Apprenticeship training course

Sewing machinist (level 2)

Making sewn products to meet specifications and quality criteria.

• Qualification level: 2 ; Equivalent to GCSE.
• Typical duration: 15 months
• Apprenticeship category: Engineering and manufacturing
• Maximum funding: £8,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Industrial sewing machinist
  • Production sewing machinist
  • Sewing machine operator
  • Sewing machinist
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Follow work instructions for example, specifications, standard operating procedures, and specific instructions.
  • Organise resources for example, equipment, components, and tools.
  • Check working environment for hazards.
  • Apply safe working practices including guards, seat positioning, safety clothing, and manual handling.
  • Apply sustainability principles for example, minimise energy usage and waste.
  • Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
  • Lay out equipment, components, and resources.
  • Inspect cut or pre-sewn components before sewing; identify and resolve issues.
  • Select and insert needles.
  • Select thread.
  • Fill and insert spool and thread a sewing machine.
  • Select the sewing machine settings.
  • Conduct sewing machine test run for example, pre-production, following threading up, adjustments, or maintenance.
  • Make sewing machine adjustments for example, stitch tension.
  • Operate, monitor, and control a sewing machine for example, lockstitch, linker, blind hemmer, overlocker, cup seam, and coverstitch machine.
  • Control material feed.
  • Conduct quality checks.
  • Identify needle damage.
  • Identify and resolve sewing issues for example, skip stitch, lose stitch, or pucker stitch.
  • Follow post-production procedure for example, re-bundle, bag up, and attach work ticket.
  • Enter information to track work process for example, work dockets, documentation, or electronic tracking system.
  • Select maintenance tools.
  • Remove and replace sewing machine parts for example, the presser foot, throat plate, spool, and spool case.
  • Clean sewing machine and machine parts.
  • Check oil.
  • Use information technology and digital systems for example, real time system or computerised sewing machine settings.
  • Communicate with others for example, other machinists, senior machinists, production staff, supervisors, and team leaders.
  • Report issues for example, product quality and machine faults.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Monitor own performance.
  • Complete and record learning and development activities.

Full information on Sewing machinist (level 2) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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