Sewing Machine Operator

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Main reasons of frequent machine breakdown in shop floor include lack of maintenance, or use of spare parts of substandard quality or faculty operations. Breakdown maintenance is always undesirable because breakdown causes loss of production, man hours and revenue. Machine breakdown disturbs the production of particular operations and subsequent operations by delaying feeding. To improve performance of the machine maintenance (mechanics) department, factory should introduce preventive maintenance instead of following breakdown maintenance. Following activities are necessary to improve machine performance. Prepare a checklist – Prepare a check list what all things they need to do daily basis. They should have plan for scheduled machine maintenance plan with other works. Like, planning for machine requirement, attachment, guides and presser foots required for next style. Prepare Maintenance schedule - The first step is setting up the preventive maintenance program is proper scheduling of the maintenance plan. Make a database of all types of sewing machines and other machines you have in the factory. Other machines like cutting machines, pressing tables, irons etc. You must have machine numbers on each machine types. Keep account of number of machines operational and number of machines those are not in use. Make machine maintenance card and hang this cards on each machine to stop forgetting and missing checking of any machine on the scheduled date. Include list of thing to check in the machine maintenance card. See the fig for example. Page | 201

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Improving awareness and motivating maintenance team – In sewing factory maintenance department involved in providing machine pressure foots, work guides and attachment. Industrial engineering department need to share style information and list of machines, attachment and guides required for the upcoming orders with production schedule of the upcoming orders with maintenance department. If factory is giving incentive to sewing operators and other staff, maintenance department need to be included under performance incentive scheme. Prepare maintenance of records and reports. Accurate recording of the day to day maintenance work is essential for exercising effective control over the maintenance program, planning, the replacement and procurement of store and spares. Checklist for Sewing Machine Page | 202

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Initiate making record of machine breakdown time daily, type of machines that got breakdown, time required to repair or restart the machine. This record will help you to find top 20% machines that cause 80% of machine breakdown. The 5S system is a concept for enhancing the work efficiency, environmental safety and standard process flow and implementing this innovative method reduces wastage, minimizes handling time and increases the profit of an organization The 5S is a method for organizing a workplace, especially a shared workplace. The 5S are:  Sort - \"When in doubt, throw it out\".  Straighten - \"A place for everything, and everything in its place\".  Sweep – \"The best cleaning is to not need cleaning\".  Standardise – \"See and recognise what needs to be done\".  Self-discipline- \"The less self-discipline you need, the better\". Report unsafe equipment and other dangerous occurrences Your employer does its best to keep equipment in good condition, but maintenance personnel are only human and can‘t keep up with all the problems in the field. Some defects will go unnoticed in spite of every effort made. Employees who work with and around machines and equipment are in a good position to notice hazardous conditions. Get in the habit of reporting things that can lead to accidents so that corrections can be made before they result in costly accidents and/or employee injuries. Keep in mind that the person who sees a situation that should be fixed and fails to report it may well end up being the victim of their own neglect. Page | 203

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide When working with equipment, some of the things you should watch out for are: • A loose or missing machine guard • Moving parts with too much play • Un-lubricated machines • Missing nuts or bolts • Slipping belts • Loose or cracked shaft housing • Moving parts that should be guarded, but aren‘t On the electrical side of the picture, watch for: • Continually sparking motor • Broken or burned switches • Damaged extension cords • Missing face plates • Loose conduits and conductors • Broken plugs and receptacles On conveyors, watch for: • Sharp corners • Lack of crossovers or crossovers in poor condition • Unguarded parts on power-driven conveyors • Lack of a jump-out or idler roller where two conveyors meet Page | 204

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Forklift truck operators are supposed to report things that go wrong with their vehicles, just as drivers of trucks. Those who use hand trucks should be on the watch for: • Flat or frozen wheels • Broken cross members • Loose toe-plates • Broken or slivered handles All workers should keep these exposures in mind. Do not hesitate to report a condition that may result in an accident or injury to yourself or one of your co- workers. If you think a piece of equipment is unsafe, tag it ―Do Not Use‖ and report it immediately Employee observations can be extremely important in preventing accidents. Many times, an accident may result from a condition that employees were aware of but did not report. If an employee notices an unsafe condition in his or her work area, that employee is required to report the information immediately to their supervisor. The attached form may be used for this purpose. Once the condition is reported, the supervisor must take the necessary corrective action. Supervisors should use the attached form to document the action taken. Reporting Unsafe Conditions and Defective Equipment: • Employees must immediately report unsafe conditions, defective equipment or any other situation they judge to be unsafe to their supervisor. • The supervisor will investigate these situations and take corrective action if necessary. • If the supervisor cannot complete the necessary corrective action unassisted, he or she must go through the proper channels to complete the corrective action. Page | 205

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide • After the supervisor has taken corrective action he or she will complete the form and a 7K award form and turn them in to their manager for review. The manager will forward it to the Department Head for review. The form will then be returned to the Safety Committee. • All forms will be reviewed by the safety committee and they will select the one that has the greatest impact on safety for a WOW award. Ensure that the correct machine guards are in place Requirements for electrical safety, physical safety, and guards pertain to items such as abrasive wheel machines, belt guards on vacuum pumps, woodworking and metalworking machinery, lawnmowers, flywheels, shafts, belts, pulleys, and gears. The following procedures, information, and resources will assist managers, supervisors, and operators in carrying out their responsibilities for assuring safety through hazard identification and evaluation, safeguarding, training, and safe operation of machines and equipment. Purpose These procedures are intended to:  Create an awareness of the hazards among the workforce.  Standardize procedures for the use and care of machines and equipment.  Provide a consistent format for training employees on the proper procedures for operating and using machines and equipment.  Minimize the possibility of injury or harm.  Demonstrate compliance with safety regulations. Page | 206

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Training All employees will successfully complete training prior to operating or using machines and equipment. The department will identify individuals needing training. Initial training includes two components of general awareness training and operational training. General awareness training is offered online by the Environmental Health & Safety. These records are maintained by EHS and are available to the department. Operational training is provided by the employing department and records are maintained by the department. Operational training should include:  A review of the department‘s Machine and Equipment Guarding Procedures.  Information and operational (hands-on) training for each machine and piece of equipment that will be used by the employee.  Pre-operational procedures.  Basic maintenance procedures.  Appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Pre-Operational Procedures PPE and Work Area Checks  Employees must locate and put on necessary and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use with the machinery or equipment before beginning use.  Employees must make sure that work areas are well-lit, dry, and clean before beginning work. Sawdust, paper and oily rags are a fire hazard and can damage machinery and equipment.  Employees must change clothing or take off jewelry that could become entangled in the machinery or equipment they are to use. Page | 207

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Machine and Equipment Checks  If a lock or tag is in place on a piece of machinery or equipment, it may not be removed and the machinery or equipment may not be used.  Only qualified personnel may install or repair equipment. Employees must notify the supervisor if machinery or equipment is in need of any type of repair.  Floor and bench-mounted machines and equipment shall be anchored or securely clamped to a firm foundation that will withstand lateral or vertical movement. Guard Checks Machines and equipment with guards must meet these minimum general requirements:  Be secure - Guards are not easy to remove or alter. Guards and safety devices are made of durable material that will withstand the conditions of normal use. Guards are firmly secured to the machine.  Prevent contact - The guards prevent hands, arms, or any part of an employee‘s body or clothing from making contact with dangerous moving parts.  Protect from falling objects - The guards ensure that no objects can fall into moving parts.  Create no new hazards - If a guard creates a hazard of its own, such as shear point, a jagged edge, or an unfinished surface which can cause a laceration, then employees must not use the piece of machinery or equipment.  If a guard is defective or damaged or in any way does not meet the requirements of these procedures, employees may not use the machine and must immediately notify their supervisor. Page | 208

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Operating Procedures  All necessary personal protective equipment is worn while the machinery or equipment is running.  Employees must always use the proper piece of machinery or equipment for the job.  Electric cables and cords must be kept clean and free from kinks.  Employees may not remove a guard for any reason while operating any piece of machinery or equipment.  If an employee is distracted or unable to focus on the work with the machinery or equipment, they must stop work with that machinery or equipment.  Upon finishing with a piece of equipment or machine, basic maintenance must be performed.  Problem equipment must be immediately reported to the supervisor so it can be repaired or replaced. Work in a comfortable position with the correct posture Correct Posture is important if you want to enjoy stitching. Stitching is such a self- engrossing activity that we tend to forget ourselves while doing it. The way you sit with your desktop for a long period of time and get fatigued, your sewing machine can do the same to you,if you are not careful. You can understand your sitting posture better if you remember how you should be ideally sitting in front of your desktop.  With your back straight. Your neck in sync and your feet on the ground. Your arms should have ample room for rest and moving around.  Don‘t keep your domestic sewing machine on the floor. Keep it on a raised platform. Page | 209

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  I have seen that acute postural problems arise in people, who place their sewing machines on the floor or on a small platform and bend in a half circle to thread the needle of their machines.  This posture is bad for your health. If you are not sitting straight, your neck, arm, shoulders, spine, back, in fact-more or less the whole body will start aching after a while. The right thing is to know and practice the right posture. Here, it‘s important to understand that we all have different height and size. What is an ideal height for my sewing machine chair and table may not be right for you because your physical height may be different than mine. Therefore, adjust your table or chair height as per your requirement.  Sit or stand comfortably while stitching, cutting or ironing.  While measuring or adjusting your pattern on the fabric, you should not slouch but be standing on a flat ground firmly.  If your children are fond of stitching, then you should be more careful about their posture while stitching. A poor posture may hamper their spinal growth.  A body friendly or ergonomically designed work space is important for a strenuous work like stitching.  While planning your stitching work area, you should give attention to your chair, sewing machine table, cutting table and ironing board height in sync with your height and size.  There should be proper lighting in the place where you are stitching to reduce strain on your eyes.  Your personal preference and size should determine whether a particular chair is fit for you but it should not be too comfortable to slouch. Page | 210

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Your chair should be padded for comfort. It should have a soft back and hand support.  The height of a chair should be adjustable. Seat should be ideally tilted a bit.  While buying a chair, sit and adjust its height to your comfort. Assume as if you are working long hours sitting on it and how your body should feel.  When sitting, your knees should be slightly lower than your hips.  Your seat and hips should be fully in the chair with your back against the back of the chair.  Place your legs out in front of you at a comfortable angle with your feet touching the floor.  If your sewing table height is not adjustable and the chair is, you may raise the chair to fit the table and put a footrest under the chair to support your legs.  There is a difference between sewing surface or needle area height and the sewing table height particularly with free-arm machines.  If your machine is set into a table, the sewing surface and table height are one.  If your machine is placed on top of a table, then the sewing table height is lower than the sewing surface (needle area).  First of all, find the proper sewing surface height; then raise or lower the table so the needle area is at that height.  To find the proper sewing surface height, sit in your chair, hold a book in front of you and read comfortably.  When sewing, your hands should be in a straight line with your wrists and forearms.  If you‘re bending over a cutting table, and there are adjustments that can be made to achieve perfect height for you; then, it would be better that you call a Page | 211

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide carpenter to build a cutting table, or alter your existing one to correct its height.  There are many adjustable furniture available in the market for stitching professional and enthusiasts. Cabinets that accommodate a sewing machine with containers on the doors that hold supplies, threads etc.  If these ready to use furniture pieces aren‘t the right height, have someone alter them so they are the correct height for you.  This readymade furniture is usually too low, so adding height is many times easy for a carpenter. Whether you stitch as a hobby or as a profession, it helps if we are aware about the right way of Stitching. Use cleaning equipment and methods appropriate for the work to be carried out Cleaning factories, generating plants and other industrial job sites is perhaps one of the most difficult jobs to define, because there is tremendous variety in the facilities a building service contractor is likely to encounter. Industrial cleaning is dirty work; even maintaining offices in an industrial facility is demanding because dirt gets tracked in from factory floors. There are the challenges and safety risks of cleaning around heavy machinery, lubricants, paint, fiberglass and metal shavings. Many manufacturing facilities are open around-the-clock, so there is no downtime in which to clean. Also, some machinery is quite sensitive to dust and dirt, so prompt and accurate cleaning is essential. Page | 212

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide The cleaning equipment are advantageous in multiple ways −  Equally effective for general as well as tougher cleaning tasks.  High cleaning capability.  Reduce work fatigue and increase productivity.  Save the time of hotel housekeeping staff.  High maneuverability. They can reach any corner or height of the room, which is otherwise difficult to reach.  Eco-friendly, widely available, and easy to operate.  They give protection from injuries occurring while cleaning when they are handled by using proper instructions. Classification of Cleaning Equipment There are broadly categorized as follows − Manual Cleaning Equipment As the name suggests, they are used manually to keep the surfaces clean. Some commonly used manual equipment‘s are −  Abrasives − They are the sharpening stones or grit papers used to polish metal or wooden surfaces. There are various abrasives depending upon the size of grit and adhesion of grit particles on the paper.  Brushes − They are handheld flat brushes with bristles to dust the plain surfaces as well as the corners. They come with non-slip handles and stiff scratch-free bristles. They help removing stubborn dust.  Chambermaid’s Trolley/Housekeeping Trolley − This trolley is large enough to keep all the guest room and guest bathroom supplies in an organized manner. It makes the housekeeping staff to move it around and carry large number of items in one go while keeping and cleaning the guest rooms. Page | 213

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Dustbins − They are used to collect daily garbage produced in the hotel.  Dusting Cloths − They are soft cloths used for wiping the surface dust.  Dustpans − They are used to collect dust and garbage from the floor and putting it into the dustbin.  Janitor’s trolley − It is a trolley that stores cleaning supplies such as detergents, spray bottles, dustbin, mop, and dusting cloths, all in a compact manner. It can be moved around easily. It fulfills the challenge of modern day housekeeping in hotels.  Mops − There are various types of mops such as string mops, flat mops, dust mops, and synthetic mops. Mops are generally made of flat cotton strings or heavy-duty sponges fixed on the metal frames. The cotton mops have high absorbing ability but need more care unlike the synthetic mops that offer almost zero absorbing ability and very less maintenance.  Mop Wringer trolley − A mop bucket cart (or mop trolley) is a wheeled bucket that allows its user to wring out a wet mop without getting the hands dirty. The mops are squeezed between two surfaces to remove dirty water from it.  Scarifying machine − It is used for keeping gardens, golf courts, and lawn in the hotel premises. It cuts through the turf, and removes moss and dead grass. It helps grow spongy lawn. Scarifies have fixed knife blades attached to the rotary cylinder. They cut through the grass by which the offshoots are separated into lots of individual plants. This helps to thicken up the turf and improve its health.  Spray Bottles − They are used to spray water or chemical solutions on the surface that needs cleaning. They are also used to spray water on the delicate flowers or leaves of flower arrangement. Page | 214

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Electric Cleaning Equipment As the name depicts, these equipment require electrical power to operate. They are operated either on AC power or on the battery. Some important electric equipment are −  Box Sweeper − It is electric sweeper that consists of a friction brush. The brush often is fit to revolve vertically or horizontally, when the equipment moves on the surface. It can clean floors as well as carpets. The wider the better is the box sweeper brush.  Vacuum Cleaner − It is again a majorly used equipment in hotel housekeeping. It comes with a suction motor fit in a case, a hose, and various attachment for delicate as well as tough cleaning requirements.  Polishing Machine − They are used to add a shine to the floors of most frequented areas of the hotel.  Scrubber − It is a floor care accessory that comes with handheld electrically operated scrubber. It is used where only mopping doesn‘t suffice. It can scrub stubborn and sticky stains on the floors of cafeterias, restaurants, lobbies, and fitness areas where people can take food and beverages.  Vapor Cleaning Machine − They are used where the chemical odors are not desired. They are equipped for continuous operation. They heat up quickly and work with low amount of moisture. They kill the beg bugs and their eggs, the yielding a completely clean environment. Page | 215

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Cleaning Agents or Chemicals Apart from water and regular detergents, the housekeeping staff also uses cleaning chemicals, which are often available in the form of liquids, blocks, and powders.  Water − It is the most commonly used medium for cleaning and rinsing. The housekeeping staff needs to use only soft water because hard water cannot dilute detergents properly. Non-oily and non-greasy stains such as ink stains can be removed using water.  Vinegar − It is used in removing light stains in the bath.  Bathroom Cleaners − They come in liquid form for easy cleaning. They clean, descale, and disinfect the bathroom walls, bathtubs, bathroom flooring, sinks, and showers. They often contain phosphoric acid. Page | 216

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Clean Air Sprays − They are best for freshening the hotel corridors, washrooms, bathrooms, and reception areas. These sprays remove the pungent smell of tobacco, smoke, and organic wastes.  Degreaser − This is mainly used in bars to remove the marks of grease and lipstick that cannot be removed by traditional washing of glasses and cups. Degreaser restores the surface shine and transparency of the glasses and bowls.  Floor Cleaners and Sealers − One of the important tasks of hotel housekeeping is cleaning the floor periodically and keeping it sealed with the help of sealer of the right consistency for optimum maintenance. Some areas in the hotel are busy and bear heavy traffic such as lobby, corridors, parking areas, restaurants, and dining halls. Their floorings loses smoothness and shine. In such a case, the floor cleaners and sealers are used for restoring their look and shine.  Laundry Cleaners − They are liquid concentrates with variable amount of peroxide that removes tough stains, bleaches the linen, and enhances its whiteness.  A number of chemicals are used in dry-cleaning. They are camphor oil, turpentine spirits, benzene, kerosene and white gasoline, petroleum solvents such as naphtha blends, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and liquid carbon dioxide. They remove the stains from silk tapestry without damaging the fibers. Page | 217

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Surface Sanitizers − They often come in the form of liquid concentrate. They are water-based and sanitize the surfaces without damaging their appearance. The sanitizers reduce the presence of bacteria to a great extent. They come with different concentrations and fragrances.  Toilet Blocks − They deodorize the toilets and leave them with a fresh smell. They come with two variants: continuous action and instant action. They contain oxidizing agents such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or chlorine that removes unpleasant organic odor from the surface of a material.  Toilet Cleaners − They are available in liquid form containing strong hydrochloric acid. They remove stains and plumbing scales easily, and restore the shine of their surface.  Carpet Cleaning Agents − Cleaning and maintaining the carpets are important tasks of hotel housekeeping. As suggested by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), carpet cleaning is complete when the following issues are tackled − o Soil containment o Vacuuming o Spotting o Interim cleaning o Restorative cleaning Carpet cleaning chemicals are often low-moisture, fast-drying cleaners that take care of the above said issues effectively Dispose of waste safely in the designated location Although there are many methods available to dispose off waste. Let‘s take a look at some of the most commonly used methods that you should know about waste management. Page | 218

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Landfills Throwing daily waste/garbage in the landfills is the most popularly used method of waste disposal used today. This process of waste disposal focuses attention on burying the waste in the land. Landfills are commonly found in developing countries. There is a process used that eliminates the odors and dangers of waste before it is placed into the ground. While it is true this is the most popular form of waste disposal, it is certainly far from the only procedure and one that may also bring with it an assortment of space. This method is becoming less these days although, thanks to the lack of space available and the strong presence of methane and other landfill gases, both of which can cause numerous contamination problems. Landfills give rise to air and water pollution which severely affects the environment and can prove fatal to the lives of humans and animals. Many areas are reconsidering the use of landfills. Incineration/Combustion Incineration or combustion is a type disposal method in which municipal solid wastes are burned at high temperatures so as as to convert them into residue and gaseous products. The biggest advantage of this type of method is that it can reduce the volume of solid waste to 20 to 30 percent of the original volume, decreases the space they take up and reduce the stress on landfills. This process is also known as thermal treatment where solid waste materials are converted by Incinerators into heat, gas, steam and ash. Incineration is something that is very in countries where landfill space is no longer available, which includes Japan. Page | 219

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Recovery and Recycling Resource recovery is the process of taking useful discarded items for a specific next use. These discarded items are then processed to extract or recover materials and resources or convert them to energy in the form of useable heat, electricity or fuel. Recycling is the process of converting waste products into new products to prevent energy usage and consumption of fresh raw materials. Recycling is the third component of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle waste hierarchy. The idea behind recycling is to reduce energy usage, reduce volume of landfills, reduce air and water pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve natural resources for future use. Plasma gasification Plasma gasification is another form of waste management. Plasma is a primarily an electrically charged or a highly ionized gas. Lighting is one type of plasma which produces temperatures that exceed 12,600 °F. With this method of waste disposal, a vessel uses characteristic plasma torches operating at +10,000 °F which is creating a gasification zone till 3,000 °F for the conversion of solid or liquid wastes into a syngas. During the treatment solid waste by plasma gasification, the waste‘s molecular bonds are broken down as result of the intense heat in the vessels and the elemental components. Thanks to this process, destruction of waste and dangerous materials is found. This form of waste disposal provides renewable energy and an assortment of other fantastic benefits. Page | 220

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Composting Composting is a easy and natural bio-degradation process that takes organic wastes i.e. remains of plants and garden and kitchen waste and turns into nutrient rich food for your plants. Composting, normally used for organic farming, occurs by allowing organic materials to sit in one place for months until microbes decompose it. Composting is one of the best method of waste disposal as it can turn unsafe organic products into safe compost. On the other side, it is slow process and takes lot of space. Waste to Energy (Recover Energy) Waste to energy(WtE) process involves converting of non-recyclable waste items into useable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes. This type of source of energy is a renewable energy source as non-recyclable waste can be used over and over again to create energy. It can also help to reduce carbon emissions by offsetting the need for energy from fossil sources Waste-to-Energy, also widely recognized by its acronym WtE is the generation of energy in the form of heat or electricity from waste. Avoidance/Waste Minimization The most easier method of waste management is to reduce creation of waste materials thereby reducing the amount of waste going to wastefield. Waste reduction can be done through recycling old materials like jar, bags, repairing broken items instead of buying new one, avoiding use of disposable products like plastic bags, reusing second hand items, and buying items that uses less designing. Page | 221

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Recycling and composting are a couple of the best methods of waste management. Composting is so far only possible on a small scale, either by private individuals or in areas where waste can be mixed with farming soil or used for landscaping purposes. Recycling is widely used around the world, with plastic, paper and metal leading the list of the most recyclable items. Most material recycled is reused for its original purpose The Bottom Line There are certain waste types that are considered as hazardous and cannot be disposed of without special handling which will prevent contamination from occurring. Biomedical waste is one example of such. This is found in health care facilities and similar institutions. The special waste disposal system for this unit in place to dispose of this type of waste. Store cleaning equipment safely after use Storage Of Cleaning Equipment for the Most Effective Work You can have all the good intentions in the world, training your people to clean effectively and investing in the proper tools—but if you don't store your equipment the right way, you're sabotaging the entire process. Maintaining cleaning equipment is important because if your tools are stored incorrectly, the bacteria you're trying to eliminate will grow right on or in them. Cleaning systems are designed to clean more dirt and bacteria from surfaces than traditional methods, but you won't get the results you need from any tools unless you care for them the right way. Most tool maintenance just requires common sense, but there are some practices you may not have thought about. Page | 222

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide General Habits Develop a tool storage system and instill its importance into your workers. Make cleaning and storing the tools a part of your entire cleaning system. Some rules aren't defined by the type of tool your employee is using and can be applied to anything they need on shift:  Clean and store the equipment correctly after every use.  Remove any liquids that may have been contaminated.  Never put equipment away unless it's ready for the next day's use. Cleaning Specific Tools In addition to the basic rules of tool maintenance, each Kaivac system has its own way it needs to be cleaned before storage. Whether it's tanks that need to be emptied and cleaned or hoses that have to be dealt with, the idea is to remove dirt and bacteria from every part of the equipment that might come in contact with surfaces that will be cleaned at a later time.  No-Touch Cleaning Systems: These spray-and-vac systems are effective for removing soil and bacteria from restrooms and many other areas. The vacuum recovery tank should be emptied regularly and rinsed with the remaining water in the fresh water tank.  OmniFlex Dispense-and-Vac: This sensible replacement for mopping includes a vacuum tank and 10 gallon bucket for dispensing cleaning solution on the floor. The tank and bucket need to be emptied and cleaned each day, as do the hoses. Rinse each piece with fresh water to remove any remaining residue. Page | 223

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Microfiber surfaces: The ideal way to always have a clean surface for wiping equipment, SmartTowels end up covered in bacteria by the end of a cleaning session. The same applies to the microfiber pads attached to the KaiFly applicator pad and to multiple mop pad configurations. These items should never be reused without first washing them in a washing machine and laid out to air dry. No matter what type of Kaivac system you use, maintaining cleaning equipment will produce a better cleaning result and prolong the life of the eqiupment. Whether you work in a business that requires specific cleaning chemicals or choose to use some at home, it‘s important to keep safety in mind. Here are some steps you can take for proper cleaning chemical and storage safety.  Never store chemicals near food, food storage areas or any tools or equipment that will touch food. Keep them at least a few feet away, preferably in a designated area only for cleaning tools and chemicals.  Never leave chemicals on or near a food preparation area. That includes on top of counters, stoves, etc.  Do not store chemicals above food prep areas, kitchen sinks or drain boards.  Store chemicals in their originally labeled containers and make sure they are closed properly.  Never use beverage cups, pitchers, drinking, beverage or food storage containers to store, transport or mix chemicals.  Always read the instructions on the label before use, even if it‘s a product you use regularly. You don‘t want to accidentally use the product in the wrong area or use it incorrectly.  Use safety posters or graphics to warn employees about chemical safety precautions. In businesses where language barriers could be a problem, create materials that are either bilingual or use pictures that don‘t require further descriptions. Page | 224

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Always spray chemicals holding the spray nozzle away from you.  Never mix two different chemicals together.  Always wear protective gloves and goggles when recommended.  If you have kids or pets around, keep chemicals locked up so no one mistakes them for a drink. You should use locks even for chemicals kept on high shelves to prevent young climbers from getting into them. When it comes to chemical safety and storage, you can never be too cautious. It‘s always better to play it safer than to deal with the consequences of chemicals accidentally getting into food or into someone‘s stomach. Carry out cleaning according to schedules and limits of responsibility Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process. Companies use backward and forward scheduling to allocate plant and machinery resources, plan human resources, plan production processes and purchase materials.  Forward scheduling is planning the tasks from the date resources become available to determine the shipping date or the due date.  Backward scheduling is planning the tasks from the due date or required-by date to determine the start date and/or any changes in capacity required. Page | 225

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide The benefits of production scheduling include:  Process change-over reduction  Inventory reduction, leveling  Reduced scheduling effort  Increased production efficiency  Labor load leveling  Accurate delivery date quotes  Real time information Production scheduling tools greatly outperform older manual scheduling methods. These provide the production scheduler with powerful graphical interfaces which can be used to visually optimize real-time workloads in various stages of production, and pattern recognition allows the software to automatically create scheduling opportunities which might not be apparent without this view into the data. For example, an airline might wish to minimize the number of airport gates required for its aircraft, in order to reduce costs, and scheduling software can allow the planners to see how this can be done, by analyzing time tables, aircraft usage, or the flow of passengers. A key character of scheduling is the productivity, the relation between quantity of inputs and quantity of output. Key concepts here are:  Inputs: Inputs are plant, labor, materials, tooling, energy and a clean environment.  Outputs: Outputs are the products produced in factories either for other factories or for the end buyer. The extent to which any one product is produced within any one factory is governed by transaction cost. Page | 226

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Output within the factory: The output of any one work area within the factory is an input to the next work area in that factory according to the manufacturing process. For example, the output of cutting is an input to the bending room.  Output for the next factory: By way of example, the output of a paper mill is an input to a print factory. The output of a petrochemicals plant is an input to an asphalt plant, a cosmetics factory and a plastics factory.  Output for the end buyer: Factory output goes to the consumer via a service business such as a retailer or an asphalt paving company.  Resource allocation: Resource allocation is assigning inputs to produce output. The aim is to maximize output with given inputs or to minimize quantity of inputs to produce required output. A master cleaning schedule includes cleaning of equipment, tools, containers, structures, and grounds, and identifies the area or equipment to be cleaned, the time period between each cleaning, and the person(s) responsible for the cleaning. As it is completed, it also becomes a work record. Cleaning can be scheduled for several months in advance or for an entire year. To be workable, the master cleaning schedule must be drawn up realistically. Available manpower, production schedules, and special types of equipment needed should be considered. Such a schedule should serve as a reminder of when the jobs are due to be done and as a checklist of job completion. Although sanitation/hygiene principles are constant, application details will vary from plant to plant. Equipment, floors, drains, and walls may be identified as potential hazards since bacteria may establish on these surfaces and can contaminate food products. The identified sanitation control to keep the hazard from happening would call for equipment, floors, drains, and walls to be cleaned and sanitized on a predetermined schedule. As a primary record of the sanitation program (with the daily cleaning schedule, cleaning procedures, chemical concentration checks, post-cleaning and pre- operational inspections, cleaning validation, and training), the master cleaning schedule is designed to track required and completed cleaning that occurs less often than daily. Maintaining a sanitary environment is essential to the success of any food company. Food companies and commercial food establishments must comply with the highest standards of sanitation enforced by various government agencies, such as GMPs and those of FDA, OSHA, USDA and other food regulatory agencies throughout the world. Your HACCP program can be used in one form or another to establish a sanitation program. It involves a detailed analysis of the manufacturing flow beginning with the receipt of raw materials or processed ingredients. This analysis begins by identifying product risks or product sensitivities as they relate to consumer safety Page | 227

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide and acceptance. Once risks are identified, each piece of equipment in the flow is studied to determine its potential contribution to the identified risks. A sanitation control is then set up to prevent the determined potential hazards from developing. Common frequencies for tasks in a master cleaning schedule are semi-weekly, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, and per hours of use. ―As needed‖ is not a valid frequency to be listed. In these instances, the frequency listed should be that at which the area or equipment is to be checked to see if it needs cleaning. If it is checked and cleaning is not required, a note to this effect can be made on the schedule. To create a master cleaning schedule, cleaning frequencies must be defined as tasks. When first developed, appropriate frequencies may not be known. In these instances, an estimate should be made, which then may be adjusted, to greater or lesser frequency using results from the environmental monitoring and integrated pest management programs to validate frequencies. It is also possible that frequencies for some tasks will be different based on the season. For example, warmer and more humid months may require more frequent cleaning of flour silos to control mold and insect issues. Cleaning frequencies must be adjusted to the particular needs of the individual plant. A common pitfall when developing master cleaning schedules is listing too large of an area as a single task. For example, in most facilities, it would be impractical to expect all warehouses racking to be cleaned at one time. Therefore, warehouse racking should not be listed as a single task. A more manageable approach would be to divide the racking into zones and assign each zone as an individual task. Another instance in which a task may need to be divided is if the entire area is not accessible at the same time. For example, leaning under dock plates. From a time perspective, it may be very reasonable to clean under all dock plates at one time, however, not all docks may be accessible at the same time due to vehicle traffic. Sign off on the master cleaning schedule must be provided for each completed task. The signature/initials may be that of the person who completed the task or the person who confirmed that the task was completed, such as a supervisor or lead. Master cleaning schedules also depend on visual inspection or chemical measurements, like ATP and food allergen testing at strategic control points to assure that the in-place sanitation program works. Page | 228

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Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide CHAPTER-10 DIFFERENT TYPES OF STITCHES USING A SEWING MACHINE LET'S DISCOVER THE BEST MACHINE STITCHES Once you familiarize yourself with basic stitches, you will find that they are the foundation to those more elaborate stitches that once seemed too difficult to tackle. Here are some machine stitches to know: Zig Zag Stich: Zigzag Stitch Adjustments to Stitch Width and Stitch Length. Even the most basic sewing machines today, usually come with a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. Do you know about all the adjustments your sewing machine is capable of to make the most of these two basic stitches. You'll be amazed just how much you can transform those stitches with simple sewing machine adjustments. Back & Lock stich: Page | 230

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide If you do not back stitch or lock stitch the ends of your sewing, odds are you will have your sewing becoming undone. Do you know the difference between a back stitch and a lock stitch? Do you know why you might use one rather than the other? Learning once again is the best way to get the most out of your sewing machine. Blind hem stich: I know many people avoid hand sewing... and have a pile waiting to be finished because of that avoiding. Hemming does not have to be done by hand sewing methods. Learn about the possible sewing machine blind hems titches and how to Page | 231

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide use them. You may whittle that hand sewing pile down to nothing once you master the techniques. Satin Stitch Do you know what a satin stitch is or how your sewing machine will sew a satin stitch? This short and sweet definition tells you what you need to know. If you are going to sew fabric bowls you must learn about a satin stitch. Button holes Almost all newer sewing machine shave built in buttonhole options. Do you know how to use all those options? Does your machine offer more than one type of button hole and have you tried them all? This article from SewNews Magazine will help you unravel the button hole mystery and have you confidently choosing a buttonhole for the project you are sewing. Ask questions to obtain more information on tasks when the instructions are unclear and finalize the stitching option with the supervisor, in case of queries Just the thought of communicating with your boss can be enough to produce stress and anxiety. However, with a little preparation and practice, you can be on your way to confident and effective communication. 1) Before you speak to your boss, write down all the topics you want to discuss and what you hope to communicate. Page | 232

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide 2) Make sure you‘re clear about what you want or need from your boss. 3) In private, rehearse what you want to say to your boss. 4) When speaking to your boss, use qualifying words, such as ―perhaps‖ and ―maybe,‖ rather than absolute words, such as ―always,‖ ―every,‖ ―all the time‖ and ―never.‖ Speaking in absolutes can raise a person‘s defenses and cause resistance. 5) Make ―I‖ statements, such as ―I need guidance,‖ instead of ―you‖ statements, such as ―You haven‘t given me guidance.‖ 6) Avoid going to your boss when you‘re emotional. Give yourself a cooling-off period to collect your thoughts and composure. 7) If at all possible, talk to your boss before issues become heated and you become emotionally involved. 8) Be an active listener. Learn to really listen and understand what your boss says. If you missed or weren‘t clear about a point, ask your boss to repeat or clarify it. 9) Try to repeat and rephrase the points your boss makes during a conversation to show that you‘re listening and understanding him or her. 10) Practice good body language. Look at your boss, lean into the conversation and avoid fidgeting. 11) Be assertive, not aggressive. 12) Keep an open mind and be open to compromise. 13) Avoid gossiping or spreading rumors to your boss. 14) Have a positive attitude. 15) Be sure to give your boss praise and recognition when it‘s due. 16) Communicate regularly with your boss to develop and maintain a comfortable relationship. Page | 233

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Estimate the expected length of time for the process Chances are that tempers were frayed, sponsors were unhappy, and team members were working ridiculous hours. Chances are, too, that this happened because someone underestimated the amount of work needed to complete the project. People often underestimate the amount of time needed to implement projects, particularly when they're not familiar with the work that needs to be done. For instance, they may not take into account unexpected events or urgent high priority work; and they may fail to allow for the full complexity of the job. Clearly, this is likely to have serious negative consequences further down the line. This is why it's important to estimate time accurately, if your project is to be successful. In this article, we look at a process for making good time estimates, and we explore some of the estimating methods that you can use. Why Estimate Time Accurately? Accurate time estimation is a crucial skill in project management. Without it, you won't know how long your project will take, and you won't be able to get commitment from the people who need to sign it off. Even more importantly for your career, sponsors often judge whether a project has succeeded or failed depending on whether it has been delivered on time and on budget. To have a chance of being successful as a project manager, you need to be able to negotiate sensible budgets and achievable deadlines. Page | 234

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide How to Estimate Time Accurately Use these steps to make accurate time estimates: Step 1: Understand What's Required Start by identifying all of the work that needs to be done within the project. Use tools to help you do this in sufficient detail. As part of this, make sure that you allow time for meetings, reporting, communications, testing and other activities that are critical to the project's success. Step 2: Order These Activities Now, list all of the activities you identified in the order in which they need to happen. At this stage, you don't need to add in how long you think activities are going to take. However, you might want to note any important deadlines. For example, you might need to get work by the finance department finished before it starts work on \"Year End.\" Step 3: Decide Who You Need to Involve You can do the estimates yourself, or ask others to contribute. Where you can, get the help of the people who will actually do the work, as they are likely to have prior experience to draw upon. By involving them, they'll also take on greater ownership of the time estimates they come up with, and they'll work harder to meet them. Page | 235

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Step 4: Make Your Estimates You're now ready to make your estimates. We've outlined a variety of methods below to help you do this. Whichever methods you choose, bear these basic rules in mind:  To begin with, estimate the time needed for each task rather than for the project as a whole.  The level of detail you need to go into depends on the circumstances. For example, you may only need a rough outline of time estimates for future project phases, but you'll probably need detailed estimates for the phase ahead.  List all of the assumptions, exclusions and constraints that are relevant; and note any data sources that you rely on. This will help you when your estimates are questioned, and will also help you identify any risk areas if circumstances change.  Assume that your resources will only be productive for 80 percent of the time. Build in time for unexpected events such as sickness, supply problems, equipment failure, accidents and emergencies, problem solving, and meetings.  If some people are only working \"part-time\" on your project, bear in mind that they may lose time as they switch between their various roles.  Remember that people are often overly optimistic, and may significantly underestimate the amount of time that it will take for them to complete tasks. Methods for Estimating Time We'll now look at different approaches that you can use to estimate time. You'll probably find it most useful to use a mixture of these techniques. Page | 236

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Bottom-Up Estimating Bottom-up estimating allows you to create an estimate for the project as a whole. To analyze from the \"bottom up,\" break larger tasks down into detailed tasks, and then estimate the time needed to complete each one. Because you're considering each task incrementally, your estimate of the time required for each task is likely to be more accurate. You can then add up the total amount of time needed to complete the plan. Top-Down Estimating In top-down analysis, you develop an overview of the expected timeline first, using past projects or previous experience as a guide. It's often helpful to compare top-down estimates against your bottom-up estimates, to ensure accuracy. Comparative Estimating With comparative estimating, you look at the time it took to do similar tasks, on other projects. Parametric Estimating With this method, you estimate the time required for one deliverable; and then multiply it by the number of deliverables required. For example, if you need to create pages for a website, you'd estimate how much time it would take to do one page, and you'd then multiply this time by the total number of pages to be produced. Page | 237

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Three-Point Estimating To build in a cushion for uncertainty, you can do three estimates – one for the best case, another for the worst case, and a final one for the most likely case. Although this approach requires additional effort to create three separate estimates, it allows you to set more reasonable expectations, based on a more realistic estimate of outcomes. Key Points You need to estimate time accurately if you're going to deliver your project on time and on budget. Without this skill, you won't know how long your project will take, and you won't be able to get commitment from the people required to help you achieve your objective. More than this, you risk agreeing to impossibly short deadlines, with all of the stress, pain, and loss of credibility associated with this. 1. To estimate time effectively, follow this four-step process: 2. Understand what's required. 3. Prioritize activities and tasks. 4. Decide who you need to involve. 5. Do your estimates. Use a variety of estimating methods to get the most accurate time estimates. Set up machine ((Apparel Sewing machine) according to manufacturers’ instructions and production requirements Page | 238

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Industrial machines are set up differently from home machines. With the latter, the motor is built into the machine head itself. The motor on industrials are separate, usually mounted to the underside of the table. This is useful because you can switch them out if they go bad. You may ask which is best but it depends. If you are a baby (like me) and don‘t like fiddling with stuff and want the whistles and bells (automatic thread cutter, easy speed control etc), the servo is best. I‘m slowly upgrading all of my equipment to servos, I love them. Clutch motors are good too but it takes longer to get used to controlling the speed with the foot pedal and they don‘t have the same amenities servos do. Industrial machines are more specialized than home machines. Probably the biggest misconception is that industrials are for heavier work like canvas etc but this isn‘t true. My Adler (the lockstitch) is a ―dressmaker‖ for lighter materials. Sewing heavier weights on it throws off the timing -assuming it‘ll form a stitch. A lockstitch is the most common kind of sewing there is with a top and bottom thread forming a stitch. Regarding operation, the foot pedal (as applied to the servos only) bears mentioning. There are three basic foot positions. You use the tip of your toe on the edge of the pedal closest to you, to lift the foot. You use your full foot to stitch. When you‘re done with the seam and want to back stitch (automatic with the servo) and cut the thread (if you have an automatic thread trimmer, definitely recommended), you leave your foot in place on the pedal or maybe slide it down just a tad but bear down firmly applying pressure with your heel on the pedal edge closest to you. Exactly as though you were ―digging in your heels‖. Page | 239

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide The overlock has two foot pedals. One to lift the presser foot (if needed) and the other to run it. In short, machines with servo motors don‘t have a knee or a hand lift for the presser foot. With automatic back stitching, you don‘t lose one hand to operating a knob or lever. This is great because your hands are free to work the materials. Explosion factor of any of these machines if you do something wrong is zero. Mr. F-I laughs at me but I have told him that women often rate equipment in terms of, if they do something wrong, will the machine explode? He thinks I‘m kidding but you know better. It is pretty hard to mess these up. Speaking of, the worst that can go wrong is in threading. Threading a machine: When you buy a machine, it is nearly always threaded. That is because the dealer ―sews it off‖ before shipping to make sure the unit is operable. The way you change threads on an industrial is to clip the thread at the spindle (never pull it out!) and tie on the new thread with the most basic knot there is. Then unthread the needle, lift the presser foot and pull the thread through the channels and what not from the bottom. When the knot feeds through, clip it off and re-thread the needle from left to right. The bobbin is threaded exactly like a home machine. The direction and thread tail of the bobbin should form a ―9‖ before inserting it into the bobbin case. I learned that from a home sewer, I never could keep it straight before that. All of this is very basic, if you scan the machines and equipment tags on this site, you‘ll find much more detail and information about machines. In the next entry, I will explain the epiphany I had with respect to the main reason we don‘t use pins (and what I originally intended for this entry to be about). Pins prevent optimal handling and feeding of the fabric into an industrial machine. Before I told you that pinning was unnecessary due to foot pressure and also, that pins introduce inaccuracies where there were none. Page | 240

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Until had to teach handling in this class (focusing on advanced topics, I‘m not very experienced at teaching people who‘ve never sewn on an industrial) I didn‘t realize needing to mention that pins prevent optimal feeding of goods. As it happens, the best (most consistent) sewing results are attained by keeping layers as separate as much as is possible until just before they go under the needle. General safety instructions 1. The machine must only be commissioned in full knowledge of the instruction book and operated by persons with appropriate training. 2. Before putting into service also read the safety rules and instructions of the motor supplier. 3. The machine must be used only for the purpose intended. Use of the machine without the safety devices is not permitted. Observe all the relevant safety regulations. 4. When gauge parts are exchanged (e.g. needle, presser foot, needle plate, feed dog and bobbin) when threading, when the workplace is left, and during service work, the machine must be disconnected from the mains by switching off the master switch or disconnecting the mains plug. 5. Daily servicing work must be carried out only by appropriately trained persons. 6. Repairs, conversion and special maintenance work must only be carried out by technicians or persons with appropriate training. 7. For service or repair work on pneumatic systems, disconnect the machine from the compressed air supply system (max. 7-10 bar). Before disconnecting, reduce the pressure of the maintenance unit. Exceptions to this are only adjustments and functions checks made by appropriately trained technicians. Page | 241

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide 8. Work on the electrical equipment must be carried out only by electricians or appropriately trained persons. 9. Work on parts and systems under electric current is not permitted, except as specified in regulations DIN VDE 0105. 10. Conversion or changes to the machine must be authorized by us and made only in adherence to all safety regulations. 11. For repairs, only replacement parts approved by us must be used. 12. Commissioning of the sewing head is prohibited until such time as the entire sewing unit is found to comply with EC directives. 13. The line cord should be equipped with a country-specific mains plug. This work must be carried out by appropriately trained technicians. Use the correct machine, tools (eg: Scissors, Measuring tapes and rulers) and equipment Below you will find a list of essential Sewing Tools, Equipment and Supplies all aiding in helping you Sew like a pro, a brief description is available on how to use them and the types available. Seam Ripper Great piece of equipment but be very careful how you use them. Page | 242

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Sewing Guage A small metal rule with a sliding marker ideal for measuring seam allowance, hems, tucks, button holes etc. Once again a good haberdashery shop can advise you on which is best for yourself. Tape Measure You can buy different kinds of tape measures Analogical – has both imperial and metric 3” Brass End – has literally a 3‖ brass on one end. These can be bought in both (60‖ – 150cm) and (120‖ – 300cm) Needles Best advice I can give on these is jeans needle and for most trousers, skirts, dresses and jackets use a universal/regular needle. There are many different kinds of Sewing needles, twin needles, quilting, embroidery, overlock, blind hem needles the list goes on. Remember there is no rush to learn about every needle take one step at a time. Page | 243

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Overlock Server These are a lot like sewing machines in fact I love these machines, if you have plans to do a lot of sewing save up some cash and get one. They give a professional finish to your seams. Although overlockers require a little extra care because of the cutting and overcasting a lot more lint is created so therefore needs cleaning inside and out more often. If you buy this kind of machine make sure you keep spare blades in the correct position. Lastly make sure you have and read your manual. Thimble Don‘t think about it ―get one‖ unless of course you like pain: no competent sewing person would consider hand sewing without a thimble and one of the first sewing tools you should consider. Pressing Cloth Page | 244

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Is a lightweight cloth that will protect your fabric, As far as your list of sewing supplies goes this one is cheap as chips and will save you from having a shiny backside or seams. Pin Cushion A small cushion for pins or needles. Personally I have two, one for pins and the other for different types of needles. You can buy a magnetised version shaped like a bowl but be careful, keep them away from computerised machines. कऩडा दफाने Page | 245

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Scissors Always buy best quality scissors and keep them sharpened. Blunt scissors can damage fabric, and slow you down. You can buy: “Bent handled” scissors which are used for cutting out “Sewing scissors” are used for trimming seams and interfacing “Pinking scissors” are used for trimming the edges of non-fraying fabric so that overlocking is not necessary, use them carefully as “pinking scissors” are difficult to sharpen. Use thread clippers to cut thread. These work with a spring action blade, once you use thread scissors you‘ll love them. On my Sewing DVD I show you and give advice on how to use scissors as well as other sewing tools used. Set machine controls for the materials being stitched To choose a stitch, simply turn the pattern selection dial in either direction. 1. Raise the needle by turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) so that the mark on the wheel points up. 2. Turn the pattern selection dial in either direction to select the stitch that you want to sew. 3. If necessary, adjust the stitch width and stitch length for best result of sewing. 4. Page | 246

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide (1) Pattern selection dial (2) Chosen pattern number Setting the stitch length dial to the stretch stitch mark (\"SS\", \"SS1\" or \"SS2\") changes the selected pattern to a stretch stitch. 1. Raise the needle by turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) so that the mark on the wheel points up. 2. Set the stitch length dial to the mark \"SS\", \"SS1\" or \"SS2\". 3. Turn the pattern selection dial to select the stretch stitch that you want to sew. (1) Pattern selection dial (2) Stitch length dial Page | 247

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Adjusting the stich width: 1. Raise the needle by turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) so that the mark on the wheel points up. 2. Turn the stitch width dial to adjust the stitch width that you want to sew. (1) Stitch width dial Page | 248

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide Adjusting the stich length: Depending on the selected stitch, you may need to adjust the stitch length for best results. 1. Raise the needle by turning the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) so that the mark on the wheel points up. 2. Turn the stitch length dial to adjust the stitch length that you want to sew. (1) Stitch length dial (2) Shorter (3) Longer Cut the thread appropriately Basic sewing skills will prolong the life of your clothing. Mending usually consists of a small line of running stitches or hemming stitches. When you‘ve completed your line of stitching, it is necessary to secure the thread with a knot. Doing so is very simple! Leave some excess thread. Try to leave at least three inches of extra thread so that you can successfully secure a stitch without losing the end of the thread. Make a loop. Insert the needle under the nearby stitch and pull it under the stitch until it forms a loop. Page | 249

Industrial Sewing Machine Operator Participant Guide  Note: For single or double thread you can alternatively make a loop with only the string itself. Holding the thread in one hand and the needle in the other, loop the thread over the needle and pull the needle through the loop. Then slowly pull the loop down until it is flush with the fabric and tighten it. This will make a knot Use the needle to make a knot. Slowly pull the needle through the loop and pull it tight. This will cause the beginning of a knot.  Note: With double thread, you can also take the thread out of the needle (leaving you with both strands of thread hanging from the back of the fabric) and fold the left side of the thread over and back under the right side several times like you are tying your shoes (just the first step of shoe-tying, not the loop parts).  Repeat this step several times to ensure the knot is secure. Remove the excess thread. Cut the extra thread on the outside of the knot so the back of the fabric looks clean and uncluttered. Use very sharp scissors. Thread the needle in the machine and adjust the needle as per the requirements For new sewing machine users, threading the machine can seem daunting, and even put you off the task of sewing altogether. Rather than let your sewing machine sit and gather more dust, take these simple steps to thread your machine and put it to use. You'll be crafting up quilts and clothes in no time! Disengage the needle. This can usually be done with one full rotation of the hand- wheel on the side of the machine. Do this so that your needle won't be flailing wildly while you wind the bobbin. Page | 250