CUTTING TRAINEE

Position Summary:

The Cutting Department Trainee is responsible for learning and developing the skills necessary to accurately cut fabric for upholstery production and repairs while maintaining Vanguard Furniture's quality standards. This position will receive training in both repair cutting and automated cutting processes, including hand-cutting techniques and operation of automated Gerber cutting equipment.

The Trainee will learn to read and interpret cutting requests, production tickets, patterns, and specifications; identify fabric and pattern requirements; operate cutting equipment safely; and prepare cut materials for subsequent production. This position requires strong attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work accurately and efficiently in a production environment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Learn and perform hand-cutting and recutting of fabric for upholstery repairs according to Vanguard Furniture's quality standards and specifications.
• Learn and utilize 4-way matching, full-flow cutting, and other appropriate cutting techniques to ensure accurate fabric alignment and consistency.
• Learn to read and interpret production tickets, cutting requests, patterns, and job specifications.
• Check fabric swatches and verify fabric, options, and other information before beginning a cutting job.
• Learn to spread and position fabric on the cutting table according to specified requirements.
• Learn to set up and operate automated Gerber cutting equipment to cut fabric accurately and efficiently.
• Enter commands into the computer control console to retrieve preprogrammed cutting instructions and operate the automated cutting machine.
• Monitor cutting equipment during operation and report malfunctions or other issues to the supervisor or programmer.
• Remove cut plies from the cutting table and properly identify, mark, bundle, bag, and label cut materials for subsequent production use.
• Verify that all required parts are included and properly identified before bundling materials.
• Learn to identify and communicate issues involving pattern design, fabric alignment, material quality, or cutting specifications.
• Complete corrections or repairs to assigned work before beginning new pieces, when applicable.
• Develop the ability to identify and prevent cutting errors to minimize material waste and production delays.
• Prioritize assigned work and process cutting requests in a timely manner to support production flow.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Wear required personal protective equipment, including metal cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and work shoes.
• Follow all safety procedures and promptly report unsafe conditions to the Department Supervisor.
• Work cooperatively with team members and other production departments to ensure materials are prepared accurately and efficiently.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Willingness and ability to learn fabric cutting methods and procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy while performing repetitive tasks.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to read and understand production tickets, job notes, and cutting specifications.
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn computerized cutting equipment.
• Ability to identify differences in fabric, patterns, options, and cutting specifications.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to work independently as skills and proficiency are developed.
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and coworkers.
• English proficiency required for reading production tickets and job notes.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during the work shift.
• Ability to frequently use hands and arms to handle, position, cut, and move fabric.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move fabric and cut materials as required.
• Ability to safely operate hand-cutting tools and automated cutting equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive movements while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Training & Development

The Cutting Department Trainee will receive on-the-job training in:

• Fabric identification and inspection
• Production tickets and cutting specifications
• Hand-cutting and repair cutting techniques
• 4-way matching and full-flow cutting
• Fabric spreading and positioning
• Gerber automated cutting equipment
• Computerized cutting programs and controls
• Part identification, bundling, and labeling
• Quality standards and inspection procedures
• Department safety procedures

The Trainee is expected to progressively develop the knowledge, skills, and proficiency necessary to perform cutting responsibilities independently and meet established quality and productivity standards.

General Sign-Off 

The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to policies. 

I have read and understand this explanation and job description. 

Signature: _______________________________ 

Date: _______________________________