Leather finishing operator

Leather finishing operators use machines for finishing leather according to the required specifications by the client for surface characteristics such as colour nuance, quality, pattern and special properties such as waterproofness, antiflame retardance, antifogging of the leather. They arrange the dosage of finishing mixes to apply to the leather and do the routine maintenance of the machinery.

The following job titles also refer to leather finishing operator:

plating machine operator
finisher
spray booth operator
milling drum operator
finishing range operator
finishing machinist
leather finishing coating machine operator
finishing operators
leather embossing machine operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a leather finishing 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.

Leather finishing operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

leather production machine operator
tanner
leather sorter
leather measuring operator
colour sampling operator

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

leather laboratory technician
colour sampling technician
leather goods production supervisor
footwear quality control laboratory technician
passport officer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of leather finishing operator.

• Leather finishing technologies: Equipment, technologies and techniques for coating and laminating finishing of leather according to product specification. Topics include surface preparation, equipment types, preparation of substrata, operation monitoring and applications related to different types of finishing, coatings and final articles.
• Spray finishing technology: Equipment, technologies and techniques for spray finishing of leather according to product specification. Topics include surface preparation, equipment types, preparation of finishing mixtures, operation monitoring and spray applications related to different type of finishing, coatings and final articles.

These skills are necessary for the role of leather finishing operator.

• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Adapt to changing situations: Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people’s needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.
• Stay alert: Stay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.
• Use communication techniques: Apply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.
• Apply colouring recipes correctly: Prepare colour and other chemical mixtures in accordance with the recipes and/or the characteristics of the article to be achieved. Interpret and apply the instructions, including technical and operational details for the execution of processes.
• Prepare colour mixtures: Prepare colour mixtures in accordance with the recipes and/or the characteristics of the article to be achieved.
• Work in textile manufacturing teams: Work harmoniously with colleagues in teams in the textile and clothing manufacturing industries.
• Execute working instructions: Understand, interpret and properly apply work instructions regarding different tasks in the workplace.
• Identify with the company’s goals: Act for the benefit of the company and for the achievement of its targets.

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

• Health and safety in the workplace: The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to safety, health and welfare of people in their workplace. 
• Leather technology: Subject that includes traditional and advanced technologies of tanning processes, including machinery, service plants and other supporting equipment like moving or dosing systems.
• Physico-chemical properties of hides and skins: The quality of hides and skins is defined by organoleptic, microbiological, histological and chemical characteristics (i.e. moisture, structure of the dermis, percentage of fat and collagen). Each type of hide/skin has specific physical and chemical properties that affect the type of tanning operations and the most suitable end use of the leather.
• Test leather chemistry: Set of tests that describe chemical features of leather. They include pH and content of specific substances.
• Functionalities of machinery: The machinery and equipment used and, in particular, the characteristics regarding functioning and calibration to ensure compliance with quality and product specifications, as well as the operator’s safety.
• Leather chemistry: Chemical composition and chemical properties of hide/skin and chemicals used and their modification during the different tanning processes. Reactions between hide/skin or semi-finished leather and chemical products during the different phases of process and the factors affecting the performance of the reactions and of the process. Monitoring of the chemical indicators of processing and the characteristics of skins/hides/leather.
• Characteristics of chemicals used for tanning: Composition and physico-chemical properties of auxiliary chemicals used in the different tanning processes (tanning agents, fat liquors, pigments, dyes, etc.)

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

• Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
• Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Identify defects on raw hides: Analyse, identify and evaluate the possible defects present on raw hides/skins. Defects may be of natural origin, caused by bad practices at the farm, in transport, at the abattoir or generated during the manufacturing process.
• Monitor operations in the leather industry: Collect key system performance of leather production at periodic intervals or at the end of some specific phases of the leather process, in order to detect and record the operation of machines and systems and monitor that the process follows the product and production requirements.
• Differentiate nuance of colours: The talent to analyse, mix and match colours. Be able to pass a colour acuity test.
• Manage quality of leather throughout the production process: Manage systems for the customer-focused organisation of leather production processes. It uses strategy, data, and effective communications to integrate the quality approach into the culture and activities of the company and also to achieve the organisation’s mission and goals.
• Manage environmental impact of operations: Manage the interaction with and impact on the environment by companies. Identify and assess environmental impacts of the production process and related services, and regulate a reduction of the effects on the environment and on people. Organise action plans and monitor any indicators of improvement.

8155 – Fur and leather preparing machine operators

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References

1. Leather finishing operator – ESCO