Furniture manufacturer level 2 apprenticeship

Optional:

• Lay Up, Measure & Mark Out: Operate manual and / or automatic fabric spreading equipment using safe systems of work.
• Cut Shapes: Cut shapes using manual hand held cutting equipment and / or CNC fabric cutter according to safe systems of work
• Prepare Cut Parts & Sew Components: Prepare cut components ready for sewing and sew by hand through use of sewing machinery.
• Prepare Cases: Prepare cases in line with filling requirements
• Fill Cases: Fill cases through use of manual and / or automated filling methods
• **Finishing: Close filling opening to required standards through use of closing machin
• Operate CNC Machinery: Prepare, set up and operate foam CNC & profiling machinery using safe systems of work.
• Operate Large Cutting Machinery: Prepare, set up and operate vertical and horizontal cutting machines using safe systems of work.
• Operate Small Cutting Machinery: Operate small cutting and shaping machinery using templates and jigs to ensure repeatability and accuracy of component parts
• Prepare Components: Prepare all cut components along with required drawings ready for assembly
• Automated Fabrication: Operate automated fabrication line to required operating procedures.
• Manual Fabrication: Assemble cut parts through correct use of sprayed adhesive equipment and assembly techniques to the required tolerances and quality standards

Essential:

• Measure and Mark Out: Measure and mark out materials to specification within the acceptable tolerances following standard operating procedures.
• Tooling: Select, prepare and maintain CNC/NC tooling.
• Operate CNC/NC Machinery and Equipment: Operate CNC/NC machinery and equipment to meet company requirements. Prepare tools and equipment including tooling technology and calibration of measuring equipment.

Optional:

• Methods of Measurement: Inspect and use measuring equipment, keep tools and equipment clear of debris and dirt.
• Jigs and Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.
• Sanding: Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding. This includes the use of wide belt sander, overhead narrow belt sander, disc sander, bobbin sander, linisher and profile sander.
• Edge Banding: Carry out the edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. This includes colour matching, timber and PVC lippings, calibration and finishing techniques.
• Planning : Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser (can be a combined machine) and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round).
• Joints: Prepare, set up and operate CNC/NC machinery to produce jointed wood and wood­ based products. This includes chisel morticer, chain morticer, slot morticer, dovetailer, vertical spindle moulder, stair router, single-end tenoner, double-end tenoner, round-end tenoner, dowler and router
• Assembly: Assemble components of furniture following standard operating procedures.

Preparation

Requirements

• Analyse and agree finishing requirements following organisational procedures. A customer can be internal or external to the organisation.

Prepare furniture for finishing

• Prepare hand crafted or production furniture for finishing this will include sanding, grain brushing, repair, stripping and general surface preparation.

Finishing

Finishing Applications

• Apply stains, sealers, primers, oils, polishes, varnishes, waxes, lacquers and finishing coats to furniture. Finish furniture by spraying.

Decorative & Specialist Effects

• Create decorative effects or specialist finishes on furniture

Customer Service

• Agree the requirements, scope of the work and the budget with the customer. Set expectations with the customer.

Assessment

• Assess items of furniture for repair in order to produce a condition and options report.

Requirements

• Evaluate and specify restoration requirements. Develop a plan for the restoration work.

Research

• Carry out research to understand the history of furniture and the different periods.

Restoration

Repair & Restore

• Repair structural components. Replicate and restore components.

Basic Finishing

• Prepare existing and newly restored surfaces and finish furniture using basic finishing method

Reporting

• Write a report on the work that has been carried out to include sketches and photographs of the process.

Recommendations

• Provide the customer with relevant aftercare and instructions and recommendations for future use and handling.

Optional:

• Decorative Effects: Re- create decorative effects on furniture.
• Re-upholstery: Reupholster structural and decorative elements of furniture. Ensure you use appropriate fabrics.
• French Polishing: French polish furniture using traditional methods to a glass finish.

Machinery, Tools and Equipment

• Set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce furniture. Understand tools and equipment used

Components

• Make components of furniture to specification within acceptable tolerances. Understand how and where components are used

Cutting

• Use appropriate equipment to cut materials within acceptable tolerances

Veneers and Laminates

• Select, prepare and apply veneers to items of furniture

Assembly

• Assemble components of furniture. Understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important

Finishing

• Apply stains, sealers, basecoats and finishes to production furniture

Measure and Mark Out

• Measure and mark out materials to specification

Sanding

• Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding

Cramping

• Position components and apply cramps to ensure products are positioned securely to specification

Fittings

• Prepare and assemble components to specification, finishing and checking the assembly conforms to specifications

Gluing

• Apply adhesives to components. Understand types, methods and processes involved in gluing

Jigs and Templates

• Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can