Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to conduct technical textile mechanical finishing processes.
The unit of competency applies to finishing processes used in the production of technical textiles. Processes may include heat setting, scouring, calendering, singeing, impregnation, raising, cropping and compressive shrinkage.
Technical textiles are textile products that have been manufactured for special technical performance and applications. Clothing, carpet or furnishing textile products are generally not regarded as a technical textile unless a specific technical feature beyond what is normally found in clothing, carpet or furnishing has been added. An example would be special fire-retardant clothing.
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 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare for mechanical finishing processes | 2.1 | Make appropriate checks to ensure that textile fabric or web is ready for mechanical finishing processes |
2.2 | Conduct appropriate pre-finishing tests if required | ||
2.3 | Prepare work area according to WHS practices and workplace procedures | ||
2.4 | Prepare and adjust specialised machine according to product finishing specifications | ||
2.5 | Report and record any problems | ||
3 | Operate mechanical finishing machines | 3.1 | Operate mechanical finishing machines and follow WHS practices |
3.2 | Check mechanical finishing machines during operation and adjust to ensure optimum performance | ||
3.3 | Identify, report and record any machine or product faults | ||
3.4 | Assess technical textile complies with quality standards and product finishing specifications | ||
4 | Despatch completed work | 4.1 | Check technical textile production against quality standards and job requirements |
4.2 | Conduct appropriate tests and sampling, as required | ||
4.3 | Direct technical textile production to next operation | ||
4.4 | Complete work documentation as required | ||
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 (SOPs), safe work practices and other reference material
applying relevant standards
safely setting up and operating technical textile mechanical finishing machines on at least three (3) occasions
setting and checking machine settings to meet production requirements on at least three (3) occasions
monitoring machine to ensure optional production on at least three (3) occasions
recognising, rectifying and reporting machine faults or problems, as required
checking product samples, machine and process against quality standards
despatching textile to next operation
completing records accurately and completely
applying workplace procedures
applying work health and safety (WHS) practices in work operations.
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
mechanical processes used within an enterprise for technical textile finishing operations
quality standards and technical textile handling procedures
WHS practices
quality practices
workplace procedures
recording and reporting practices.
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 conducting technical textile mechanical finishing processes, 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.
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 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 |
Mechanical finishing processes include one or more of the following: | heat setting scouring calendering singeing impregnation raising cropping compressive shrinkage |
WHS practices | WHS practices must include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and include one or more of the following: manual handling techniques SOPs PPE safe materials handling taking of rest breaks ergonomic arrangement of workplaces following marked walkways safe storage of equipment housekeeping reporting accidents and incidents other WHS practices relevant to the job and enterprise |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Technical textiles and non-wovens