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Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Occupation Detailed Description

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

The main tasks and work activities of Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials are to smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers, remove products or workpieces from production equipment, stack finished items for further processing or shipment, package products for storage or shipment. In general, for the Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials, operation and Control and other -2 skills are required.
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials jobs. 25.62% of Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 14.15% of Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
59.18%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
25.62%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
1.05%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
14.15%

Tasks and Work Activities of Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

  • Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
  • Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
  • Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
  • Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
  • Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons.
  • Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.
  • Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
  • Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.
  • Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.
  • Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.
  • Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables.
  • Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons.
  • Moisten materials to soften and smooth them.
  • Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes.
  • Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.
  • Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications.
  • Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam.
  • Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants.
  • Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning.
  • Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Scheduling Work and ActivitiesScheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Stack finished items for further processing or shipment.
  • Package products for storage or shipment.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
  • Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
  • Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Install mechanical components in production equipment.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Cut fabrics.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Clean fabrics or apparel.

Skills and Abilities for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
  • Shearse.g. Electric fabric cutters
  • Garment brushese.g. Fabric cleaning brushes
  • Shearse.g. Fabric shears
  • Ironing machines or pressese.g. Flat pressers
  • Straight edgese.g. Guides
  • Domestic clothing ironse.g. Hand irons
  • Hand sprayerse.g. Handheld sprayers
  • Ironing boardse.g. Heavy duty ironing boards
  • Hoistse.g. Hoists
  • Ironing machines or pressese.g. Hot-head presses
  • Ironing machines or pressese.g. Hydraulic pressing machines
  • Sewing machinese.g. Industrial sewing machines
  • Rulerse.g. Measuring gauges
  • Tape measurese.g. Measuring tapes
  • Hammerse.g. Multipurpose hammers
  • Clothing hangerse.g. Multipurpose hangers
  • Screwdriverse.g. Multipurpose screwdrivers
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.