Sewing Machine Operators
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
- Tasks
- 26 tasks17 core, 9 supplemental
- Family
- ProductionOne of its 114 occupations
- Code
- 51-6031.00SOC 2018: 51-6031
What the work is made of
17 core tasks and 9 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.Core taskTask 12149Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 2. Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.Core taskTask 12151Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 3. Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.Core taskTask 12150Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 4. Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.Core taskTask 12153Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 5. Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.Core taskTask 12166Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 6. Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.Core taskTask 12152Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 7. Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.Core taskTask 12160Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 8. Cut excess material or thread from finished products.Core taskTask 12159Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 9. Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.Core taskTask 12157Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 10. Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.Core taskTask 12162Rated by 108 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 11. Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles.Core taskTask 12154Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 12. Record quantities of materials processed.Core taskTask 12155Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 13. Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.Core taskTask 12163Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 14. Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications.Core taskTask 12169Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 15. Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches.Core taskTask 12164Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 16. Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.Core taskTask 12161Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 17. Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.Core taskTask 12158Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 18. Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.Supplemental taskTask 12165Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 19. Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.Supplemental taskTask 12156Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 20. Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders.Supplemental taskTask 12171Rated by 105 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 21. Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.Supplemental taskTask 12168Rated by 102 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 22. Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design.Supplemental taskTask 12174Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 23. Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks.Supplemental taskTask 12173Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 24. Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.Supplemental taskTask 12172Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 25. Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing.Supplemental taskTask 12167Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017
- Task 26. Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking.Supplemental taskTask 12170Rated by 105 people who do the job, July 2017
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 51-6031
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
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