Cloth/Garment Examiner

Also known as:

Examiner, Cloth/Garment
Garment Examiner

Introduction

Cloth/garment examiners work for clothing manufacturers. They inspect finished items of clothing for faults in the cloth and any defects in manufacturing.

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Work Activities

Cloth/garment examiners are usually experienced sewing machinists who check for faults in cloth or garments, as the garments are produced and before they are sent out to customers. Common faults include holes in the fabric, loose threads, bad stitching or misplaced labels.

Garments are often examined a second time in the finishing department as they are being pressed or packed.

Garments are matched against measurement, pattern and design specifications. If a fault is found, the garment examiner checks the batch number on it, to trace where in the factory it was made. It is then returned, to be put right. Examiners also fill in fault report sheets to help identify production problems.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must have a good knowledge of cloth/garment production. You need to be able to concentrate and pay careful attention to detail.

You should be assertive enough to explain faults to colleagues clearly and tactfully.

Good eyesight is needed, so your eyesight and colour vision may be tested.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Cloth/garment examiners earn in the range of £220 - £250 a week, rising to £260 - £310. Higher earners can make around £350 a week.

Examiners usually work a basic 39-hour week, which may include early starts and shift work.

Employers throughout the UK are manufacturing companies of varying size, producing many different types of clothing. However, as there is usually only one examiner checking the work of many machinists, opportunities are limited.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

You can enter this job with relevant skills and abilities, gained, for example, as a sewing machinist.

Practical work in the clothing manufacturing industry is also valuable. An interest in fashion and design can be helpful.

• 3% of people in occupations such as clothing/garment examiners work part-time.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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