Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.

Key in processing instructions to program electronic equipment. Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions. Perform machine maintenance, such as cleaning and oiling equipment; and repair or replace worn or defective parts. Record production information such as fabric yardage processed, temperature readings, fabric tensions, and machine speeds. Sew ends of cloth together, by hand or using machines, to form endless lengths of cloth to facilitate processing. Weigh ingredients to be mixed together for use in textile processing. Add dyes, water, detergents, or chemicals to tanks to dilute or strengthen solutions, according to established formulas and solution test results. Adjust equipment controls to maintain specified heat, tension, and speed. Creel machines with bobbins or twine. Examine and feel products to identify defects and variations from coloring and other processing standards. Monitor factors such as temperatures and dye flow rates to ensure that they are within specified ranges. Mount rolls of cloth on machines, using hoists, or place textile goods in machines or pieces of equipment. Observe display screens, control panels, equipment, and cloth entering or exiting processes to determine if equipment is operating correctly. Prepare dyeing machines for production runs, and conduct test runs of machines to ensure their proper operation. Ravel seams that connect cloth ends when processing is completed. Remove dyed articles from tanks and machines for drying and further processing. Soak specified textile products for designated times. Start and control machines and equipment to wash, bleach, dye, or otherwise process and finish fabric, yarn, thread, and/or other textile goods. Study guides, charts, and specification sheets, and confer with supervisors to determine machine setup requirements. Test solutions used to process textile goods to detect variations from standards. Thread ends of cloth or twine through specified sections of equipment prior to processing. Confer with coworkers to get information about order details, processing plans, or problems that occur. Inspect machinery to determine necessary adjustments and repairs. Install, level, and align components such as gears, chains, dies, cutters, and needles.

Production and Processing -- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. Chemistry -- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. Mechanical -- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Operation and Control -- Controlling operations of equipment or systems. Operation Monitoring -- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. Mathematics -- Using mathematics to solve problems .

Control Precision -- The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. Wrist-Finger Speed -- The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists. Visual Color Discrimination -- The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness. Problem Sensitivity -- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Manual Dexterity -- The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Arm-Hand Steadiness -- The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. Information Ordering -- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). Rate Control -- The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Controlling Machines and Processes -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). Handling and Moving Objects -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.