Cobbler Career Description
The manufacturing of footwear includes the cutting of the upper leather, leather and synthetic soles, the stitching of the upper leather, putting in the eyelets and sticking the upper leather to the sole.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
A distinction must be made between the private cobbler and the manufacturer of footwear in a factory.
The private cobbler works in a small workshop, or even a small outbuilding. The minimum of machinery is used, and most of the work is done by hand. Most orders are from private people, but private cobblers mainly concentrate on the repair of shoes.
A factory is much more spacious than the private cobbler's workshop. In a factory the production of footwear is mostly done by machines.
The equipment in a shoe-factory, used to stitch the top portion of the shoe, is similar to those in a clothing factory, but it is a bit bigger with different adjustments, for example the button, eyelet-sewing, punching, cutting and buttonhole machines. The material used is leather and synthetics and some of the work is done by hand. Shoe-factories are designed so that the different tasks succeed in a logical order. The work is of a repetitive nature.
Statistics show that there are a number of people with disabilities active in the footwear trade. The nature and degree of disability determines the task, which the employees with disabilities can do.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Employees in the footwear factory must be willing to do the same work on the machine every day. Manual dexterity and the skilful handling of tools are important.
Where can I work?
During economic stability there is a continuous demand for employees, but in times of economic recession the demand decreases. The cobbler is employed in large footwear manufacturing plants.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Cobblers can start their own businesses. Most of their orders for new shoes are from private people, but most private cobblers concentrate on repairs.
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