Occupational Certificate: Furniture Machine Operator

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a furniture machine operator.

Furniture Machine Operators perform breakout, planing, sanding and laminating operations to produce components for wood products by operating cross-cut saws, rip saws, surface and thickness planers, panel saws, radial arm saws, band saws and edge and stroke sanders.

A learner will be able to perform breakout, planing, sanding and laminating operations to produce components for wood products by operating cross-cut saws, rip saws, surface and thickness planers, panel saws, radial arm saws, band saws and edge and stroke sanders.

Rationale

A shortage of higher-skilled workers, rising production costs, and poor domestic demand are affecting the performance of local furniture manufacturers negatively. The cost of labour, electricity, raw materials and transportation continue to shrink operating margins and make it difficult for furniture manufacturers to compete in local and international markets. The industry is also negatively affected by declining investment in capital equipment, insufficient research and development, and inadequate 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 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), these challenges impose significant pressure on a large component of players in the industry. There are no other similar part qualifications registered on the NQF.

The Furniture Industry Master Plan (FIMP) was established by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (dtic) in partnership with the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) 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, development of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and to increase exports. This identifies the importance of growing the furniture industry and signals the need for skilled and competent furniture makers in the furniture production process across the furniture manufacturing industry. Furthermore, it will benefit the manufacturing sector as well as the economy by reducing unemployment and improving entrepreneurial projects.

The Occupational Certificate: Furniture Machine Operator is designed to equip learners with 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 wood machinists. It is a part-qualification of the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Crafted Furniture Machinist and thus provides for an intermediate exit point, where the learner has acquired a set of employable skills and could find employment or self-employment in the industry.

The competencies contained in this part-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 a Furniture Machine Operator 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

• 682201-002-00-KM-01: Introduction to Furniture Manufacturing, Level 2, 2 Credits.
• 682201-002-00-KM-02: Wood Machining Department and Operations, Level 2, 8 Credits.
• 682201-002-00-KM-03: Computer Technology and Operations, Level 2, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 14

Practical Skill Modules

• 682201-002-00-PM-01: Operate a Range of Machines in the Wood Machine Shop to cut Components for Furniture Manufacturing, Level 2, 20 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 20

Work Experience Modules

• 682201-002-00-WM-01: Furniture Machining Operations, Level 2, 20 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 20

1. Prepare for wood machining operations.
2. Apply techniques to cut wood or composite board to produce cut components.
3. Inspect the machined product, visually and by feel, checking against specifications and applying tolerances to ensure quality and accuracy.
4. Conclude machining operations.
5. Explain principles and procedures involved in basic machining processes in the bulk production of furniture.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Prepare for wood machining operations.

• Perform workstation preparation with attention to cleaning, layout, placements of tools, paperwork and attention to environmental conditions.
• Correctly interpret drawings, cutting lists, specifications, and other production information.
• Identify, categorise, and select typical wooden furniture products and accessories as per work instruction.
• Identify and select timber and board used in the manufacturing of wooden furniture as per work instruction.
• Identify, prepare, and set up and operate a range of machines, machine parts, machine attachments and tools in the furniture machine shop.
• Delicately handle, inspect, and store raw material (solid wood and boards) ensuring maintained quality.
• Accurately and correctly apply all measurements, calculations, and the application of appropriate formulae.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Apply techniques to cut wood or composite board to produce cut components.

• Adhere to all safety measures related to the machine operation and work area ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Use helping aids such as push sticks, or a helping fence where appropriate to ensure personal safety.
• Adjust cutting tools and set to meet product specifications.
• Observe the direction of the grain of the wood during cutting to ensure the pattern of grain meets quality specifications.
• Operate various machines in the machining department in laminating, breakout, planing and sanding operations to produce timber components to specifications (cut, drilled, shaped, edged) in a safe and accurate manner.
• Operate pneumatic machines/tools and compressed air systems according to manufacturer's specifications.
• Perform break-out operation using a radial arm/cross-cut saw or a rip saw.
• Operate planning machines such as the surface planer or the thickness planer as per product specifications.
• Conduct sawing operations using a panel saw or a band saw as per product specifications.
• Perform sanding operations using machinery such as a stroke sander, drum sander and an edge sander.
• Produce profiled, shaped and cut components from timber or board according to specifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Inspect the machined product, visually and by feel, checking against specifications and applying tolerances to ensure quality and accuracy.

• Identify component faults such as squareness of the component, incorrect size, knots causing rejects, smoothness and scratches, explain causes and take corrective action.
• 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 take corrective action.
• 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 take corrective action.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Conclude machining operations.

• Perform routine cleaning, quality change cleaning and housekeeping in the machining process.
• Keep and tidy the workstations.
• Conduct maintenance procedures on sawing machines.
• Accurately record and report machining production information and prepare machining documentation.
• Handle materials and components safely and without damage.
• Clean and return equipment and tools to correct storage after use.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

ELO 5: Explain principles and procedures involved in basic machining processes in the bulk production of furniture.

• Identify wooden and board furniture types, styles and construction.
• Use correct terminology to describe furniture manufacturing principles and operations.
• Identify processes in manufacturing of furniture and discuss their purpose of each.
• Identify machines in the furniture making machine shop and explain their functions.
• Identify saw blade, cutter, timber and composite board technology and explain their functions.
• Identify adhesives and abrasives used in the machining department and explain their functions.
• Analyse quality control mechanisms in wood machining processes.
• Analyse ergonomics related to furniture manufacturing.
• Identify consumables and accessories used in furniture manufacturing.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Formative Assessment

The Skills Development Providers 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 leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment

An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this part-qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace.