Apprentice Wood Machinist

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic person to join our existing highly skilled team of wood machinists. Throughout your course, you will be taught on all aspects of wood machining enabling you to produce high quality components. The long-term aim is to successfully train someone who will become an essential full-time member of the team.

Main Duties

• Learning how to operate and set all aspects of wood machines
• Gain an understanding of what it takes to turn rough-sawn timber into finished furniture components
• Use a range of fixing techniques including joint assembly, installing mechanical fixings and applying appropriate adhesives to form products to the given specification
• Learn how to work as part of a team and on your own, gaining the skills required to become a fully qualified wood machinist
• Set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce furniture
• Identify issues quickly, solve problems and apply appropriate solutions

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

Course Contents

• Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for wood machining activity.
• Plan wood machining activity including timescales for completion and organise materials and resources.
• Prepare, maintain and restore the work area.
• Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
• Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Comply with procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Follow workplace operating procedures.
• Store tools and equipment.
• Select tools, equipment, and machinery for wood machining activity.
• Apply first line maintenance of tools, equipment and machinery. For example, checking condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, calibration checks, sharpening and servicing.
• Identify and select materials used in wood machining.
• Measure and mark out materials.
• Prepare, check and use jigs and templates used in the work activity.
• Set up and operate wood machining machinery.
• Apply wood machining processes using conventional or CNC machinery. For example, cutting, shaping, planing, turning, profiling, boring, or edge banding for production of jointed wood and wood-based products.
• Assemble components or sub-assemblies of wood.
• Inspect, strip, and sand material surfaces.
• Apply rectification, repair or rework techniques.
• Follow quality assurance processes.
• Pack, store and handle components and sub-assemblies.
• Record wood machining activity information - paper based or electronic.
• Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S, and KAIZEN.
• Apply team working principles.
• Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
• Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
• Communicate in writing with colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronically or paper based.
• Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
• Undertake and record learning and development activities.