In this wide-ranging apprenticeship, you will lean to act as support in the manufacture of new tooling and the repair / renovation of old tools, working to high degree of accuracy and understand engineering drawings and to work as a member of a team.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

• To support manufacture of new tools.
• To assist in repair/renovation of old tools.
• To have the ability to handle various tasks simultaneously and be able to adapt to changing priorities and urgencies as they arise.
• To plan jobs through various stages of manufacture deciding the correct machinery and processes to be used in order to achieve the stated accuracy and quality.
• To operate machines and carry out all other activities in a safe and responsible manner and maintain a clean and tidy environment within the department.
• To achieve tasks within the set time in order to meet departmental targets.
• To assist in the training of other toolmakers, new employees and apprentices.
• To carry out any other reasonable tasks as may be requested from time to time by the Tooling Manager or the Engineering Manager.
• To ensure that all tooling related activities are carried out in accordance with the appropriate company procedures.
• To observe Health and Safety regulations and Government legislation.

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Course contents

• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
• Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
• Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
• Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
• Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
• Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
• Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
• Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
• Plan and organise own work and resources.
• Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Select machining process.
• Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
• Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
• Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
• Measure and check components.
• Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
• Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
• Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
• Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
• Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
• Apply ethical principles.
• Apply team working principles.