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Technical dyer and colourist

Technical dyer and colourist

Engineering and manufacturing

Level 4 - Higher Technical Occupation

Producing highly specialised dyes and colours.

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Reference: OCC0678

Status: inventory_2Occupational standard without apprenticeship

Average (median) salary: £24,155 per year

SOC 2020 code: 8112 Textile process operatives

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 8112/00 Textile process operatives
  • 8113/00 Chemical and related process operatives

Technical Education Products

ST0678:

Technical dyer and colourist

(Level 4)

Retired

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Bulmer & Lumb Group, Bower Roebuck & Co Ltd, A W Hainsworth & Sons Ltd, Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, DP Dyers, Pincroft Dyeing & Printing, Atkinson Dyeing Company, Century Dyeing, Holmfirth Dyers, Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd, Park Valley Dyers, British Millerain, Lappet Manufacturing, Standfast & Barracks, Society of Dyers & Colourists, English Fine Cottons, H & C Whitehead, Mallalieus of Delph, Samuel Weller & Sons, SIL Holdings, Marton Mills Co Ltd, Shirley Dyeing & Finishing, Pincroft Dyeing & Printing, Burberry, Camira Fabrics, Heathcoat Fabrics, WooltexUK, J Bradbury Fabrics

Summary

The Technical dyer and colourist occupation is found within the textile manufacturing sector. The broad purpose of the occupation is to produce highly specialised dyes and colours to provide dye and colour chemistry in the production of textiles, apparel, upholstery and fashion fabrics.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide variety of individuals from the most senior technologists, leaders and directors, to shop floor operatives. Technical Dyers and Colourists work in a factory environment, interchanging between manufacturing facilities and laboratories. Almost all their work is indoors and within a controlled environments where they deal with customers by telephone or email over technical data/job sheets.

An employee in this occupation is responsible for the exact scientific analysis, accurate measurements, trials, production and quality of dyed, pigmented and colour applications to clothing in a heavily industrialised/mechanised scenario. They work in a senior role and lead a team of dyehouse operatives. They report directly to senior management and directors and have overall scrutiny and responsibility for the accuracy of manufactured products within the dyeing and colouration environment. Technical Dyers and Colourists are employed across micro businesses, SMEs and large businesses, ranging from small dyehouse businesses to large chemical, clothing and retail brand businesses.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Bulmer & Lumb Group, Bower Roebuck & Co Ltd, A W Hainsworth & Sons Ltd, Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, DP Dyers, Pincroft Dyeing & Printing, Atkinson Dyeing Company, Century Dyeing, Holmfirth Dyers, Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd, Park Valley Dyers, British Millerain, Lappet Manufacturing, Standfast & Barracks, Society of Dyers & Colourists, English Fine Cottons, H & C Whitehead, Mallalieus of Delph, Samuel Weller & Sons, SIL Holdings, Marton Mills Co Ltd, Shirley Dyeing & Finishing, Pincroft Dyeing & Printing, Burberry, Camira Fabrics, Heathcoat Fabrics, WooltexUK, J Bradbury Fabrics

Typical job titles include:

Colour chemist
Colour scientist
Dye technologist
Dye-house technician
Laboratory manager
Laboratory technician
Manufacturing managers
Senior dye-house supervisor

Keywords:

Colour Chemist
Colour Scientist
Dye Technologist
Dye-house Technician
Laboratory Manager
Laboratory Technican
Manufacturing Managers
Senior Dye-house Supervisor

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Dyeing and colouration of textiles/fabrics in the overall textile supply chain including the history of dyeing in the UK, the dyeing techniques have evolved and the common practices of dyehouse operations
K2: Strategies for manufacturing including global resourcing, strategic planning, management culture and expectation and plant operations that effect the manufacturing process
K3: Product requirements used in dyeing and colouration of yarns and fabrics including production application, variety of use, innovation, cost control and pricing fluctuation
K4: Risk assessment & management, hazard identification & rectification, safe working systems and an understanding of the legal frameworks that affect textile production, such as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, (CoSHH), Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) and any other statutory regulations
K5: Fibre processes, fibre types and specific dyes for coloration manufacturing and how fibres react under chemical processes
K6: Background and nature of the global textile industry, including how the textile colouration markets are served worldwide, the goods that are procured, the services to business, customer expectations and who the supply chain works
K7: Hazard protocols including safe storage of dyestuffs and chemicals
K8: Dye and colour production equipment used for dyeing and colouring fibres, yarns and fabrics for processing
K9: Colour chemistry in the manufacturing process and how it affects the finished product. This includes the technical knowledge of protein fibres, cellulosic fibres, synthetic fibres, and man-made fibres and the structures of dye molecules
K10: Chemical and physical theories that underpin textiles from raw material through to finished coloured fabric/garment including colour physics, colour measurement and the implementation in a laboratory and production setting.
K11: Process of applying chemistry to textile colouration including reactions, pH control, methodology and rationale including which fibre with which dye you would select for usage.
K12: Quality and environmental standards appropriate for colour fastness both legislated and advisory in relation to effluent, safe chemical usage, organic textiles and other materials
K13: Machinery and engineering design, the flow and process of production, dye pressure, suitability, and product preparation used within dye/colour machinery and the effect of processing on product quality
K14: Environmental controls and implications of failure
K15: A range of industry ICT systems to determine the correct dye colour

S1: Create and monitor dye profiles for batch production and batch reporting, ensuring that appropriate decision making to tackle fault or quality issues is effectively undertaken
S2: Develop operational plans that affect dye manufacturing, including the completion of specialist, technical reports and data to articulate results
S3: Perform effectively within a team environment and build strong positive working relationships with internal and external customers, colleagues, stakeholders and suppliers to ensure the mission and the ethos of the company is maintained.
S4: Identify and formulate problem solving technical problems associated with errors or critical failures within the coloration industry
S5: Carry out technical dye profiling for batch production, batch reporting analytics and problem solving/decision making to tackle fault or quality issues
S6: Use pressure (jet) and atmospheric dyeing techniques and machinery to produce dyed fibres, yarns and fabrics including jig/winch, loose stock, vat, hank, yarn and top dyeing variations
S7: Identify types of dye process needed to ascertain variations and differences of natural and man-made fibres, such as polyesters, wools, cottons and nylons
S8: Carry out technical steps in the manufacturing selection process to ensure non-routine dye treatments and application techniques are consistent
S9: Effective team performance, building positive relationships with stakeholders to ensure the mission and the ethos of the company is maintained throughout the customer journey
S10: Effectively communicate at all levels, detailing dye and colouration information with clarity, logic and accuracy demonstrating a high degree of technical detail to stakeholders
S11: Maintain atmospheric and pressure dyeing systems, ensuring that presses, hoists and dispensary equipment including effluent control are managed and maintained, machinery utilisation is maximised and downtime minimised through effective maintenance
S12: Contribute to operational plans including specialist, technical reports and data to reinforce results and decision making such as Identifying priorities that affect the running of production
S13: Scrutinise the impact of environment science on dyeing and colouration processes and manage treatments that impact on the environment (such as spillage, effluent leakage, process controlling, implication and remedial activity)
S14: Analyse information, formulate judgements and articulate reasoned arguments through reflection, review and evaluation
S15: Use relevant ICT systems and machinery such as flow control, valve pressure, valve opening machines and spectrometers to determine the correct dye colour

B1: Acts with honesty and integrity as key indicators of competence whilst promoting a collective ownership of performance through a 'zero error/right first time' approach
B2: Flexibility and adaptability in the workplace, showing positivity in dealing with changing patterns to meet business priorities
B3: Responsible approach to manage, mitigate and avoid risk through self-awareness, openness and sensitivity to diversity in terms of function, people, culture, business and management activity
B4: Show energy and enthusiasm in the role including dealing with setbacks, coping under pressure
B5: Self-manage work constraints in terms of resource, planning, behaviour, motivation and enterprise
B6: Ensure that client confidentiality is honoured and maintained consistently
B7: Logical thinker, using cognitive skills to analyse information and identify solutions

Duties

Duty D1

Undertake production planning and scheduling of dyeing machines

Duty D2

Generate dyestuff recipes for shade colour and dyeing containing dyes and auxiliary chemicals

Duty D3

Programme and monitor computer controlled dye vessels equipment using control systems to ensure dye colouration cycles run to optimum conditions

Duty D4

Managing the dye-house production team

Duty D5

Control stock and ordering of dyes and chemicals to maximise efficiency and production forecasting

Duty D6

Produce dye and colour recipes (including recipe adjustments) for batch processing, ensuring that environmental controls for chemicals usage are managed and maintained

Duty D7

Undertake client liaison for production planning and delivery to meet client expectations

Duty D8

Carry out colour fastness tests and control the quality of finished products before issuing final authorisations for dyeing and colouring of materials

Duty D9

Undertake colour matching in the laboratory including chemical and physical testing of fibres, yarns and fabrics

Duty D10

Use bespoke computer software to ensure product specification and consistent testing, analysis and results reporting

Duty D11

Control the quality of sample and bulk production in line with industry specifications