Cutting Machine Operator Stationary Plant & Machine Operators
SaveWhat 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.
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Where Do I Start?
Leather Goods Manufacturing Processes
The processes, technology and machinery involved in the leather goods manufacturing.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Cutting Machine Operator
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialLeather Goods Manufacturing Processes knowledge
The processes, technology and machinery involved in the leather goods manufacturing.
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EssentialLeather Goods Materials knowledge
The 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 on their properties, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFootwear Machinery knowledge
Tthe functionality of the wide range of machines, and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFootwear Manufacturing Technology knowledge
Footwear 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 together in the closing …
Recommended Books
1 book
How to Make a Shoe -
EssentialFootwear Materials knowledge
The characteristics, components, advantages and limitations of a wide range of materials used in footwear production: leather, leather substitutes (synthetics or artificial materials), textile, plastic, rubber etc.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialFootwear Components knowledge
Footwear 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 suitable materials and …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFootwear Equipments knowledge
Functionality of the wide range of equipments and the basic rules of regular maintenance.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFootwear Quality knowledge
Quality specifications of materials, processes and final products, the most common defects in footwear, quick tests procedures, laboratory tests procedures and standards, adequate equipment for quality checks. Quality assurance of …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialLeather Goods Components knowledge
The various procedures and methods in the processing of leather materials and leather goods components like manufacturability and properties.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialLeather Goods Quality knowledge
The 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 equipment for quality checks.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialManual Cutting Processes For Leather knowledge
Cutting rules, variance of the leather properties on its surface and elongation directions of the footwear pieces.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialApply Basic Rules Of Maintenance To Leather Goods And Footwear Machinery skill
Apply basic rules of maintenance and cleanliness on footwear and leather goods production equipment and machines that you operate.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Machine Cutting Techniques For Footwear And Leather Goods skill
Adjust 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, specifications and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Footwear Assembling Equipment skill
Produce 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 machines and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Manual Cutting For Footwear Uppers skill
Check 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 following …
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 10 displayed)
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OptionalPre-stitching Processes And Techniques For Footwear And Leather Goods knowledge
Technology including machinery and techniques for the preparation for leather goods components and footwear uppers.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalAutomatic Cutting Systems For Footwear And Leather Goods knowledge
The 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 cutting …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Footwear And Leather Goods Quality Control Techniques skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Pre-stitching Techniques skill
Apply 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 …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalIdentify Defects On Raw Hides skill
Analyse, identify and evaluate the possible defects present on raw hides/skins. Defects may be of natural origin (e.g. damage by parasites), caused by bad practices at the farm, in transport, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalReduce Environmental Impact Of Footwear Manufacturing skill
Assess the environmental impact of footwear manufacture and minimise environmental risks. Reduce environmentally harmful work practices in different stages of the footwear manufacturing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Communication Techniques skill
Apply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse IT Tools skill
Application 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.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMeasure Working Time In Footwear And Leather Goods Production skill
Calculate and establish operative times in footwear and leather goods manufacturing using various method and techniques. Control the production timings, comparing with estimates.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Automatic Cutting Systems For Footwear And Leather Goods skill
Work 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 …
Course recommendations coming soon.