Textile quality technician

Textile quality technicians perform physical laboratory tests on textile materials and products. They compare textile materials and products to standards and interpret results.

Some of the duties of a textile quality technician include:

• Performing physical laboratory tests on textile materials and products
• Comparing textile materials and products to standards and specifications
• Ensuring that textile materials and products meet quality requirements
• Providing guidance and instruction to clients on improving their textile quality control processes
• Developing design plans for clients
• Instructing clients on proper technique
• Motivating clients to push themselves harder
• Providing constant support and constructive feedback
• Having advanced knowledge of textile quality control principles and techniques
• Using a variety of testing and analysis techniques
• Measuring client success
• Making adjustments in methods to overcome obstacles
• Motivating clients to achieve their quality control goals.

The following job titles also refer to textile quality technician:

textile texting technician
textile quality laboratory analyst
textile laboratory technician
physical testing laboratory technician

Textile quality technicians typically work in manufacturing facilities or quality control laboratories within the textile industry. The work environment may involve exposure to noise, dust, and chemicals used in testing processes. They may need to wear personal protective equipment to ensure their safety. The role requires attention to detail and the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Regular interaction with production staff, engineers, and quality assurance personnel is common.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for a textile quality technician role. Some employers may prefer candidates with post-secondary education or vocational training in textile technology, quality control, or a related field. Knowledge of textile manufacturing processes, quality control principles, and testing methodologies is essential. Experience in textile manufacturing or quality assurance roles is advantageous. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in using testing equipment and software are necessary. Effective communication skills and the ability to interpret and analyze technical data are also important for success in this role.

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.

Textile quality technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to textile quality technician.

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

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

textile quality manager
textile chemist
textile technologist
textile, leather and footwear researcher
textile product developer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of textile quality technician.

• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.
• Braiding technology: Development, manufacturing requirements, properties and evaluation of braided fabrics.
• 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.
• Textile printing technology: Addition of colour partially, according to the designed pattern, onto textile based materials. Processes for adding coloured patterns onto textile materials using printing machines and techniques (rotary of flat bed screen printing or others, heat transfer, inkjet, etc.).

These skills are necessary for the role of textile quality technician.

• Distinguish accessories: Distinguish accessories in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate accessories based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
• Control textile process: Plan and monitor textile production to achieve control on behalf of quality, productivity and delivery time.
• Measure yarn count: Be able to measure yarn length and mass to assess fineness of roving, sliver and yarn in different measuring systems.Also able to convert into the various numbering system such as tex, Nm, Ne, denier, etc.
• Maintain work standards: Maintaining standards of work in order to improve and acquire new skills and work methods.
• Use textile finishing machine technologies: Use textile finishing machine technologies that enable the coating or laminating of fabrics.
• Test physical properties of textiles: Evaluating the physical properties of textiles by using testing methods, normally in accordance with a standard; it includes fibre identification and trouble shooting.
• Distinguish fabrics: Distinguish fabrics in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate fabrics based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
• Conduct textile testing operations: Prepare for textile testing and evaluation, gathering the test samples, conducting and recording tests, validating data and presenting results.
• Evaluate textile characteristics: Evaluate textiles and their properties in order to manufacture products in conformity with specifications.
• Check quality of products in textile production line: Check characteristics of textile products like yarns, woven, knitted, braided, tufted or nonwoven textiles, finished cloths, ready-make-garments and determine the product quality along different stages of the textiles or clothing production line.

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

• Knitting machine technology: Manufacturing technologies which use loop forming techniques to convert yarns into fabrics in order to form knitted fabrics.
• Dyeing technology: Processes involved in textile dyeing using different dyeing technologies. Also, addition of colours to textile materials using dye stuffs.
• Nonwoven machine technology: Manufacturing of nonwoven fabrics according to specification. Development, manufacture, properties and evaluation of nonwoven fabrics.
• Research and development in textiles: Development of new concepts through the use of scientific and other methods of applied research.
• Staple spinning machine technology: Technologies, operations, monitoring and maintenance of machines during the yarn spinning process.
• Textile finishing technology: Processes used for changing the properties of textile materials. This includes operating, monitoring and maintaining textile finishing machines.

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

• Manufacture nonwoven staple products: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture nonwoven staple products, keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Manufacture staple yarns: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture staple fiber yarns.
• Manufacture non-woven filament products: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture nonwoven filament products, keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Manufacture texturised filament yarns: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture texturised filament yarns.

3119 – Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified

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References

1. Textile quality technician – ESCO
2. Featured image: By A.Savin – Own work, FAL