Job: The Bristol Weaving Mill Ltd. Production Assistant Role

The Bristol Weaving Mill Ltd. Production Assistant Role
Full time role 35 hours per week to commence in February 2022
Salary £18,000 per annum

The Bristol Weaving Mill  (BWM) are looking for an organised and proactive weaving mill Production Assistant with advanced knowledge of woven textiles, and meticulous attention to detail. Reporting directly to the Production Manager this role requires a confident and skilled hand-weaver with an interest in industrial manufacturing and sustainable textiles. The successful applicant will have excellent communication skills, be self-motivated and hard-working, able to follow instruction and work well in a dynamic small team.

Bristol Weaving Mill work across both fashion and interiors, designing, developing and manufacturing woven products and fabric for a variety of outcomes. End uses include but are not limited to, Ready to Wear and Couture Menswear and Womenswear fabrics, finished shawls and scarfs, interior drapery, tapestry panels, upholstery fabric and finished interior soft accessories and products such as throws, blankets and cushions. From their largest commercial client to their smallest personal project, each of their client relationships is based on offering a service catered to their individual needs.A thorough grasp of the technical elements of weaving, woven fabrics and handlooms is needed to support the technical and administrative elements of this role. These skills are vital for accurate project sampling and production, as well as enabling clear communication with the mill design team, suppliers, and subcontractors. A real passion for hand-weaving and woven design is essential for this opportunity to contribute to a small but growing creative business.

 Production Assistant Role Job Description:

Supply Chain:

• Assisting the Production Manager with procurement in line with project timelines, including issuing Purchase Orders, monitoring the status of deliveries, and weighing in and out of BWM raw materials and stock.
• Communicating with sub-contractors for spinning, warping, weaving, finishing and other external processes such as cut-and-sew, labeling and embroidery. Providing technical direction for each stage, following up and communicating with the Production Manager and Product Development team to keep projects on track.
• Preparing finishing sheets, Quality Control management and recording.

Organisation and Logistics:

• Assisting the Production Manager with outsourced logistical operations including transportation of client orders and materials between sub-contractors and suppliers in line with project timelines.
• Packing and distribution of fabric rolls, yarn and products in line with project timescales.
• Assisting with organization of stock and annual stock checks.
• Archiving of finished projects including technical files and samples of woven fabrics and finishes. General archive management.
• General house keeping – regular tidying, keeping space organized and manageable.

Technical and Weaving:

• Assisting the Production Manager with the creation and organisation of CAD files and weave tickets for in-house and outsourced production designs.
• Under the direction of the Production Manager and Product Development team, working on hand-woven samples ready for industrial application.
• Hand-weaving of production lengths and products, ensuring targets are met and projects are kept within the critical path timescale.
• Practical weaving tasks such as setting up of weaving looms from warp winding to threading and reeding.
• Checking and mending loom-state fabric.
• General maintenance and upkeep of hand-weaving looms to ensure the looms are weaving in an optimal way.
• Product make-up processes to client specifications, including sewing labels and cutting blankets and scarfs.

In-house Industrial Operations:

• With the support of the Production Manager, working on the general set-up and operation of in-house industrial loom.
• Creating, checking through and assembling punch-cards for industrial weaving loom.
• Assisting with the organization of warps for the in-house industrial weaving loom in line with project scheduling, including yarn ordering and accurate preparation of warping information.
• Record, file and archive swatches and technical information sheets for each project including loom setup, fabric or product specification and production sheets.
• Continued training and development in industrial loom operation and maintenance including attending training sessions from loom manufacturer, study of technical handbook.

Training is provided for operation of in-house looms and CAD software, but a thorough understanding of hand-weaving and woven construction, and previous experience with some weaving software is essential for the role.

COVID-19: BWM have followed all government guidelines and undertaken the necessary risk assessments and safety precautions with regards to limiting employees’ potential exposure to the Novel Coronavirus and will continue to update our practises as the situation progresses.

To apply please email your CV together with a covering letter and your digital portfolio to juliet@bristolweavingmill.co.uk by 6pm on Monday 24th^th January 2022.