Knitting machine operator

Knitting machine operators set up, operate and monitor knitting machines. They work with specialised machinery, techniques and materials to process threads of yarn into knitted products such as clothing, carpets or rope. They maintain and repair knitting machinery and ensure operations run without problems.

The following job titles also refer to knitting machine operator:

knitter operator
net-knitting machine operator
knitting machine tender
knitting machinist
machine knitting mender
knitting machine setter
warp knitting machine operator

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a knitting machine operator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Knitting machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to knitting machine operator.

knitting machine supervisor
knitter
tufting operator
weaving machine operator
weaver

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of knitting machine operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of knitting machine operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

textile process controller
textile chemical quality technician
textile operations manager
textile quality technician
textile sourcing merchandiser

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of knitting machine operator.

• Knitting machine technology: Manufacturing technologies which use loop forming techniques to convert yarns into fabrics in order to form knitted fabrics.
• Textile industry machinery products: The offered textile industry machinery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Textile materials: Have a good understanding of the properties of different textile materials.
• Textile industry: Major textile manufacturers on the market of various brands and materials.
• Textile products, textile semi-finished products and raw materials: The offered textile products, textile semi-finished products and raw materials, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Fabric types: Woven, non-woven, knitted fabrics and netting fabrics, technical fabrics such as Gore-Tex and Gannex.
• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.
• Types of textile fibres: The variety of textile fibres both natural such as wool and hemp and man-made or synthetic fibers.
• Textile measurement: Textile measurement units, such as mommes, thread count (the degree of coarseness of a fabric), picks per inch (PPI) and ends per inch (EPI).
• Textile techniques: Have a thorough understanding of textile processing techniques.

These skills are necessary for the role of knitting machine operator.

• Control textile process: Planning and monitoring textile production to achieve control on behalf of quality, productivity and delivery time.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Manufacture knitted textiles: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture knitted products keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Maintain work standards: Maintaining standards of work in order to improve and acquire new skills and work methods.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Tend knitting machine: Operate knitting machines keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Set-up weft knitting machines: Prepare weft knitting machines. Activities related to preparing for weft knitting process, knitting to specification and keeping the work area clean and safe.
• Work in textile manufacturing teams: Work harmoniously with colleagues in teams in the textile and clothing manufacturing industries.
• Cut textiles: Cut textiles fitting to customers’ desires and needs.
• Manufacture weft knitted fabrics: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture weft knitting fabrics.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of knitting machine operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manufacturing of fur products: The process required to produce fur products, from choosing pelts, the techniques depending on the pelt, the chemicals for preservation and treatment, and the handling during the manufacturing process.
• Properties of fabrics: The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed. 

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of knitting machine operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manufacture textile floor coverings: Produce textile floor coverings by tending machines, sewing parts, and applying finishing touches to products such as carpets, rugs, and made up textile floor covering articles.
• Produce textile samples: Make up textile samples or have them fabricated by specialised workers or technicians.
• Modify textile designs: Edit sketches and digital textile designs until they meet up with customers’ requirements.
• Draw sketches to develop textile articles: Draw sketches to develop textiles or wearing apparel by hand. They create visualisations of the motives, patterns or products in order to be manufactured.
• Manufacture fur products: Manufacture fur products by handling pelts. Cut raw materials, apply chemicals as necessary, follow procedures to maintain the quality of the product, and apply finishing touches to products.
• Produce textile designs: Draw sketches for textile design, by hand or on computer, using specialist Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
• Use warp knitting technologies: Use warp knitting machine technologies that enable the formation of fabrics. Able to set machines for warp knitting, colour and pattern for monitoring and controlling the warp knitting process on electronic automatic warp knitting machines equipped with multifunction microprocessor and software.
• Design warp knit fabrics: Developing structural and colour effects in warp knitted fabrics by using the warp knitting technique.
• Manufacture braided products: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture braided products while keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Create patterns for textile products: Create a two-dimensional model used to cut the material for textile products such as tents and bags, or for individual pieces needed for upholstery work.
• Evaluate textile characteristics: Evaluate textiles and their properties in order to manufacture products in conformity with specifications.

8152 – Weaving and knitting machine operators

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References

1. Knitting machine operator – ESCO