Yarn spinner

Yarn spinners convert fibres into yarns.

The duties of a yarn spinner include, but are not limited to:

• Spinning yarn from cotton or wool using charkha or spinning wheel
• Looping small length of yarn around spindle of the charkha
• Holding the end of yarn length along with the sliver of cotton or wool in the left hand
• Turning the spinning wheel using the right hand while withdrawing the left hand
• Topping the charkha when the arm length of yarn has been drawn
• Removing the cop of yarn from spindle when it is full
• Spinning the yarn using takli

The following job titles also refer to yarn spinner:

cotton spinner
thread spinner
spinning machine tender
spinning-frame tender
spinning mechanic
yarn spinners
staple yarn spinner
spinning mechanics

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as yarn spinner.

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.

Yarn spinner is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to yarn spinner.

spinning textile technician
man-made fiber spinner
nonwoven staple machine operator
braiding textile technician
braiding machine operator

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

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of yarn spinner.

• Staple spinning machine technology: Technologies, operations, monitoring and maintenance of machines during the yarn spinning 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 are necessary for the role of yarn spinner.

• Control textile process: Planning and monitoring 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.
• Finish processing of man-made fibres: Completing the processing operation of man-made fibres and ensuring that the product is made according to customer specification
• Maintain work standards: Maintaining standards of work in order to improve and acquire new skills and work methods.
• Manufacture staple yarns: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture staple fiber yarns.
• Convert textile fibres into sliver: Convert textile fibres into drafting sliver by working in the fibre opening, carding and drafting process.
• Covert slivers into thread: Convert slivers into yarns or threads by combing processes converting drafting card sliver to combed sliver. Form short fibre to yarn using yarn and thread processing technologies, mostly ring spinning or open-end spinning (rotor spinning) or alternative spinning techniques. Work in the drafting or drawing process converting sliver into roving and converting roving into yarn, through further drafting and twisting processes. Work on winding machines to reel the yarn from bobbins onto spools or cones.
• Tend spinning machines: Operate spinning machines keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Evaluate textile characteristics: Evaluate textiles and their properties in order to manufacture products in conformity with specifications.

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

• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.

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

• Use weft preparation technologies: Prepare bobbins to be used in textile processing.
• Test physical properties of textiles: Evaluate the physical properties of textiles by using testing methods, normally in accordance with a standard. It includes fibre identification and trouble shooting.
• Process man-made fibres: Converting synthetic granule into man-made-fibres such as filament yarns or staple fibre yarns.
• Conduct textile testing operations: Prepare for textile testing and evaluation, gathering the test samples, conducting and recording tests, validating data and presenting results.

8151 – Fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators

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References

1. Yarn spinner – ESCO
2. Hand Spinner (Cotton and Woolen Textile) – TUCareers