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Industrial Sewing Machine Operators operate single or multiple needle sewing machines or ultrasonic seaming machines to join, reinforce, or decorate products, such as garments, upholstery, canvas goods, or textiles.  

JOB DUTIES  

Industrial Sewing Machine Operators may:  

Select sewing supplies, such as thread, tape, or binding  

Attach needle, thread, and bobbin to machine  

Adjust machine to insert workpiece  

Guide materials under needle  

Start, stop, and control the speed of the machine with a pedal or knee lever  

Detect defective stitching and machine malfunction  

Cut excess material  

Tools, equipment, and materials used may include:  

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Industrial Sewing Machine Operators may specialize in these areas:  

787.682-046 SEWING MACHINE OPERATORS operate single or multiple needle sewing machines to join, reinforce, or decorate products such as garments, upholstery, canvas goods, or textiles.  

787.682-066 JOINERS operate machines that join, reinforce, or decorate parts of such articles as curtains and bed linens.  

787.682-010 BINDERS operate machines equipped with folding attachments to sew binding material over edges or seams of articles to prevent raveling and to give a finished appearance.  

787.682-078 SHIRRING MACHINE OPERATORS run machines equipped with an attachment to shorten material or decorate edges with puckers or gathers for use in such articles as hats, curtains, and casket linings.  

787.682-038 ROLL-OR-TAPE-EDGE-MACHINE OPERATORS run machines that stitch rolled edges of filled and tufted mattresses to reinforce their boxlike shape or to stitch padding and fabric covering around innersprings.  

786.682-258 ULTRASONIC-SEAMING-MACHINE OPERATORS run machines that hem, attach garment parts, or join layers by fusing thermoplastic materials in simulated stitch patterns.  

780.682-018 UPHOLSTERY SEWERS operate sewing machines that join cut fabric in order to make upholstery covering for aircraft, automobile, boat, household, and railroad car furnishings.  

786.682-034 CHAINSTITCH BINDERS operate chainstitch sewing machines equipped with a folder, to fold and attach a binding material over the edge of the garment to give it a finished appearance.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts: 

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WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

Industrial Sewing Machine Operators usually work under supervision. Each Operator works at a separate machine but near fellow workers.  

The work is done indoors where the heating, lighting, and ventilation is usually adequate. Industrial Sewing Machine Operators usually work seated at their machines. They may feel pressured by production requirements, especially if they are paid on a piecework basis. There is some noise from the machines. Hazards, such as injuring fingers with needles and scissors, can be greatly reduced by following safety rules.  

The steadiness of employment of Industrial Sewing Machine Operators may be affected by whether or not they make products that are seasonal in sales.  

Sewing Machine Operators may work a 40-hour week depending on the industry in which they are employed. Nationally, they usually work from 32 to 40 hours per week. Production workers in the apparel industry generally work fewer hours per week than those in manufacturing. Sewing is usually done during the day, but large factories such as auto plants may also do such work on afternoon or evening shifts. Overtime may be available.  

Many Sewing Machine Operators are members of unions, such as The Union of Needletrades, Industrial Textile Employees (UNITE). Union members must pay dues.  

You Should Prefer:  

• Activities dealing with things and objects  

• Activities of a routine, definite, organized nature  

• Activities which are nonsocial and  

• Activities which involve machines, processes, or methods  

You Should Be Able To:  

• Coordinate eyes, hands, and feet rapidly and accurately  

• Use hands and fingers skillfully and quickly  

• Notice details of shape and size of materials  

• Picture how flat material will look when formed into 3-D shapes  

• Follow instructions accurately  

• Work according to specific procedures  

• Achieve set standards of work quality  

• Do the same kind of work over and over again, day after day  

• Work under pressure at times  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:  

If you are hemming a 36" skirt and it needs to be 34 1/4", how much material will you cut off?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:  

Labels on various types of material such as batiks, chintz, damask, lightweight denim, pique, sateen, and crepe.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:  

Prepare a written report for the maintenance department indicating a machine malfunction.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:  

Analytical skills and be detail oriented in preparing clothing and operating sewing machines. 

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES  

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent may qualify a person for this occupation.  

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***  

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1400 FASHION , 2200 MATH , 3300 TECHNOLOGY  

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM***  

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***  

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this MOIScript  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program    

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***  

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***  

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript  

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY  

Opportunities to explore industrial sewing machine operations may be available through part-time or summer jobs if you are at least 18 years of age or 17 and a high school graduate.  

                School-to-Work opportunities include:  

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Industrial Sewing Machine Operator employer  

internships  

volunteer work with an Industrial Sewing Machine Operator employer  

community service work with an agency  

Industrial Sewing Machine Operators usually enter the occupation through direct application to employers. Assistance may be available from unions, newspaper want ads, high school placement offices, or local office of Michigan Works!. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Michigan Talent Bank    

Michigan Works!    

America's Job Bank    

Classifieds Employment    

Yahoo! Careers    

                 You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

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Earnings are affected by geographic area, union membership, skill level, and type of industry. Wages paid on a piecework basis are usually higher than hourly wages. Some work on an hourly base rate plus piecework incentive.  

Nationally, the weekly earnings of Sewing Machine Operators in the textile industry ranged from minimum wage $210 to $750 in 2000. Their median weekly wage was $303. Workers who sew men's and boy's suits and coats have the highest earnings.  

In the furniture manufacturing industry in Michigan, Sewing Machine Operators earned an average wage of $13.97 an hour in 2000. Within the auto industry, experienced, unionized Operators earned between $15.98 and $22.23 an hour in mid 2001. Auto workers also receive cost-of-living allowance.  

Benefits of non-union Industrial Sewing Machine Operators depend on their employer. Unionized Operators may receive such benefits as health, life, accident, and disability insurance and pension plans. In some cases, employers and employees may jointly contribute to a union fund to cover certain benefits, such as vacation and holiday pay.  

Auto companies also offer dental and vision benefits.  

Most Industrial Sewing Machine Operators begin as trainees and receive on-the-job training lasting a few weeks. The career ladder may be: trainee, Industrial Sewing Machine Operator, supervisor. Operators may advance to become sample makers or instructors. Factors affecting advancement include experience, training, and ability.  

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

Nationally, about 485,200 Industrial Sewing Machine Operators were employed in 1998. Employment in this occupation is expected to decline through the year 2008. About 3.3% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Industrial Sewing Machine Operators looked like this:  

A growing population and higher incomes should create demand for sewn products, but heavy competition from lower-priced foreign goods may negate any large increase in employment opportunities. Likewise, greater productivity attained through the introduction of labor-saving machinery will reduce the demand for these workers. Some openings are expected each year to replace operators who retire, die, or transfer to other lines of work.  

There are approximately 6,975 Industrial Sewing Machine Operators employed in Michigan. Most of the Industrial Sewing Machine Operators were employed in the manufacturing industry.    

Employment of Industrial Sewing Machine Operators is expected to decline through the year 2006. An average of 110 annual openings is expected, with all due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers transfer to other jobs or occupations.  

In Michigan, the outsourcing in the auto industry has contributed to the reduction of employment opportunities for Industrial Sewing Machine Operators. While the demand for home furnishings, apparel, and other fabricated textile products is expected to increase in the years ahead, much of the production will be done overseas. Further, the number of Industrial Sewing Machine Operators may fluctuate during periods of economic downturns.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005   

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from sources below:  

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MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development