Engineering

Diploma in Weaving Machine Maintenance Technician

Weaving Machine Maintenance Technician Level 6 is a TVET CDACC-accredited diploma programme listed on KUCCPS under the Technical Courses cluster.

The curriculum was developed by TVET CDACC under the CBET framework and covers weaving machine operations, preventive and corrective maintenance, loom mechanisms including shedding, picking, and beating-up motions, shuttle and shuttleless loom technologies, electronic loom controls, hydraulic and pneumatic systems in textile machinery, troubleshooting and fault diagnosis, and textile.

Kenya's textile manufacturing sector, particularly in Export Processing Zones (EPZ), operates numerous weaving machines producing fabrics for domestic and export markets under AGOA trade preferences.

Training is offered at Kisumu National Polytechnic and other TVETA-accredited institutions with textile machinery workshops. The programme combines classroom theory with hands-on practical sessions on weaving machines, loom assembly and disassembly, and maintenance procedures.

Graduates work as weaving machine maintenance technicians, loom service technicians, textile machinery supervisors, and maintenance planners in textile mills, EPZ garment factories, and textile machinery service companies, with progression routes to degree programmes in mechanical engineering or textile engineering.

Skills RequiredWeaving Machine Installation and SetupPreventive Maintenance of LoomsLoom Mechanism TroubleshootingShuttle and Shuttleless Loom OperationsElectronic Loom Control SystemsHydraulic and Pneumatic Systems MaintenanceTextile Machine Fault DiagnosisLoom Scheduling and Timing AdjustmentBearing and Belt ReplacementTextile Production Quality SupportKey SubjectsWeaving Machine Operations and MechanismsPreventive and Corrective MaintenanceLoom Shedding, Picking and Beating-up SystemsShuttle and Shuttleless Loom TechnologiesElectronic Loom Controls and AutomationHydraulic and Pneumatic Systems in Textile MachineryTroubleshooting and Fault DiagnosisBearing, Belt and Gear MaintenanceTextile Production Quality ManagementOccupational Safety in Textile ManufacturingCertificationsTVET CDACC Level 6 Certification in Weaving Machine Maintenance TechnicianKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Level 6 RecognitionSpecializationsShuttle Loom MaintenanceMaintaining and repairing conventional shuttle looms including shedding, picking, and beating-up mechanisms.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Weaving Machine Operations and Mechanisms
Preventive and Corrective Maintenance
Loom Shedding, Picking and Beating-up Systems
Shuttle and Shuttleless Loom Technologies
Electronic Loom Controls and Automation
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems in Textile Machinery
Troubleshooting and Fault Diagnosis
Bearing, Belt and Gear Maintenance
Textile Production Quality Management
Occupational Safety in Textile Manufacturing

Modules

10 in the programme

Life Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Personal development and interpersonal skills for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills, ICT and Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Common units covering communication skills, digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Weaving Machine Operations and Mechanisms
Year 1Semester 110 creditsCore
Core unit on weaving machine operations, loom mechanisms including shedding for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Engineering Science and Technical Drawing
Year 1Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on engineering mathematics, mechanical science, and technical for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Shuttle and Shuttleless Loom Technologies
Year 1Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit on conventional shuttle looms and modern shuttleless technologies including rapier.
Electronic Loom Controls and Automation
Year 1Semester 28 creditsCore
Core unit on electronic control systems, sensors, PLCs, and automation in for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Hydraulic, Pneumatic and Mechanical Systems Maintenance
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on hydraulic and pneumatic systems in textile machinery for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Troubleshooting and Preventive Maintenance
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on fault diagnosis, troubleshooting procedures, preventive maintenance planning.
Production Quality Support and Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit on supporting textile production quality, occupational safety for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Shuttle Loom Maintenance
Maintaining and repairing conventional shuttle looms including shedding, picking, and beating-up mechanisms, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Shuttleless Loom Maintenance
Maintaining modern shuttleless looms including rapier, air-jet, and projectile weft insertion systems, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Electronic Loom Control Systems
Maintaining and troubleshooting electronic control systems, sensors, and automation in modern weaving machines, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Preventive Maintenance Planning
Planning and implementing preventive maintenance schedules for weaving machine fleets to minimise downtime, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theory lectures on loom mechanisms, maintenance principles, or electronic controls with hands-on workshop sessions. Students disassemble and reassemble weaving machines, adjust loom timing, replace bearings and belts, and troubleshoot fault scenarios. Industrial visits to textile factories provide exposure to commercial weaving operations and maintenance practices.

The trade offs

In its favour

Specialised skills in high demand within Kenya's EPZ textile manufacturing sector.
Combines mechanical, electronic, and automation skills, making graduates versatile technicians.
Practical workshop training with actual weaving machines at Kisumu National Polytechnic.

Against it

Niche specialisation may limit opportunities outside textile manufacturing.
Textile factories are concentrated in specific regions, potentially requiring relocation.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public56k to 67k

56k at Kisumu National Polytechnic (self-sponsored)67k at Standard TVET fee (public polytechnics)

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Kisumu NP 56K self-sponsor, TVET std 67K/yr (businessradar.co.ke). Private: unverified.

Students are eligible for HELB TVET loans (up to KSH 40,000), government capitation (KSH 30,000/year), and county bursaries.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan
Government TVET Capitation (KSH 30,000/year)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

3 recorded

Government TVET Capitation
GrantKsh 30,000Kenyan
All KUCCPS-placed students in public TVET institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Needy students from respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited TVET programmes.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Weaving Machine Maintenance Technology Level 5 Certificate or related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

CDACC External Assessment
Examination60% of the mark
External assessment conducted by TVET CDACC at the end of each unit of competency.
Internal Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous assessment by trainers including tests, workshop practicals, and maintenance task demonstrations.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment at a textile factory, assessed through supervisor reports and maintenance portfolio.

Accreditation

Accredited by the TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) under the CBET framework at Level 6. The programme is listed on KUCCPS and offered at Kisumu National Polytechnic.

Accredited by

TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory body for CBET curriculum development, assessment and certification of weaving machine maintenance technician programme.
Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)
Qualifications recognitionRequired
Recognises the Level 6 qualification within the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Weaving Machine Maintenance Technician
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Performs preventive and corrective maintenance on weaving machines in textile factories to ensure continuous production.
Maintenance Planner
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000
Plans and coordinates preventive maintenance schedules, spare parts inventory, and maintenance resources.
Loom Service Technician
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 75,000
Services and repairs weaving looms, replaces worn parts, and adjusts loom settings for optimal performance.
Textile Machinery Supervisor
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supervises maintenance teams, schedules maintenance activities, and ensures machinery uptime in textile factories.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as weaving machine maintenance technicians and loom service technicians in textile mills and EPZ garment factories.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Electronic Diagnostic Tools
EquipmentPrimary
Multimeters, oscilloscopes, and PLC programming tools for troubleshooting electronic loom controls.
Lubrication Equipment
Equipment
Grease guns, oil applicators, and lubrication systems for maintaining weaving machine components.
Mechanical Maintenance Tools
EquipmentPrimary
Spanners, wrenches, bearing pullers, and specialised tools for weaving machine maintenance.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Weaving machine maintenance is just about fixing broken looms.
The diploma covers preventive maintenance, condition monitoring, electronic controls, and production optimisation, not just repairs.
Weaving machine maintenance is outdated manual work.
Modern weaving machines use electronic controls, sensors, and automation systems, making maintenance a technology-driven field requiring both mechanical and electronic skills.
Weaving machine maintenance is the same as general mechanical maintenance.
Weaving machines have specialised mechanisms including shedding, picking, and beating-up systems that require textile-specific knowledge and training.