter, Chainstitch
  • Zipper Setter, Lockstitch