Apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques

Apply quality control in footwear and leather goods. Analyse the material, component or model using relevant quality criteria. Compare the material and other components received from the suppliers, or the final product, to standards. Use visual observation and report findings. Control the quantity of leather in the warehouse. Submit components to laboratory control test when necessary. Define the corrective measures when called for.

apply footwear quality control techniques
apply quality control techniques for footwear and leather goods
perform footwear quality control
perform footwear and leather goods quality control
perform leather goods quality control
apply leather goods quality control techniques

skill/competence

sector-specific

Apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Footwear quality manager: Footwear quality managers implement, manage and promote the quality systems in the company, using adequate tools and methodologies based on national, international or company standards. They are in charge of establishing requirements and objectives, as well as preparing documents. They analyse complaints, and promote and coordinate corrective and preventive measures. They promote an effective internal and external communication and ensure the consumer’s demands are met. They are responsible for the definition of instruments which monitor and control of the quality systems, namely internal or external auditing, and they participate in the internal auditing.
Leather goods production supervisor: Leather goods production supervisors monitor and coordinate day-to-day production activities of a leather goods manufacturing plant. They oversee quality control as well as manage the leather goods production staff. The work also involves organising the work flow as well as taking care of production plan and costs.
Leather goods quality manager: Leather goods quality managers manage and promote the systems of quality assurance implemented in the organisations. They carry out the tasks in order to achieve predefined requirements and objectives, fostering the internal and external communication, while aiming for the continuous improvement and the customer satisfaction.
Footwear quality controller: Footwear quality controllers perform visual analysis of the aspects of footwear, raw material and components applying criteria previously defined and decide on rejections or acceptances. They analyse collected data, prepare reports and deliver them to quality management. They apply previously defined quality management tools aiming at the better achievement of the objectives stated in the quality policy. They participate in monitoring and control of the quality system and in the implementation of corrective and preventive measures.
Leather goods quality controller: Leather goods quality controllers perform activities of analysis of visual aspects of the leather goods regarding appearance, robustness, absence of wrinkles, straightness of seams and overall aspects such as cleanliness, colour uniformity, compared to the specifications. They also perform expedite tests.
Leather goods quality control laboratory technician: Leather goods quality control laboratory technicians perform laboratory control tests according to the national and international standards. During laboratory control tests they prepare samples, address test procedures, analysis and interpretation of the results and comparison with guidelines and standards and prepare reports. They make the linkage with outsourced laboratories for the tests which cannot be performed inside the company. They propose corrective and preventive measures.
Leather goods quality technician: Leather goods quality technicians perform tasks related to the quality system, by controlling quality, executing laboratory tests (finished products, used materials and components) according to the national and international standards. They analyse and interpret the result of the laboratory tests, prepare reports, advise on corrective and preventive measures, contributing for the accomplishment of requirements and objectives in the with the aim of continuous improving and the customer satisfaction.
Footwear quality technician: Footwear quality technicians manage all the standards and techniques related to processes and products. They perform tasks using quality systems based on national and international standards. They analyse and interpret the results, prepare reports, advise on corrective measures, contribute to the achievement of requirements and objectives for the benefit of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
Footwear production supervisor: Footwear production supervisors monitor and coordinate day-to-day production activities of a footwear manufacturing plant. They oversee quality control to ensure that the end product is in alignment with production specifications, and manage the footwear staff. The work also involves negotiations with suppliers as well as taking care of the production plan and production costs.
Footwear quality control laboratory technician: Footwear quality control laboratory technicians perform all laboratory tests of footwear and materials or components according to the national and international standards. They analyse and interpret their results, and prepare the report for the quality manager, advising on rejections or acceptances. They apply previously defined quality management tools aiming for achievement of the objectives stated in the quality policy. They participate in monitoring and control of the quality system, namely internal and external auditing. They collaborate in the preparation of documents related to quality and in the linkage with outsourced laboratories for the tests which cannot be performed inside the company.

Apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Cutting machine operator: Cutting machine operators check leather, textiles, synthetic materials, dyes and footwear. They select areas of materials to be cut in terms of quality and stretch direction, take the decision of where and how to cut and programme and execute specific technology or machine. The equipment used for large surfaces of materials is frequently an automatic knife. Cutting machine operators position and handle leather or other materials. They adjust cutting machines, match footwear components and pieces, and check cut pieces against specifications and quality requirements.

 
Footwear production machine operator: Footwear production machine operators tend specific machines in the industrial production of footwear. They operate machinery for lasting, cutting, closing, and finishing footwear products. They also perform routine maintenance of the machinery.
Leather goods manual operator: Leather goods manual operators handle tools to prepare the joint of the pieces in order to ready the pieces to be stitched or to close the already existing pieces stitched together in order to give shape to the leather good products.
Leather goods machine operator: Leather goods machine operators tend specific machines in the industrial production of leather goods products. They operate machinery for cutting, closing, and finishing luggage, handbags, saddlery and harness products. They also perform routine maintenance of the machinery.
Canvas goods assembler: Canvas goods assemblers construct products made from a closely woven fabrics and leather such as tents, bags or wallets. Artists also use it as painting surface.
Footwear finishing and packing operator: Footwear finishing and packing operators apply several techniques for assuring an appropriate final appearance of the packed pairs of footwear that are going to be sold. They perform according to the information received from their supervisor about the shoes that are going to be finished, about the means and materials to be used and the sequence of operations.

References

1. Apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques – ESCO