Knitted product manufacturing technician

Health & Safety: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Manual Handling, First aid procedures, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Risk Assessment

Equality & Diversity in the workplace

Waste and energy management, environmental and sustainability policies and procedures

Different types of knitting machines used in the production process and their applications: jacquard, circular, computerised flat knitting machines

The set up, programming and adjustment of knitting machines

Routine knitting machine maintenance: cleaning, preventative maintenance, testing

Knitting machine programmes: data input, software, issues and adjustments

Yarn or material types, origin, behaviour and specifications: content, characteristics and storage requirements

Work organisation; the importance and benefits of a clean, clear, well organised work area

Different types of knitting processes: weft knitting, interlock, purl, warp knitting

The principles of the knitting process: stitch formation, knitting structures, stitch density

How knitted components or knitted fabric make up the end product

Work documentation purpose and requirements: technical packs, specifications, technical sheets, Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), dockets/tickets

Problem solving techniques: fault finding and rectifying for knitting machines and knitted product

Production efficiencies, priorities and performance: targets, performance rates, deadlines

Quality standards and systems: specification, tolerances, and quality checks

The principles of continuous improvement methods: lean manufacture, 6-sigma, KAIZEN, 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain)

Production costs of the knitted product: raw materials, labour, overheads

Team working techniques and benefits

Time management techniques: production planning, prioritising and tracking

Commercial awareness: the supply chain, product design, competition and customer expectations

Past and current UK knitting industry: medical, hosiery, geotextiles, fashion, performance wear

Methods of communication: verbal

Read and interpret knitting instructions and specifications

Schedule, plan and prioritise the workload

Identify, report and resolve any discrepancies with work instructions

Select and use yarns or materials, for example colour, type, count

Inspect raw materials, identifying and reporting faults if necessary

Identify and set up knitting machines

Organise and prepare the work area for knitting production

Select software and input data

Conduct safety checks in relation to the work area and knitting machines

Conduct test runs and identify quality issues

Correct product faults

Identify, report and resolve knitting machine issues

Adjust knitting machines

Change knitting machine needles and elements as required

Quality check final products and prepare for the next stage of the process

Identify and segregate reject products

Identify and segregate material for reuse, recycling and disposal

Enter information for example work records, work tickets, work dockets

Conduct first line preventative maintenance, for example stripping and cleaning knitting machines

Apply continuous improvement techniques

Communicate with colleagues for example verbal and written work instructions

Produce a knitted product costing

Follow safe working practices, for example follows manual handling, lifting and safe ergonomic practice

Team player, for example participates with others to accomplish organisational and team goals

Prioritises health, safety and welfare of self and others over other demands

Adaptable for example responds positively to changes in priorities and work deadlines

Takes ownership for work, for example accepts responsibilities, demonstrates initiative, motivated, and self-managing

Strives for continuous improvements in relation to product quality, production processes, and production systems

Committed to continued professional development for example reflects on performance, seeks opportunities to develop and advance in response to the evolving production environment and technologies