Apprenticeship training course

Sewing machinist (level 2)

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Information about Sewing machinist (level 2)

Making sewn products to meet specifications and quality criteria.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Sewing machinist role and responsibilities, relationship with different functions, and awareness of impact on costs. Reporting procedures.
  • The sewn product manufacturing sector: products, supply chains, customers, and business models.
  • Production systems: make through, straight line, modular manufacturing.
  • Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), fire safety - hazards and prevention, Health and Safety at Work Act, safety signage, occupational health, slips and trips.
  • Industrial sewing machine health and safety requirements for set up and use: ergonomics, finger guards, belt guard, and eye guard.
  • Hazards and risks. Safe working practices: personal protective equipment, manual handling, and housekeeping.
  • Ethical principles in sewn manufacturing operations: sourcing of materials and working conditions of company and suppliers.
  • Sustainability principles.
  • Re-use and recycling of materials, and the safe disposal of waste requirements.
  • Sewn items manufacturing efficiency rates: standard minute value, non-productive minutes, and down time.
  • Workstation layout principles.
  • Different types of industrial sewing machines: lockstitch, and overlockers.
  • Sewing machine set up requirements: needle, presser foot, spool (bobbin), thread, and settings for stitch length and tension.
  • Different types of sewing machine needles and their uses.
  • Sewing machine test runs requirements and purpose.
  • Basic maintenance requirements for sewing machines.
  • The characteristics and behaviours of materials used in sewn product production: woven, non-woven stretch, and leather.
  • Common sewn product material faults and flaws: shading, misprint, pulls, and holes.
  • Types of threads and their application.
  • Types of trimmings and their application.
  • Sewn product manufacturing process stages: pattern making, sample making, cutting, sewing, final checks.
  • Work techniques and methods used in sewing production: seam types, stitch type, and fabric handling.
  • Common sewing faults and issues in sewn product production: needle damage, stitching defects, and cutting errors.
  • Quality standards and specifications.
  • Manufacturing documentation requirements.
  • Basic continuous improvement techniques.
  • Information and digital technology used in sewn product manufacturing. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Sewn product industry terminology: stitches, seams, design, and fabric types.
  • Communication techniques.
  • Team working principles.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

  Skills

  • 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.

  Behaviours

  • Put health and safety first.
  • Consider the impact on the environment.
  • Take ownership for quality of given work.
  • Commit to achieving targets and deadlines.
  • Team-focus to meet work goals including support for inclusivity.
  • Seek learning and development opportunities.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Engineering and manufacturing
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 12 months
• Maximum funding: £4,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Industrial sewing machinist
  • Production sewing machinist
  • Sewing machine operator
  • Sewing machinist

View more information about Sewing machinist (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.