What Do Shoe Machine Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Shoe Machine Operators operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts. They also study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.

Other tasks include:

• Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
• Turn screws to regulate size of staples.
• Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
• Turn setscrews on needle bars, and position required numbers of needles in stitching machines.
• Switch on machines, lower pressure feet or rollers to secure parts, and start machine stitching, using hand, foot, or knee controls.
• Collect shoe parts from conveyer belts or racks and place them in machinery such as ovens or on molds for dressing, returning them to conveyers or racks to send them to the next work station.

We asked Shoe Machine Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Shoe Machine Operators fill shuttle spools with thread from a machine’s bobbin winder by pressing a foot treadle. They turn screws to regulate size of staples.

A typical day for a Shoe Machine Operator and Tender will also include:

• Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
• Test machinery to ensure proper functioning before beginning production.
• Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
• Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
• Turn setscrews on needle bars, and position required numbers of needles in stitching machines.

We asked some Shoe Machine Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	3% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	31% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	3% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	50% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Shoe Machine Operators also perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles. They may also turn knobs to adjust stitch length and thread tension.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Shoe Machine Operators Collect shoe parts from conveyer belts or racks and place them in machinery such as ovens or on molds for dressing, returning them to conveyers or racks to send them to the next work station. They might also Draw thread through machine guide slots, needles, and presser feet in preparation for stitching, or load rolls of wire through machine axles.

In addition, they Hammer loose staples for proper attachment.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Fill shuttle spools with thread from a machine’s bobbin winder by pressing a foot treadle.

To some Shoe Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Shoe Machine Operator and Tender, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes516042.htm