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Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

SOC 51-9031.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers hand and power cutting, trimming, defect inspection, material layout, and product marking performed by hand cutters and trimmers across manufacturing environments including textiles, plastics, food, glass, stone, and metal, calibrated to Job Zone 2 vocational preparation and on-the-job learning.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Work orders and dimension sheets — read and interpret under direct supervisor guidance on a production floor.
  2. Defective items with spots, stains, chips, or unacceptable finishes — identify and flag for discard following established inspection protocols.
  3. Hand tools such as knives and scissors — select and use under close supervision to perform basic cuts on assigned materials.
  4. Cutting tables — unroll and lay out material with assistance, following designated positioning instructions.
  5. Templates and patterns — position on material under direction to locate basic cut points on a standard production run.
  6. Chalk and pencils — apply to mark cutting lines around templates following demonstrated procedures in a training environment.
  7. Loose thread ends and excess plastic — trim from finished products using scissors or snips under direct observation.
  8. Product labels including grades and sizes — apply or mark on finished items according to provided specifications.
  9. Scrap and waste material — separate and dispose of according to basic workplace housekeeping procedures.
  10. Safety rules for hand and power cutting tools — follow consistently during introductory on-the-job training.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Work orders specifying dimensions, cut locations, and quantities — read and execute with minimal supervisor input during routine production shifts.
  2. Material defects such as snags, scratches, and unacceptable shapes — assess and sort items independently using established quality criteria.
  3. Knives, scissors, and bench-mounted tools — operate proficiently to cut and shape textiles, food, or plastic parts to required dimensions.
  4. Rules, scales, and patterns — apply to measure and position materials accurately, maximizing yield on standard cutting assignments.
  5. Cutting lines and layout points — mark using squares, straightedges, and scribes with consistent accuracy across repeated production cycles.
  6. Portable power cutting tools — use with appropriate control and steadiness on familiar materials in a supervised production setting.
  7. Identification numbers, trademarks, and model numbers — mark on products reliably following brand and quality standards.
  8. Material rolls and flat stock — mount and align on cutting tables efficiently to maintain steady workflow output.
  9. Time constraints on production quotas — manage personal work pace to meet daily targets with consistent attendance and dependability.
  10. Spreadsheet and word processing software — use at a basic level to record cut counts and review digital work instructions.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Non-routine defect patterns including borderline finish flaws — evaluate autonomously and make disposition decisions that balance quality and yield on the production floor.
  2. Complex or multi-layered materials such as glass, stone, or laminated textiles — cut and shape to precise specifications using the full range of hand and power tools.
  3. Template placement and measurement strategies — optimize independently across varied material sizes to achieve maximum yield with minimal waste.
  4. Cutting sequences for mixed-product work orders — plan and execute without oversight, adjusting for material variability mid-run.
  5. Dimensional tolerances and finish requirements — verify against work orders and escalate or resolve discrepancies before downstream processing.
  6. Marking systems for grades, sizes, and trademarks — apply across diverse product lines, maintaining legibility and regulatory compliance.
  7. Production pace and tool condition — monitor continuously, performing minor tool maintenance or adjustments to sustain quality output.
  8. Digital work instructions via email and spreadsheet software — retrieve, interpret, and act on independently within a modern manufacturing environment.
  9. Ergonomic and safe cutting techniques for repetitive tasks — demonstrate consistently, reducing injury risk during extended production shifts.
  10. Incoming material quality and cutting table setup — inspect and configure end-to-end, ensuring all conditions meet standards before a production run begins.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Workplace cutting and trimming standards — establish and document to align team practices with plant-wide quality and efficiency goals.
  2. New hand cutters and trimmers — mentor through structured on-the-job instruction, demonstrating defect identification, tool use, and safe practices.
  3. Process inefficiencies in material layout and yield — analyze using production data and recommend corrective changes to supervisors or industrial engineers.
  4. Quality inspection criteria for defects and finishes — develop or refine in collaboration with quality assurance, reflecting current product specifications.
  5. Team workload and cutting assignments — coordinate across a shift to balance skill levels and meet production schedules under variable demand.
  6. Equipment selection and hand-tool procurement needs — assess and advise management on acquisitions that improve throughput or ergonomics.
  7. Cross-functional communication between production, quality, and planning teams — facilitate to resolve recurring cutting defects or dimension discrepancies.
  8. Spreadsheet-based production tracking systems — maintain and interpret at the department level to report yield, waste, and output metrics.
  9. Safety and compliance culture within the cutting and trimming area — model and reinforce, conducting peer checks and contributing to incident reviews.
  10. Continuous improvement initiatives for material handling and trimming workflows — lead at the department level, driving measurable reductions in rework and scrap.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors35 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Aluminum Sheet Cutter · Basting Puller · Belt Splicer · Bright Cutter · Bucker · Buttoner · Buttonhole Maker · Buttonhole Marker · Candle Cutter · Cane Cutter · Carpet Cutter · Chalk Cutter
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingTime ManagementReading ComprehensionMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingCritical Thinking
Knowledge domains
Production and Processing
Abilities
Manual DexterityNear VisionInformation OrderingArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionStatic StrengthSpeech RecognitionOral ComprehensionCategory Flexibility
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessPerseveranceIntegrityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Spreadsheet softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
  2. Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
  3. Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
  4. Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
  5. Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
  6. Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
  7. Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
  8. Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
CIP education codes
52.020547.060747.060847.060947.061548.0503

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.