Application
This unit of competency covers using sewing machines for production of soft furnishings, mattresses and bases, and upholstered furniture.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Identify sewing machine equipment controls and procedures | 1.1 | Job requirements are identified from work instructions |
1.2 | Work health and safety (WHS) requirements, including ergonomic criteria and personal protection needs, are observed throughout the work | ||
1.3 | Equipment components, equipment condition and controls are identified | ||
1.4 | Operating procedures are checked to identify any approved adjustments | ||
1.5 | Equipment operations and production procedures are identified | ||
1.6 | The process for obtaining materials and moving products to the next process is identified | ||
2 | Prepare for work | 2.1 | Work order or sample is checked to identify sewing specifications |
2.2 | Required materials, tools and equipment are assembled | ||
2.3 | Materials and equipment are inspected and any faults are identified and reported | ||
2.4 | Work sequence is planned to suit job, and materials are laid out | ||
2.5 | If required, naps, pattern direction and face side of materials are identified | ||
2.6 | Components are matched and secured with tacking, pins or adhesives as required | ||
2.7 | Any required supplementary equipment is identified for routine lubrication and adjustments | ||
3 | Set up and control sewing machine operations | 3.1 | Sewing machine is set up and adjusted |
3.2 | Sewing operation is according to workplace procedures and material characteristics | ||
3.3 | Required product quality and outputs are maintained | ||
4 | Maintain quality requirements | 4.1 | Machining process is monitored and conditions which may affect work quality are reported |
4.2 | Authorised changes in operating procedures are implemented | ||
5 | Finish and despatch work | 5.1 | Completed work is checked for required quality, finished as required, and repaired, where applicable, before moving to the next process |
5.2 | Material which is able to be re-used is collected and stored | ||
5.3 | Equipment and work area clean up and waste management are completed following workplace procedures | ||
5.4 | Workplace records are completed as required | ||
Evidence of Performance
Interpret work order and locate and apply relevant information
Apply safe handling requirements for equipment, products and materials, including use of personal protective equipment
Identify materials used in the work process
Follow work instructions, operating procedures and inspection processes to:
minimise the risk of injury to self or others
prevent damage to goods, equipment and products
maintain required production output and product quality
Identify and operate three (3) types of industrial sewing machines, including set up of the sewing machine for operation and monitoring the quality of output
Use mathematical ideas and techniques to correctly complete measurements, calculate area and estimate material requirements
Communicate ideas and information to enable confirmation of work requirements and specifications and the reporting of work outcomes and problems, interpret basic plans and follow safety procedures
Avoid backtracking, work flow interruptions or wastage
Work with others and in a team by recognising dependencies and using cooperative approaches to optimise work flow and productivity
Evidence of Knowledge
Types, characteristics, uses and limitations of sewing machines
Characteristics of materials used and finished products
Safety and environmental aspects of sewing machine operations
Quality systems and standards for soft furnishings
Work flow requirements for sewing process
Operation of work systems and industrial sewing equipment
Causes of faults and repair methods in soft furnishing machining
Procedure for reporting damaged or imperfect products or interruptions to work flow
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
hold training and assessment competencies as determined by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) or its successors
have vocational competency in the furnishing industry at least to the level being assessed with broad industry knowledge and experience, usually combined with a relevant industry qualification
be familiar with the current skills and knowledge used and have relevant, current experience in the furnishing industry.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time rather than a single assessment event and in a range of workplace relevant contexts.
Assessment must be by observation of relevant tasks with questioning on underpinning knowledge and, where applicable, multimedia evidence, supervisor’s reports, projects and work samples.
Assessment is to be conducted on single units of competency or in conjunction with other related units of competency. Foundation skills are integral to competent performance in the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment must occur on the job or in a workplace simulated facility with relevant process, equipment, materials, work instructions and deadlines.
Access is required to appropriate industrial sewing machines, operating procedures, materials and threads.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. Detail on appropriate performance levels for each furnishing unit of competency in reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy utilising the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) are provided in the Furnishing Training Package Implementation Guide.
Range Statement
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Unit context includes: | WHS requirements, including legislation, building codes, material safety management systems, hazardous and dangerous goods codes, and local safe operating procedures or equivalent work is carried out in accordance with legislative obligations, environmental legislation, relevant health regulations, manual handling procedures and organisation insurance requirements work requires individuals to demonstrate some discretion, judgement and problem solving |
Sewing specifications include: | required materials threads and additional work features seam and stitch specifications any special stitch requirements and allowances shape characteristics and special requirements needles attachments and ancillary equipment quality requirements |
Sewing products include: | top stitching gathering piping braid fringe flange cords straight fabric lengths padded material loose covers |
Sewing processes include: | hemming seams machine tacking gathering multiple-layer sewing straight or zig zag sewing |
Machines include: | single or multi-needle flat bed overlocker blind hemming gathering flange bar tacking tape edging |
Sewing machine set-up and adjustment includes: | thread machine and wind bobbin as required set required tensions select required machine settings test operations for work order requirements |
Materials to be machined include: | plain fabrics patterned fabrics |
Personal protective equipment includes: | that prescribed under legislation, regulations and enterprise policies and practices |
Information and procedures include: | workplace procedures relating to the use of tools and equipment work instructions, including job sheets, cutting lists, plans, drawings and designs workplace procedures relating to reporting and communication manufacturer specifications and operational procedures |
Sectors
Soft Furnishing