According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| 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. | 91% |
| Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up. | 91% |
| Install or adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, guides, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, or clamps, to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specified sizes. | 89% |
| Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters. | 89% |
| Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes. | 89% |
| Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment. | 88% |
| Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed. | 88% |
| Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms. | 88% |
| Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition. | 88% |
| Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders. | 86% |
| Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming. | 86% |
| Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine. | 85% |
| Bind new books, using hand tools such as bone folders, knives, hammers, or brass binding tools. | 85% |
| Cut binder boards to specified dimensions, using board shears, hand cutters, or cutting machines. | 85% |
| Perform highly skilled hand finishing binding operations, such as grooving or lettering. | 84% |
| Imprint or emboss lettering, designs, or numbers on book covers, using gold, silver, or colored foil, and stamping machines. | 84% |
| Compress sewed or glued signatures, using hand presses or smashing machines. | 84% |
| Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans. | 84% |
| Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order. | 84% |
| Prepare finished books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets. | 83% |
| Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed. | 81% |
| Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines. | 80% |
| Design original or special bindings for limited editions or other custom binding projects. | 79% |
| Punch holes in and fasten paper sheets, signatures, or other material, using hand or machine punches and staplers. | 76% |
| Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools. | 71% |
| Apply color to edges of signatures using brushes, pads, or atomizers. | 68% |
