Pre-stitching machine operator

Pre-stitching machine operators handle tools and equipment for splitting, skiving, folding, punching, crimping, positionning, and marking the uppers to be stitched and, when needed, apply reinforcement strips in various pieces. They may also glue the pieces together before stitching them. Pre-stitching machine operators perform these tasks according to the instructions of the technical sheet. 

The following job titles also refer to pre-stitching machine operator:

sole edge-inking operator
leather goods pre-stitching machine operator
gluing operator
burnishing machine operator
edge-painting machine operator
skiver
edge inker
burnisher
burnishing machine tender
shoemaking pre-stitching folding machine operator
edge-inking machine operator
shoemaking pre-stitching folding machine tender
skiving machine operator
shoemaking pre-stitching folding operator
edge-painting machine tender
edge-inking machine tender
skiving machine tender
skiving operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a pre-stitching 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.

Pre-stitching machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

footwear stitching machine operator
leather goods stitching machine operator
leather goods hand stitcher
leather goods finishing operator
footwear hand sewer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of pre-stitching 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 pre-stitching machine operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

footwear quality control laboratory technician
leather goods quality control laboratory technician
leather goods quality technician
leather goods manufacturing technician
footwear assembly supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of pre-stitching machine operator.

• Leather goods manufacturing processes: The processes, technology and machinery involved in the leather goods manufacturing.  
• Leather goods components: The various procedures and methods in the processing of leather materials and leather goods components like manufacturability and properties.  
• Pre-stitching processes and techniques for footwear and leather goods: Technology including machinery and techniques for the preparation for leather goods components and footwear uppers.
• Footwear equipments: Functionality of the wide range of equipments and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
• Leather goods quality: The quality specifications of materials, processes, and final products, the most common defects in leather, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, and the adequate equipment for quality checks. 
• Footwear materials: The characteristics, components, advantages and limitations of a wide range of materials used in footwear production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, plastic, rubber etc. 
• Footwear machinery: Tthe functionality of the wide range of machines, and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
• Footwear stitching techniques: The technologies, equipment, machines and processes for closing the upper components of footwear by various seams such as closed, lapped, butted, welted, piped and moccasin.
• Footwear manufacturing technology: Footwear processes technology and machinery involved. The footwear manufacturing starts in the cutting/clicking room , cutting the uppers and bottom components. The upper components are joined together in the closing room by following a precise order of specific operations: skiving, folding, sewing etc. The closed upper, the insole and other bottom components are brought together in the assembling room, where the main operations are lasting and soling. The process ends with finishing operations in the finishing and packing room.
• Footwear quality: Quality specifications of materials, processes and final products, the most common defects in footwear, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, adequate equipment for quality checks. Quality assurance of footwear production processes and fundamental concepts on quality including footwear quality framework and standards.
• Footwear components: Footwear components both for uppers (vamps, quarters, linings, stiffeners, toe puffs etc.) and bottoms (soles, heels, insoles etc.). Ecological concerns and the importance of recycling. Selection of suitable materials and components based on their influence on the footwear style and characteristics, properties and manufacturability. Procedures and methods in chemical and mechanical processing of leather and non-leather materials.
• Leather goods materials: The wide range of materials used in leather goods production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, etc; the way of distinguishing among various materials based on their properties, advantages and limitations.

These skills are necessary for the role of pre-stitching machine operator.

• Apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery: Apply basic rules of maintenance and cleanliness on footwear and leather goods production equipment and machines that you operate.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of pre-stitching machine 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.
• Reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing: Assess the environmental impact of footwear manufacture and minimise environmental risks. Reduce environmentally harmful work practices in different stages of the footwear manufacturing.
• Use communication techniques: Apply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.
• Use IT tools: Application of computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment to storing, retrieving, transmitting and manipulating data, in the context of a business or enterprise.

8156 – Shoemaking and related machine operators

References

1. Pre-stitching machine operator – ESCO