Print Binding and Finishing Specialist

USDOL

National (OA)

Documents

Individual state requirements may vary. Please contact your local apprenticeship office to ensure this version is suitable to your state’s requirements.

Work Process Schedule

Work Process Content

On the Job Training

Anonymous

Skills

Machine Setup & Operation

Install or adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, or clamps to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specialized sizes.
Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.
Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming.
Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition.
Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.
Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools.

Book Assembly & Finishing

Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters.
Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.
Bind new books, using hand tools such as bone folders, knives, hammers, or brass binding tools.
Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order.
Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment.

Specialized Binding & Design

Imprint or emboss lettering, designs, or numbers on book covers, using gold, silver, or colored foil, and stamping machines.
Compress sewed or glued signatures, using hand presses or smashing machines.
Design original or special bindings for limited editions or other custom binding projects.

Quality Control

Examine stitched, collated, bound, or unbound product samples for defects, such as imperfect bindings, ink spots, torn pages, loose pages, or loose or uncut threads.

Material Handling & Preparation

Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine
Cut binder boards to specified dimensions, using board shears, hand cutters, or cutting machines.
Prepare finished books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets.
Load materials into production equipment.

Record-Keeping & Administration

Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine setup.
Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.

Client & Team Interaction

Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans.
Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines.

Related Instruction Outline

Similar Programs

Print Binding and Finishing Specialist (0033CBV1) Competency-Based

Competency • 51-5113.00

Print Binding and Finishing Specialist (0033CB V1) Competency-Based

Competency • 51-5113.00

Additive 3D Printing Technician

Print Binding and Finishing Specialist

Work Process Content

Related Instruction Content

Similar Programs