Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Shoe and Leather Workers

Production Occupations

Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers

Inspect finished products to ensure that shoes have been completed according to specifications.

Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.

Operate or tend machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.

Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.

Switch on machines, lower pressure feet or rollers to secure parts, and start machine stitching, using hand, foot, or knee controls.

Draw thread through machine guide slots, needles, and presser feet in preparation for stitching, or load rolls of wire through machine axles.

Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.

Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.

Test machinery to ensure proper functioning before beginning production.

Select and place spools of thread or pre-wound bobbins into shuttles, or onto spindles or loupers of stitching machines.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Production control software

Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft operating system

Microsoft Word

Inventory tracking software

Industrial sewing machines

Patch machines

Knife sharpeners

Scissor sharpeners

Shoe cleaning machines

Shoe shine machines

Automatic staple guns

Multipurpose screwdrivers

Bobbin winders

Shoe nailers

Shoe stretchers

Leather punches

Leather pressing machines

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Once a month or more but not every week

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Important

How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers