Warp Knitting Operator
Warp Knitting Operator
JOB SUMMARY: A Warp Knitting Operator is to be trained to become responsible for monitoring a group of raschel or tricot warp-knitting machines.
To knit quality elastic fabrics for outerwear, undergarments, and for foundation garments.
Patrolling machines and inspecting the cloth for quality related defects.
QUALIFICATIONS: Good vision and to be capable of understanding the required qualifications.
All of which will be trained by experienced EFA instructors.
Physical Requirements:
• Use of fingers, hands, wrists, and arm motions.
• Manual coordination of walking, bending, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, reaching, and lifting.
• Must have normal or corrected hearing and vision.
• Must be able to stand and patrol a set of machines.
Skill Requirements:
• Must have good vision, agility, and eye/hand coordination.
• Must be able to read and write legibly to maintain accurate records.
• Need to be able to use common tolls, such as a hook, scissors, step stools, &/or a stepladder.
• Must have good working comprehension of measurements and labels.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Include but are not limited to the following:
Percentage of Time Spent:
Making rounds of assigned machine sets - 75
Performing light inspections - 10
Fixing end outs and smashes - 10
Doffing - 5
Training Period: Typically, the time needed to become fully qualified, depends upon each candidate and their aptitude and willingness to learn.
Safety Requirements:
• Machine motion: There is a reciprocal motion on the lap or guide bar arm, the guide bars, and the pulleys (all located on the back of the machine).
• There is a linear motion for the light beam that travels the length of the guide bar.
• The beam is to stop when it senses a presence/object in the fabric; however, operators should still use caution.
• Light beam: Never look directly into the light beam. It is a laser light and could cause vision problems.
• Knitters' hooks: Exercise caution when working with or carrying knitter hooks. Knitter hooks should be capped when not in use.
• Tools: Understand our guidelines for the use of provided step ladders and stools.
• Hoist system: Make sure you do not walk under the beam hoist while in motion and allow yourself enough space to walk around beam cradles (tripping hazard).
Quality:
• Fabric: Take the appropriate color marker for your shift and put a mark on the motor end of the machine. Mark the width of the cloth before the stitch rollers.
• Collars and low warps: Check machines for low warps and collars.
• All machines with low warps should be flagged using the defect book provided in the middle of the machine.
• Collars should be noted and corrected at the first opportunity.
• Defects: Associates are responsible for making rounds at least every 7 minutes to control defects to a minimum.
• Light inspections: A thorough light inspection on fabric should be made after each break.
• Yarn: Associates' check the yarn hanging in the machine according to specification sheet handing on the machine.
• Operators also make sure that the damage sheet matches accordingly.
• Machines stop/defect procedure: Associates are responsible for following procedures for recording all stops that occur greater than 5 racks since the last stop.
• End outs and smashes: Associates are responsible for repairing end outs and smashes on their assigned set.
• Cover machines: Rolls and machines that are not in use are warped out should be covered.
Productivity:
• Doffing rolls: Associates are responsible for preparing rolls and doffing in a timely manner.
• Making sure all paperwork is correctly completed.
• Starting a new damage sheet when needed.
• Ensuring the next roll number is used and the machine and style are correct.
• Displaying status: Operators are responsible for making sure machines are placed on "no order", "hold", &/or "style change" at the right time.
• Efficiency: Associates are responsible for maintaining knitter set efficiency on set.
• Set should run at minimum of 78% efficiency.
• Warp Out Cards: Complete accurately the Warp Out Cards. Follow procedures located at Warp Out Rack.
• Shift change: At the end of each shift, the operator shall record the number of racks on each roll at the end of their shift.
Cost:
• Understand the effect your job has on this business and each employee of EFA.
• Waste: Run warps until you start to see the beams.
• Tag warps that are low, but do not let the yarn run off the beam.
• Control the amount of waste created by adhering to knitting stop levels/defect procedures.
• Doffs: Run doffs to standard racks unless otherwise instructed.
• Run rolls to the number of racks stated.
• If warp outs are near doff size, alert the supervisor to see if the roll should be doffed early or run over.
• Schedule: Adhere to work hours and break times.
• Arrive on time, prepared to work, and performing your job at the designated start time.
• Leave and return for breaks in a timely manner.