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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 8156

Cutting machine operator

Cutting machine operators check leather, textiles, synthetic materials, dyes and footwear. They select areas of materials to be cut in terms of quality and stretch direction, take the decision of where and how to cut and programme and execute specific technology or machine. The equipment used for large surfaces of materials is frequently an automatic knife. Cutting machine operators position and handle leather or other materials. They adjust cutting machines, match footwear components and pieces, and check cut pieces against specifications and quality requirements.

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Check yourself in a minute: cutting machine operator

Rate 5 of the 19 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

operate cutting equipment

apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery

apply machine cutting techniques for footwear and leather goods

replace sawing blade on machine

use wire processing machinery

About cutting machine operator

As a cutting machine operator in the leather goods and footwear industry, you will work with advanced cutting equipment to shape leather, textiles, and synthetic materials into components for shoes and accessories. Your day-to-day responsibilities include selecting optimal cutting patterns to minimize material waste, adjusting machine settings for different material types, and ensuring all cut pieces meet strict quality and dimensional specifications. You will handle various materials from delicate fabrics to sturdy leathers, position materials accurately on cutting machines, replace sawing blades and other wear parts, and perform quality inspections to verify that every cut piece conforms to design specifications. Your role is essential to footwear and leather goods manufacturing, as precision cutting directly affects downstream assembly operations and the final product's quality. Success requires both technical proficiency with cutting equipment and a keen eye for quality and material properties.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a cutting machine operator.

1

Material Selection and Preparation

  • Check leather, textiles, and synthetic materials for defects, color variations, and quality standards
  • Select optimal areas of materials to be cut based on quality and natural characteristics like stretch direction
  • Position and handle leather and other materials on cutting machines with precision and care
  • Understand material properties including thickness, density, and flexibility to optimize cutting
2

Cutting Pattern Development and Machine Setup

  • Make decisions on where and how to cut materials to minimize waste and maximize yield
  • Program and execute cutting sequences using machine controls and specific technology
  • Adjust cutting machines to accommodate different material thicknesses and properties
  • Apply machine cutting techniques specific to footwear and leather goods manufacturing
3

Equipment Maintenance and Parts Management

  • Replace sawing blades and cutting tools regularly to maintain precision and prevent damage to materials
  • Apply basic rules of maintenance to leather goods and footwear machinery
  • Maintain footwear assembling equipment and ensure all machinery operates correctly
  • Use wire processing machinery for specific cutting and shaping operations
4

Quality Control and Inspection

  • Check cut pieces against design specifications and quality requirements
  • Verify dimensions and accuracy of all cut components using measuring tools
  • Identify and segregate defective cut pieces that do not meet quality standards
  • Match footwear components and pieces to ensure proper fit and alignment with other parts
5

Specialized Cutting Operations

  • Cut footwear uppers using appropriate cutting techniques and machines
  • Perform manual cutting processes for leather goods when machine cutting is not suitable
  • Apply footwear manufacturing technology and techniques specific to the industry

European Skills Framework

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

Essential (19)

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.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.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.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...operate cutting equipmentoperate cutting equipmentOperate cutting equipment specific to the activities undergone in this phase of slaughtering and meat processing. Use machinery, chainsaws, knives, and separators to open animal carcasses and separate...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.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...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.adjust cut sizesadjust cut sizesAdjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.maintain footwear assembling equipmentmaintain footwear assembling equipmentProduce plans for the frequency, operations, components and materials to be used in the maintenance of footwear. Install, program, tune and provide preventive and corrective maintenance for different ...cut footwear upperscut footwear uppersCheck and complete cutting orders, select leather surfaces and classify cut pieces. Identify faults and defects on the leather surface. Recognise colours, shades and type of finishes. Use the followin...
Optional (13) — show
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.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 ...maintain cutting equipmentmaintain cutting equipmentMaintenance of the cutting equipment (knives, cutters, and other elements).apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniquesapply footwear and leather goods quality control techniquesApply quality control in footwear and leather goods. Analyse the material, component or model using relevant quality criteria. Compare the material and other components received from the suppliers, or...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.identify defects on raw hidesidentify defects on raw hidesAnalyse, identify and evaluate the possible defects present on raw hides/skins. Defects may be of natural origin, caused by bad practices at the farm, in transport, at the abattoir or generated during...use cutting equipmentuse cutting equipmentUse knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.cut fabricscut fabricsCut fabrics and other wearing apparel materials considering measures, placement of the fabrics in the cutting table in multiple layers, and making the most efficient usage of the fabric avoiding waste...operate die-cut machinesoperate die-cut machinesOperate machinery to cut paper products into a pattern, which is folded and glued into a certain shape.measure working time in goods productionmeasure working time in goods productionCalculate and establish operative times in goods manufacturing using various method and techniques. Control the production timings, comparing with estimates.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...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,...

Related Occupations

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

automated cutting machine operator11 shared essential skillspre-stitching machine operator11 shared essential skillsbespoke footwear technician9 shared essential skillsorthopaedic footwear technician9 shared essential skillsshoemaker9 shared essential skillsfootwear stitching machine operator8 shared essential skillslasting machine operator8 shared essential skillspre-lasting operator8 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a cutting machine operator do?

Cutting machine operators check leather, textiles, synthetic materials, dyes and footwear. They select areas of materials to be cut in terms of quality and stretch direction, take the decision of where and how to cut and programme and execute specific technology or machine. The equipment used for large surfaces of materials is frequently an automatic knife. Cutting machine operators position and handle leather or other materials. They adjust cutting machines, match footwear components and pieces, and check cut pieces against specifications and quality requirements.

What skills does a cutting machine operator need?

A cutting machine operator needs 19 essential skills, including leather goods manufacturing processes, leather goods components, footwear equipments, leather goods quality, footwear materials.

Will AI replace cutting machine operator jobs?

The AI disruption score for cutting machine operator is 28/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: measure working time in goods production, use wire processing machinery, footwear quality. Most resilient: cut footwear uppers, automatic cutting systems for footwear and leather goods, pre-stitching processes and techniques for footwear and leather goods.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupStationary plant and machine operators
Essential Skills19

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