9442- Weavers, knitters and other fabric making occupations

Canada NOC: 
9442
Job Title: 

Weavers, knitters and other fabric making occupations

Job Description: 

Operators in this unit group operate machines to process yarn or thread into woven, non-woven and knitted products such as cloth, lace, carpets, rope, industrial fabric, hosiery and knitted garments or to quilt and embroider fabric. This unit group also includes workers who perform activities such as reproducing patterns, drawing-in and tying warps and setting up looms. They are employed by textile companies and by garment and mattress manufacturing companies.

Main Duties: 

Operators in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:


Set up looms or other processing machines
Read loom patterns and prepare loom pattern mechanisms for processing
Operate looms to weave yarn or thread into textile fabrics or products
Operate machines that produce twine, ropes or nets
Operate batteries of knitting machines to produce knitted fabric, hosiery, garments or other products
Operate carpet tufting machines, felt making needle-punch machines and other machines to produce textile products
Operate large automatic multi-needle machines to embroider material or to sew lengths of several layers of material to make yard goods, quilts or mattress coverings
Patrol machines and check fabrics or products for defects and to verify efficient operation
Investigate machine stoppages
Repair minor mechanical problems such as broken or defective needles
Notify supervisor or repairers of mechanical malfunctions.

Employment Requirements: 

On-the-job training is provided for periods up to several months, depending on the complexity of the product, whether equipment set-up and maintenance is done by the operator, and the number of machines operated.
Previous experience as a labourer in the same company may be required for some operators in this group.

Additional Inormation: 

Mobility among employers may be limited by differences in machines and products.
Progression to textile machinery mechanics and repairers or to supervisory positions is possible with experience and training.

Classified Elsewhere: 

Craft weavers and knitters (in 5244 Artisans and craftspersons)
Industrial sewing machine operators (9446)
Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing (9217)
Textile machinery mechanics (in 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics)

Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X