Car Upholsterer

Motor vehicle upholsterers do the following:

- remove old upholstery and linings from vehicles
- take measurements and select appropriate materials to be used
- measure and cut materials to fit the desired shapes, using a variety of hand and electric cutting tools
- stitch materials together and fasten in place
- finish with trims and edging.

Skill
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

A high school diploma is generally required to work as motor vehicle upholsterer.
- Sew têxtile-based articles: Sew different products based on têxtiles and wearing apparel articles. Combine good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and physical and mental stamina.
- Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
- Provide customized upholstery: Install custom upholstery, according to the customer’s individual requests and preferences.
- Use manual sewing techniques: Use manual sewing and stitching techniques to manufacture or repair fabrics or têxtile-based articles.
- Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
- Manufacture fabric furnishings: Fabricate and design curtains, seat coverings, carpets and other fabric furnishings by cutting and sewing fabric and other materials.
- Install transport vehicle interior components: Use hand and power tools to install interior components of boats, aircrafts and railway cars such as seats, armrests, floor coverings, lining, storage compartments or lavatories.
- Install floor coverings: Install carpets and other floor coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the floors.
- Install automotive electrical equipment: Place electrical circuits and wiring in vehicles such as lighting and voltage gauges. These distribute and regulate electrical power and supply it to meters and other devices in the car.
- Upholster transport equipment’s interior pieces: Upholster seats and other transport equipment interior pieces by using hand and power tools.
- Analyse the need for technical resources: Define and make a list of the required resources and equipment based on the technical needs of the production.
- Install car electronics: Place electrically operated accessories in vehicles such as batteries which power heating systems, radios and anti-theft systems.
- Cut fabrics: Cut fabrics and other wearing apparel materials considering measures, placement of the fabrics in the cutting table in multiple layers, and making the most efficient usage of the fabric avoiding waste. Cut fabrics by hand, or using electric knives, or other cutting tools depending on the fabric. Use computerised systems or automatic cutting machines.
- Sew pieces of fabric: Operate basic or specialised sewing machines whether domestic or industrial ones, sewing pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather in order to manufacture or repair wearing apparels, making sure the threads are selected according to specifications.
- Install wall coverings: Install curtains, wall panels, window shields and other wall coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the walls.
- Perform upholstery repair: Repair/restore damaged upholstery for a wide range of vehicles; use materials such as fabric, leather, plastic or vinyl.
- Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
- Install transport equipment lighting: Install lighting elements in transport equipment according to blueprints and other technical plans.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 24 months