What is textile engineering?
Textile engineering is an area of engineering that uses scientific and engineering principles to produce or improve textile products, such as apparel, upholstery or materials for medical devices. A textile engineer is a professional who researches and studies textile materials, including fibers, yarn and fabrics, to design quality products and determine new production techniques. For example, textile engineers may develop heat-resistant fabric for firefighter uniforms or create biomedical materials for artificial organs. Textile engineers can work in many areas of textile manufacturing, including research and development, production, sales, quality control or management.
What do textile engineers do?
Because textile engineering is a broad industry that involves many areas of manufacturing, textile engineers can work in a variety of positions. However, some of their common job responsibilities can include:
Researching materials: Textile engineers may research new and existing materials to understand their properties and develop ways to improve fabric.
Developing fibers: These professionals may develop new fibers and test synthetic or natural fibers to determine the best materials to use for a variety of products.
Determining materials: These engineers may determine the raw materials they want to use to create fabrics and contact suppliers to coordinate those materials.
Improving manufacturing processes: Textile engineers may observe manufacturing processes and coordinate with technicians to identify ways to make operations more efficient.
Performing quality control: These engineers may implement and oversee quality control processes to ensure the final product meets quality standards.
Collaborating with other teams: Textile engineers often collaborate with sales, marketing and distribution teams to help them understand the features of the textile product and how to promote it to consumers.
