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Print Binding and Finishing Workers Occupation Detailed Description

Print Binding and Finishing Workers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Print Binding and Finishing Workers

The main tasks and work activities of Print Binding and Finishing Workers are to apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products, operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together, cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing, sew clothing or other articles. In general, for the Print Binding and Finishing Workers, operation Monitoring, critical Thinking, judgment and Decision Making, monitoring and other 5 skills are required.
Print Binding and Finishing Workers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Print Binding and Finishing Workers jobs. 87.93% of Print Binding and Finishing Workers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 3.79% of Print Binding and Finishing Workers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
4.35%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
87.93%
Post-Secondary Certificate
3.79%
Some College Courses
1.16%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
2.78%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
-0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Print Binding and Finishing Workers

  • Apply color to edges of signatures using brushes, pads, or atomizers.
  • Bind new books, using hand tools such as bone folders, knives, hammers, or brass binding tools.
  • Compress sewed or glued signatures, using hand presses or smashing machines.
  • Cut binder boards to specified dimensions, using board shears, hand cutters, or cutting machines.
  • Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine.
  • Design original or special bindings for limited editions or other custom binding projects.
  • Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order.
  • Imprint or emboss lettering, designs, or numbers on book covers, using gold, silver, or colored foil, and stamping machines.
  • Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment.
  • Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.
  • Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans.
  • Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.
  • Perform highly skilled hand finishing binding operations, such as grooving or lettering.
  • Punch holes in and fasten paper sheets, signatures, or other material, using hand or machine punches and staplers.
  • Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up.
  • Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools.
  • Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.
  • Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed.
  • Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming.
  • Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • 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.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • 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.
  • Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
  • Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Sew clothing or other articles.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
  • Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
  • Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Print Binding and Finishing Workers

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem SensitivityThe 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.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • 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.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • 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.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information OrderingThe 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).
  • 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.
  • End cut plierse.g. Band nippers
  • Output stackerse.g. Bindery stackers
  • Printing guillotinese.g. Board shears
  • Rulerse.g. Book binding rulers
  • Book stitching machinese.g. Book stitching equipment
  • Printing awlse.g. Bookbinding awls
  • Applicator brushese.g. Bookbinding glue brushes
  • Jig blocke.g. Bookbinding jigs
  • Roller conveyorse.g. Bookbinding machine conveyors
  • Utility knivese.g. Bookbinding utility knives
  • Book folding machinese.g. Buckle folders
  • Printing assemblerse.g. Case makers
  • Book stitching machinese.g. Coil binding machines
  • Flat nose plierse.g. Coil crimping pliers
  • Printing cutterse.g. Corner rounders
  • Conveyor feederse.g. Cover feeders
  • Book cutting machinese.g. Die cutting equipment
  • Digital duplicatorse.g. Digital duplicating machines
  • Forkliftse.g. Forklifts
  • Paint rollerse.g. Glue rollers
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • 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.