Textile Technology
What is Textile Technology and Management?
Textile technology involves design, research and development, implementation of automated systems for fiber production, handling, utilization, processing, technical services and management, product development, environmental control, quality control and plant operations. It also includes process engineering, plant and design engineering, technical sales and support, and manufacturing and corporate management.
Textile management involves manufacturing and corporate management, industrial engineering, technical services, quality control, cost and inventory control, purchasing, marketing, technical sales, customer relations, and product development.
What is a Textile Technologist?
Textile technologists have scientific knowledge of the structure and properties of textiles, as well as the conversion of fibers or filaments to all types of textiles, such as spinning, weaving, knitting, the manufacture of non-woven materials, dyeing, printing and finishing.
What are you going to do in this occupation?
The raw materials of textile manufacturing pass through many hands before they become finished fabrics. Raw materials may include natural fibers such as wool and cotton or synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester. Regardless of the raw material used, most textiles are produced by spinning the fiber into yarn, weaving or knitting yarn into fabric and dyeing, printing and finishing the fabric. Most employees in the textile industry are directly involved in production, either working with their hands or operating machinery. Important to the textile industry are textile technologists who have special talents and post-school training in order to perform effectively on technical, supervisory and administrative levels. Textile technologists have technical knowledge of the structure and properties of raw and finished materials, as well as the conversion of fibers to textiles, and the problems involved in the production of textile fabrics. They can specialize in any of the textile related production or research and development areas, such as sewing thread, hosiery yarns, apparel fabrics, household fabrics, industrial fabrics, carpeting, medical fabrics and non-wovens used for environmental applications. Textile technologists may be engaged in quality control of products or processes and supervision of the production of textiles. They are also concerned with organizational and personnel problems associated with running a factory. Textile technologists also assist with technical advice in organizations concerned with the supply or purchase of products used by the textile industry or in technical sales where technologists advise customers on the best use of suitable products.
