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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 8156

Automated cutting machine operator

Automated cutting machine operators send files from the computer to the cutting machine, place the material to be cut and digitize and select the fault in the materials surface in order to perform the nesting of the parts, unless the machine makes it automatically. They give the order to the machine to cut, collect the cut pieces and do the final quality control analysis against specifications and quality requirements. They also monitor the status of the cutting machine working devices.

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Check yourself in a minute: automated cutting machine operator

Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery

use IT tools

operate automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goods

use pattern-cutting softwares

leather goods manufacturing processes

About automated cutting machine operator

As an automated cutting machine operator, you are responsible for preparing, programming, and executing precision cutting operations on footwear and leather goods materials. Your day-to-day responsibilities involve uploading cutting files from design software to the cutting machine, carefully positioning raw materials on the cutting bed, and identifying and documenting surface flaws through nesting processes to minimize waste. You monitor the machine throughout the cutting cycle, making real-time adjustments as needed, and then perform thorough quality control checks on all cut pieces against detailed specifications. Your role is critical to the footwear and leather goods manufacturing process, as precision and material efficiency directly impact production costs and product quality. Career prospects are stable and growing in Poland's established footwear and leather goods manufacturing sector, with opportunities for advancement into supervisory roles or specialized operator positions.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a automated cutting machine operator.

1

File Preparation and Machine Programming

  • Receive and verify cutting design files from CAD systems to ensure accuracy and compatibility with machine specifications
  • Upload and configure cutting files into the automated cutting machine using pattern-cutting software
  • Adjust machine parameters including cutting speed, pressure, and blade depth based on material type and thickness
2

Material Preparation and Nesting

  • Inspect raw leather and material rolls for defects, determining usability and appropriate cutting strategy
  • Position and secure materials on the cutting bed, ensuring proper alignment and flatness for precision cutting
  • Digitize and mark surface flaws in material to optimize nesting patterns and minimize waste during the cutting process
3

Machine Operation and Monitoring

  • Start cutting machine and monitor performance throughout the cutting cycle, watching for irregularities or malfunctions
  • Make real-time adjustments to machine settings if required to maintain cutting accuracy and quality
  • Respond promptly to machine alerts and warnings, troubleshooting minor issues or escalating problems to maintenance personnel
4

Quality Control and Inspection

  • Collect cut pieces and inspect each component against quality specifications and dimensional requirements
  • Identify defects, irregularities, or pieces that do not meet standards and segregate them from acceptable inventory
  • Document quality control results and material waste rates to track production efficiency and machine performance
5

Equipment Maintenance and Basic Troubleshooting

  • Perform routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning cutting beds, replacing blades, and lubricating machine components
  • Monitor machine working devices and components for wear, scheduling maintenance before failures occur
  • Apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery to extend equipment lifespan and ensure reliability

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

leather goods manufacturing processesleather goods manufacturing processesThe processes, technology and machinery involved in the leather goods manufacturing.leather goods componentsleather goods componentsThe various procedures and methods in the processing of leather materials and leather goods components like manufacturability and properties.automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goodsautomatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goodsThe use and description of automatic systems technologies used in footwear and leather goods industry such as laser cutting, knife cutting, punch cutting, mill cutting, ultra-sound cutting, water jet ...footwear equipmentsfootwear equipmentsFunctionality of the wide range of equipments and the basic rules of regular maintenance.leather goods qualityleather goods qualityThe quality specifications of materials, processes, and final products, the most common defects in leather, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, and the adequate equipmen...footwear materialsfootwear materialsThe characteristics, components, advantages and limitations of a wide range of materials used in footwear production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, plasti...footwear machineryfootwear machineryThe functionality of the wide range of footwear machines, and the basic rules of regular maintenance.footwear manufacturing technologyfootwear manufacturing technologyFootwear processes technology and machinery involved. The footwear manufacturing starts in the cutting/clicking room , cutting the uppers and bottom components. The upper components are joined togethe...footwear qualityfootwear qualityQuality specifications of materials, processes and final products, the most common defects in footwear, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, adequate equipment for qualit...footwear componentsfootwear componentsFootwear components both for uppers (vamps, quarters, linings, stiffeners, toe puffs etc.) and bottoms (soles, heels, insoles etc.). Ecological concerns and the importance of recycling. Selection of s...leather goods materialsleather goods materialsThe wide range of materials used in leather goods production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, etc; the way of distinguishing among various materials based o...apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machineryapply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machineryApply basic rules of maintenance and cleanliness on footwear and leather goods production equipment and machines that you operate.use IT toolsuse IT toolsApplication of computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment to storing, retrieving, transmitting and manipulating data, in the context of a business or enterprise.operate automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goodsoperate automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goodsWork with the equipment's software. Digitise and mark the leather areas with faults in order to avoid them. Establish nesting and cutting restrictions for each pattern. Pick up, sort, upload patterns,...use pattern-cutting softwaresuse pattern-cutting softwaresUse pattern-cutting softwares in order to create templates for the manufacturing of wearing apparel, made-up textile articles, and textile products. Set adequate patterns in softwares for replicabilit...
Optional (8) — show
manual cutting processes for leathermanual cutting processes for leatherCutting rules, variance of the leather properties on its surface and elongation directions of the footwear pieces.apply machine cutting techniques for footwear and leather goodsapply machine cutting techniques for footwear and leather goodsAdjust and establish the machine technical operating parameters for cutting footwear and leather goods. Check and select the cutting dies, classification of the cut pieces against cutting restrictions...reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturingreduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturingAssess the environmental impact of footwear manufacture and minimise environmental risks. Reduce environmentally harmful work practices in different stages of the footwear manufacturing.replace sawing blade on machinereplace sawing blade on machineReplace the old blade of a sawing machine with a new one by removing the chip brush, taking away the front blade guide, loosening the blade tension and removing the blade. Assemble and install new bla...use wire processing machineryuse wire processing machineryBe able to use wire processing machines, such as wire cutting machines, wire crimping machines, and wire stripping machines.tend CNC laser cutting machinetend CNC laser cutting machineMonitor and operate a computer numerical controlled (CNC) laser cutting machine according to regulations.apply pre-stitching techniquesapply pre-stitching techniquesApply pre-stitching techniques to footwear and leather goods in order to reduce thickness, to reinforce, to mark the pieces, to decorate or to reinforce their edges or surfaces. Be able to operate var...pre-stitching processes and techniques for footwear and leather goodspre-stitching processes and techniques for footwear and leather goodsTechnology including machinery and techniques for the preparation for leather goods components and footwear uppers.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

pre-stitching machine operator12 shared essential skillscutting machine operator11 shared essential skillsfootwear stitching machine operator8 shared essential skillsorthopaedic footwear technician8 shared essential skillspre-lasting operator8 shared essential skillsbespoke footwear technician7 shared essential skillsfootwear assembly supervisor7 shared essential skillsfootwear finishing and packing operator7 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does an automated cutting machine operator do?

Automated cutting machine operators send files from the computer to the cutting machine, place the material to be cut and digitize and select the fault in the materials surface in order to perform the nesting of the parts, unless the machine makes it automatically. They give the order to the machine to cut, collect the cut pieces and do the final quality control analysis against specifications and quality requirements. They also monitor the status of the cutting machine working devices.

What skills does an automated cutting machine operator need?

An automated cutting machine operator needs 15 essential skills, including leather goods manufacturing processes, leather goods components, automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goods, footwear equipments, leather goods quality.

Will AI replace automated cutting machine operator jobs?

The AI disruption score for automated cutting machine operator is 24/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: use wire processing machinery, footwear quality, use pattern-cutting softwares. Most resilient: automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goods, pre-stitching processes and techniques for footwear and leather goods, footwear components.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupStationary plant and machine operators
Essential Skills15

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