Occupational certificate: Furniture Finisher

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Furniture Finisher.

A Furniture Finisher prepares the furniture product for final finishing and performs the hand finishing and spraying applications to produce finished wooden furniture.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Prepare the product for final finishing and perform the hand finishing and spray applications (conventional and pumps), performing colour matching to produce finished wooden furniture.

Rationale

A shortage of higher-skilled workers, rising production costs, and poor domestic demand are affecting the performance of local furniture manufacturers. The cost of labour, electricity, raw materials and transportation continue to shrink operating margins and make it difficult for them to compete in local and international markets. The industry is also negatively affected by declining investment in capital equipment, insufficient research and development, and little design improvement or new product development. Imported furniture is often cheaper than what is manufactured locally, and furniture imports grew beyond R7bn during 2019 (according to the Furniture Industry Master Plan 2020). South African furniture manufacturers are also facing competition from Chinese furniture in their important export markets in Africa. With about 80% of the companies in the furniture manufacturing sector classified as micro enterprises, these challenges impose significant pressure on the bulk of players in the industry. There are no other similar qualifications on the NQF.

The Furniture Industry Master Plan (FIMP) was established by the South African Government to set clear guidelines and targets for the furniture manufacturing industry, as well as guide public sector procurement as part of government's efforts to support and stimulate the industry. The furniture industry is one of the most labour-intensive industries, with a potential to contribute to the reduction of unemployment, and increase export and development of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMES). It contributes to the geographical spread of economic activity, since the products can be developed in rural areas with minimal investment. The above identifies to the importance to grow the furniture industry and signals the need for skilled and competent furniture makers at various levels of the furniture production process, whether big companies, or small enterprises or entrepreneurs. Furthermore, it clearly defines the benefits to the sector as well as the economy.

The Occupational certificate: Furniture Finisher is designed to equip learners with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to participate effectively in the furniture industry, whether in micro, small, medium or large operations. Learners may find employment as furniture finishers.

The Occupational certificate: Furniture Finisher is one of two-part qualifications of the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Crafted Furniture Assembler. These part qualifications create appropriate exit points where learners may exit the learning with industry required employable skills.

The competencies contained in this qualification are essential for social and economic transformation, empowerment and upliftment within the furniture manufacturing environment, whilst simultaneously improving the skills base of the furniture industry. This will enhance the international competitiveness of the furniture sector by means of improving productivity in the various furniture making departments and overall quality of products.

Four distinct learner target groups have been identified, namely school leavers wishing to enter the furniture-making industry, persons currently employed in the furniture industry who have no formal qualification in furniture making, persons currently employed in the furniture industry who want to advance their skills or unemployed persons.

No professional registration is needed for Furniture Finisher to operate in the industry. Industry associations consulted include:

• Cape Furniture Manufacturers Association (CFMA).
• KwaZulu Natal Furniture Manufacturers Association (KNFMA).
• Allied Business Association (ABA).
• Garden Route Employer Association (GREA).
• Furniture Bedding and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (FBUMA).
• The National Union of Furniture & Allied Workers SA (NUFAWSA).
• The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU).

This part-qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 682201-003-00-KM-01: Introduction to Furniture Manufacturing, NQF Level 2, 2 Credits.
• 682201-003-00-KM-02: Wood Finishing Department and Operations, NQF Level 2, 12 Credits.
• 682201-003-00-KM-03: Computer Technology and Operations, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 18.

Practical Skill Modules

• 682201-003-00-PM-01: Operate a Range of Furniture Finishing Equipment to Mix and Apply Furniture Finishing Materials to Finish assembled furniture Products or Components NQF Level 2, 17 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 17

Work Experience Modules

• 682201-003-00-WM-01: Furniture Finishing Operations, NQF Level 3, 20 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 20

1. Prepare for finishing of wooden furniture.
2. Select and mix chemicals and solvents in the furniture finishing department to produce finished furniture components to specifications.
3. Produce finished furniture components and furniture to specifications.
4. Inspect the finished product, visually and by feel, checking against specification and applying tolerances to ensure quality and accuracy.
5. Conclude finishing operations.
6. Explain principles and procedures involved in basic furniture finishing processes in the bulk production of furniture.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1; Prepare for finishing of wooden furniture.

• Perform workstation preparation with attention to cleaning, layout, placements of tools, paperwork and attention to environmental conditions.
• Correctly interpret drawings, routing lists, specifications and any production information.
• Identify and categorize typical wooden furniture products and accessories.
• Identify timber and board used in the manufacturing of wooden furniture.
• Identify consumables and accessories used in furniture manufacturing.
• Identify and operate a range of spraying machines, machine parts, machine attachments and tools in the furniture finishing department according to the manufacturer's specifications.
• Delecately handle, inspect and store raw material (solid wood and boards) , ensuring maintained quality.
• Apply all measurements, calculations and the application of appropriate formulae are accurately and correctly.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Select and mix chemicals and solvents in the furniture finishing department to produce finished furniture components to specifications.

• Mix the recipe for the coating solution is accurately interpreted and the coating solutions are correctly.
• Identify, select and prepare stains, sealers, primers, lacquers, varnishes, tinted lacquers and paint used for furniture finishing according to the required amount.
• Prepare finishing material/chemicals (lacquers, varnishes, tinted lacquers) for finishing operations.
• Categorize finishing chemicals as spirit or oil based and store accordingly.
• Apply safety procedures throughout the mixing of chemicals.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Produce finished furniture components and furniture to specifications.

• Adhere to all safety measures related to the machine operation and work area, ensure compliance with regulations.
• Prepare furniture products or components for initial/base coat.
• Select and prepare spraying equipment for furniture finishing operations.
• Perform spraying application using conventional spray guns or pumps.
• Operate pneumatic machines/tools and compressed air according to manufacturer's specifications.
• Prepare the furniture product for the final coat applying sanding and de-nibbing procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Inspect the finished product, visually and by feel, checking against specification and applying tolerances to ensure quality and accuracy.

• Inspect the finished product to ensure that shoulder to shoulder size is accurate and according to the drawing.
• Use the correct tools to produce joints.
• Inspect the assembled product to ensure joints and a profile are produced which are free from burn marks and are not chipped.
• Identify component faults such as squareness of the component, incorrect size, knots causing rejects, smoothness and scratches, explain causes and corrective action to take.
• Identify process faults such as blade marks, timber moisture content, burn marks, paint contaminated with water, over-spraying, running, mixing of wrong paints, wrong viscosity, wrong reaction or inconsistencies in the cut product, explain causes and corrective action to take.
• Identify machine faults such as blunt blade, wrong sanding grit, wrong nozzle, pressure that is too high or low and balance of air extraction, explain causes and corrective action is take.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

ELO 5: Conclude finishing operations.

• Performed routine cleaning, quality change cleaning and housekeeping in the furniture finishing process.
• Conduct maintenance procedures on spraying equipment.
• Prepare finishing production information is accurately recorded and reported and finishing documentation.
• Clean and return equipment and tools to correct storage after use.
• Handle and store materials and components safely and without damage.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

ELO 6: Explain principles and procedures involved in basic furniture finishing processes in the bulk production of furniture.

• Identify wooden, board and upholstered furniture types, styles and construction.
• Use correct terminology to describe furniture manufacturing principles and operations.
• Analyse ergonomics related to furniture manufacturing.
• Processes in manufacturing of furniture and the purpose of each are discussed
• Identify furniture finishing operations and techniques and explain their functions.
• Identify spraying equipment used in the furniture finishing department and explain their functions.
• Identify hand tools and explain their functions.
• Analyse quality control measures in furniture finishing processes.Formative Assessment

The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment.

Summative Assessment

An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner, is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria.

The external integrated summative assessment will be conducted through a theoretical assessment and the evaluation of practical tasks at decentralised approved assessment sites in a simulated environment and conducted by an assessor(s) registered with the relevant AQP.