Application
This unit of competency covers skills and knowledge required to conduct market research into textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) markets and identify opportunities for improving the performance or outcomes of a TCF product.
The unit of competency applies to enterprises involved in the supply of products and services within the TCF industry.
This unit of competency is applicable to all sectors of the TCF industry.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.
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 | Conduct market research | 1.1 | Select target for market research and develop research parameters |
1.2 | Plan and document market research activity and evaluation strategy | ||
1.3 | Conduct research into TCF market and document outcomes and apply ethical standards | ||
1.4 | Analyse research findings and identify potential opportunities | ||
2 | Analyse TCF market opportunities | 2.1 | Analyse research findings on domestic and global trends to assess potential opportunities |
2.2 | Conduct feasibility studies to assess opportunities | ||
2.3 | Discuss opportunities with team members and members of the TCF supply chain to gain feedback | ||
2.4 | Develop concepts to explore TCF opportunities | ||
3 | Conduct tests on TCF concepts | 3.1 | Conduct tests on materials, fabrics, products or processes to assess viability of concepts |
3.2 | Apply technical knowledge of TCF materials and production processes to test rigor of concepts | ||
3.3 | Develop sample products to test concepts with key personnel and target market | ||
4 | Prepare a strategic plan | 4.1 | Develop a strategic plan, including budget, to explore TCF market opportunities |
4.2 | Present plan to key personnel to gain feedback and support | ||
4.3 | Consider and incorporate feedback, where appropriate, and finalise strategic plan |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures and safe work practices and other reference material
applying relevant standards
planning and conducting market research and analysing research findings on domestic and global trends to assess potential opportunities
conducting feasibility studies to assess opportunities and consult with team members and members of the TCF supply chain to gain feedback
developing concepts for at least three (3) products or a small range to explore TCF opportunities, and conducting tests on materials, fabrics, products or processes to assess viability of concepts
developing at least three (3) sample products or a small range to test concepts with key personnel and target market
developing a strategic plan, including budget, to explore TCF market opportunities
seeking and incorporating feedback where appropriate and finalising strategic plan.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian Standards
domestic TCF market trends
global TCF market trends
interrelationship between local and global markets
opportunities in marketing products in the TCF Industry
limitations of the collection of market research data
ethical standards when collecting and collating market research data, such as:
confidentiality
discretion
respecting copyright and patents
trust
fairness
respect for others
respect for privacy
not sharing another’s private information
different target markets and the opportunity to identify niche markets
formal report writing when undertaking strategic plan
test procedures to assess quality of materials and products
properties and performance characteristics of fibres, fabrics and yarns and other materials used in the TCF product
quality indicators for fabric, such as colour steadfastness, shrinkage, durability and grain
processes used to produce TCF product and impacts on raw materials
costs associated with materials and production processes
limitations of TCF materials
limitations of production processes for TCF products
work health and safety (WHS) practices, including hazard identification and control measures
quality practices
workplace procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in identifying opportunities in the textiles, clothing and footwear market at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
The unit is applicable to all TCF sectors and assessment must ensure it is delivered to suit the industry it is being applied to.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for 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. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment standard operating procedures (SOPs) work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Target includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: | garments, textiles or other TCF products TCF supply chain components market segments |
Mediums used for market research includesbut is not limited to, one or more of the following: | On line surveys Postal surveys Client interviews formal / in formal Supplier interview formal / informal Telephone surveys Industry workshop Focus groups Social media platforms Trade magazines |
TCF supply chain includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: | suppliers of raw materials spinners, wool processors and technical textile processors textile production enterprises patternmakers, machinists, designers and garment assembly enterprises producers of footwear, headwear and millinery or fashion accessories quality assurers suppliers of testing expertise and processing distributors outworkers sales and marketing suppliers point of sale merchandisers wholesale and retail outlets media and promoters packaging suppliers warehousing |
Technical knowledge includes. but is not limited to, the following: | properties and performance characteristics of fibres, fabrics and yarns and other materials used in the TCF product quality indicators for fabric, such as colour steadfastness, shrinkage, durability and grain processes used to produce TCF product and impacts on raw materials costs associated with materials and production processes limitations of TCF materials limitations of production processes for TCF products |
Sample products include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: | short runs fabric samples prototype products textile samples design samples demonstrations trials |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Generic