This apprenticeship standard is in the process of being revised. In the meantime, the version below remains approved for delivery. Further details of this and other occupational standards in revision are available in the revisions status report.

Overview of the role

Making all kinds of beds, furniture and their related furnishings in a workshop or factory.

Furniture manufacturer

Reference Number: ST0203

Details of standard

Occupational profile

The Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors industry is of significant importance to the UK economy, particularly in the supply of end products for residential and commercial living and work places. The industry has an annual turnover well in excess of £12 billion.  The ability to work to agreed targets in terms of output and quality standards is essential. Workplaces can be wide - ranging from small workshops to large factories.  Furniture Manufacturers must be dexterous, have a good work ethic and able to demonstrate their ability to work individually and as part of a team.

The programme is designed to give a wide range of skills appropriate to the different occupations in the industry. This apprenticeship covers the following occupational areas:

 
  • General Furniture Manufacturer
  • Bed Manufacturer
  • Modern Upholsterer
  • Furniture Finisher
  • Fitted Furniture Installer
  • Furniture Restorer
  • Modern Furniture Service Repairer
  • Foam  Convertor and Upholstery Cushion Interior Manufacturer
  • Wood Machinist
  • Furniture CNC Specialist

Each apprentice will take the occupational route that is best suited to the business they work in. They will complete all the core requirements set out below and then the set number of requirements for the chosen route.

Each business, depending on size, market position and skills needs, will require a different combination of the optional requirements detailed within each occupational area. This apprenticeship is designed to allow the business and the apprentice to agree which of these options are most valuable to the apprentice and organisation.  The number of requirements is set for each occupational area as being the minimum needed to ensure competence and transferability but any employer is free to train their apprentice in additional requirements outside of the apprenticeship and at their own cost.

Typical job titles: 

typical job titles include: General furniture manufacturer, Bed manufacturer, Modern upholsterer, Furniture maker, Cabinet maker, Furniture designer, Mattress maker, Divan maker, Headboard make 

Core requirements: knowledge, skills and behaviours

KNOWLEDGE

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Industry  Knowledge and understanding of general background of the furniture industry.
Organisation

Knowledge and understanding of the company you are working in. This includes understanding the manufacturing process and how you contribute and fit into it.

Materials

Knowledge and understanding of industry materials. Properties and characteristics of materials used within your organisation

Customers

Knowledge and understanding of customer expectations. Who are the industry customers and what are their expectations in terms of packaging and delivery?

Quality Standards

Know the quality standards which apply to the products and how to check that these have been met. Read and interpret specifications, drawings, cutting lists and other relevant technical information used within your organisation.

Health, Safety and Environment

Knowledge and understanding of the relevant health, safety and environmental requirements and regulations. Understand sustainability within the industry.

SKILLS

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Maintain Tools & Equipment

Perform regular autonomous maintenance tasks on machinery, tools and equipment used.
Problem Solving Identify issues quickly, solve problems and apply appropriate solutions.

Achieve quality and output targets

 

Carry out work to required quality standards and output targets. High attention to detail, must monitor and check work meets specifications and must follow methodology and processes.

Health & Safety

Comply with health, safety and environmental requirements, relevant statutory regulations and industry standards/codes of practice at all times

BEHAVIOURS

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Collaboration & Adaptability

Willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements.

Work effectively with others in a team whilst maintaining effective professional working

Time management

Time management and ability to complete work to schedule

Pride in the workplace

Organise work  space for efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and storing items used, maintaining work  area and sustaining order

General furniture manufacturer:

Furniture Manufacturers are skilled craftsmen/women who make pieces of furniture.  They may work in a small, independent shop that produces custom furniture or in a factory that mass-produces pieces of furniture.   They will manufacture furniture such as:

  • Domestic – kitchens, bedrooms, living room and other items for the home
  • Office - desk, seating, tables and other items for the office environment
  • Contract - furniture for public areas such as hospitals, schools, hotels and airports
  • Manufacture of high quality wooden components

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Furniture Manufacturers will need to undertake six of the following requirements, at least three must be Group A.

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Group 

A

Machinery, Tools and Equipment

Set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce furniture. Understand tools and equipment used

 Components

Make components of furniture to specification within acceptable tolerances. Understand how and where components are used

Cutting

Use appropriate equipment to cut materials within acceptable tolerances

Joints

Understand the principles of joints used in making hand-crafted furniture

Veneers and Laminates

 

Select, prepare and apply veneers to items of furniture

Assembly

Assemble components of furniture. Understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important

Finishing

Apply stains, sealers, basecoats and finishes to production furniture

Group 

B

Measure and Mark Out

Measure and mark out materials to specification

Sanding

Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding

Cramping

Position components and apply cramps to ensure products are positioned securely to specification

Fittings

Prepare and assemble components to specification, finishing and checking the assembly conforms to specifications

Gluing

Apply adhesives to components. Understand types, methods and processes involved in gluing

 

Jigs and Templates

Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production.  Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.

Edge Banding

Carry out edge-banding process following standard operating procedures.  Edge banding is the process of applying a trim or edge to the piece of furniture to make it neat and aesthetically pleasing.

Electrical/Mechanical Fittings

 Fit mechanical or electrical components to furniture

Rectification/Rework

 Carry out rectification or rework. This includes assessing and repairing items

Safe Handling and Storage

Pack and store products and components following standard operating procedures. Understand and follow procedures for safe handling of products

Bed manufacturer

Bed Manufacturers work in factory environments where the ability to work to agreed targets in terms of output and quality standards is essential. Manufacturers often work shift systems and the seasonality of the industry, plus peaks and troughs in orders, often demands overtime working.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Bed Manufacturers will need to undertake four of the following requirements, at least two must be Group A. These could be mattress making skills, divan and headboard making or a mixture of both.

Mattress making

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Grou

A

 

Spring Making

Prepare work area, set up machine for appropriate spring type and size and produce springs to the required specification

 

Quilting

Prepare for and carry out mattress quilting operations. Understand and operate quilting machines

 Tape Edging

Prepare work area, set up machinery, select materials and carry out tape edging. Tape edging is usually the final process in mattress making. It involves closing the mattress up by the application of a tape using a sewing machine

Hand Side Stitching

Identify and sort components and sew materials to specification

Group B

 

 

Panel Cutting

Prepare and cut fabric and components used for panels. Understand and use any machinery used in this process

Sewing Borders / Labels

 Identify and sort components. Sew materials to specification

 

Mattress Assembly

Assemble mattresses using appropriate components such as spring units and fillings to agreed standards. This will involve the use of equipment such as a glue spray and staple guns.

Tufting

Tuft mattresses to appropriate pattern and standard

Divan and headboard making

YOU WILL KNOW HOW AND BE ABLE TO

Group 

A

Sewing

Produce sewn / seamed components by hand and through the use of machinery

Headboard Upholstery

 Upholster headboards including pleats, deep buttoning, ruching and fluting

Upholstery

Prepare, cut and apply upholstery materials, trim and finish divans

 CNC Routing

Prepare, set up, operate and maintain computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery to produce shaped headboards

Group B

 

Wood Machining

Prepare, set up, operate and maintain machinery to produce wood components

Laying and Cutting Fabrics

 Prepare and cut fabric and components

Frame Making

Prepare and assemble frames using jigs

Drawer Making

Upholster drawer fronts, prepare and assemble drawers

Ottoman / Adjustable Bed Franmes

Produce ottoman or adjustable beds ensuring the mechanisms are correctly attached and in working order

Modern upholsterer

A Modern Upholsterer is a skilled and methodical individual capable of creating ergonomic and comfortable furniture using both traditional and modern techniques, materials and fabrics to produce aesthetically pleasing and fit for purpose consumer products.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Modern Upholsterers will need to undertake five of the following requirements, at least two must be Group A.

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Group 

A

Cut Fabrics and Components

 Prepare and cut fabric and components used in upholstery.

Frame Construction

Construct upholstery frames to specification. Understanding the methods used to construct frames

Sewn / Seamed Components

Produce sewn / seamed components by hand and through the use of machinery.

Suspensions and Foundations

Select materials for suspensions including springs, pocket springs, sprung units and webbing. Apply these to frames using appropriate modern or traditional methods, tools and equipment.

Upholstering

Measure and cut fabric, fit, apply and finish top covers including fluting, pleating and buttoning.

Loose Covers

Cut, sew and fit loose covers to specification.

 Repair

Repair joints and frame ready for re-upholstery and revive and polish show-wood frame.

 

Group 

B

Jigs and Templates

Use and maintain jigs and templates. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.

Produce Templates

Determine details of templates from specifications, mark out, measure dimensions and cut templates using appropriate tools and equipment.

Resolve Faults in Leather

Deal with scuffs, scratches, stains, burn marks, water marks and discolouration in leather.

Filling Materials

Select and fix filling materials. Understand different types and fixing methods

Fit Mechanical or Electrical Components

Assemble, fit and quality assure components.

Cushions and Padded Items

 Measure and cut fabric; sew components to produce scatter, box and bolster cushions.

Frame Finishes

Finish and polish show-wood frames, apply stains, sealers basecoats and finishes.

Trimmings and Finishings

Position and fix trimmings and finishings. This includes castors, valances, borders, skirts, dust covers and feet and legs.

Strip Down Furniture

Strip back existing upholstery to frames. Understand when and how to retain original foundation work

Furniture finisher

A Furniture Finisher will prepare and treat a wide range of timbers and man-made boards, using a range of techniques. Items to be finished could range from tables, chairs, lounge suites, cabinets, chests of drawers, kitchen units and shop fittings. They may also work on fitted items such as staircases, wall panels and doors, and on musical instruments like pianos. If you love working with wood this highly skilled job could be perfect for you. Most furniture finishing is done by  pressure  spray application,  but  hand  polishing  &  other  machine  applications  can  be  used.    This  is  a  skilled occupation where you need to be creative, organised, have a good eye for colour and show attention to detail. Apprentices who master this skill see the finished furniture items come to life.

Furniture Finishers will be able to undertake all of the following requirements.

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Preparation

 

Requirements

Analyse and agree finishing requirements following organisational procedures. A customer can be internal or external to the organisation.

Prepare furniture for finishing

Prepare hand crafted or production furniture for finishing this will include sanding, grain brushing, repair, stripping and general surface preparation.

Finishing

 

Finishing  Applications

Apply stains, sealers, primers, oils, polishes, varnishes, waxes, lacquers and finishing coats to furniture.  Finish furniture by spraying.

Colour Match

 Identify and carry out basic colour matching to organisational standards

Decorative & Specialist Effects

 Create decorative effects or specialist finishes on furniture


Fitted furniture installer

A Fitted Furniture Installer is responsible for preparing and installing furniture including kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and offices, shops, exhibitions and boat interiors.   This is onsite at the customer's commercial or domestic premises. Apprentices taking this route will experience a wide variety of projects and interface closely with customers.  In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Installers will need to undertake all mandatory and two of the optional requirements.

Mandatory 

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO BE ABLE TO

Prep

 

 Transporting & Handling of Materials

Ensure the safe transportation and handling of installation equipment and materials.  The correct type and quantity of installation equipment and materials have to be located and then transported so that they arrive at the location of the installation in good order.

Installation

 

 Prepare Location

Prepare location for assembly and placement of furniture. This involves making the assembly and placement area ready for work and preparing the furniture components for assembly.

Measure and Mark Out

 Measure and mark out materials to specification.

Power Tools & Hand Tools

Set up and operate tools used to assemble furniture. Understand the tools used within working area and which specific job they are used in.

Assembly

Assemble components of fitted furniture and understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important

Installation

Install furniture on location to specification. This includes scribing, fixing and securing of furniture using correct fixings relating to foundation secured to etc., adaptations to non- standard situations to specification (i.e., pipe box, sockets, gas meter)

Post installation

 

Re-instate Location

Re-instate a location after assembly and placement of furniture. This involves confirming the end of placement, ensuring all resources are cleared and maintaining customer liaison.

 Customer Service

Develop customer relationships. This includes building customer confidence in the level of service provided, meeting the ongoing needs and expectations of customers and developing relationships between customers and your organisation

Rectification/ rework

Carry out rectification or rework. This includes changing hinges and handles. Identify snags and awareness of where to seek help and guidance.

Optional

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Installation

 

Gluing

Apply adhesives to components and understand types, methods and processes involved in gluing.

 Cut Outs

Complete standard cut-outs in work surfaces for general appliances such as taps, hobs and sinks.  This covers using a template, cutting out and finishing the area.

Cramping

Position components and apply cramps to ensure products are positioned securely to specification.

 Sanding

Sand wooden work tops, trims, cornices and laminate edgings. Understand grit sizes and the process for sanding.

Veneers & Laminates

Apply edging tape to laminate worktops to specification.

Jigs & Templates

Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture installation. Jigs for example hinges and templates for example sinks and work tops.

Joints

Cut and join components on site. This could include work top jointing, up-stand, cornices and trims.

Fittings

Prepare and assemble components to specification, finishing and checking the assembly conforms to specifications

Electrical / Mechanical Fittings

 First fit mechanical or electrical components to furniture.

Finish composite worktops

 Finish work tops to specification following manufacturers’ instructions.

Furniture restorer

Furniture restorers are involved in the conservation and restoration of antique and modern furniture by using practical and scientific restoration techniques.  To be a furniture restorer, you should have an interest in furniture history, a desire to fix things, practical skills, an eye for detail and good observational and co-ordination skills.  You should have a patient and organised approach.

The programme is designed to give a wide range of skills appropriate to restoration and repair.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it Restorers will be able to undertake all mandatory and one of the optional requirements.

Mandatory

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Preparation

 

Customer Service

Agree the requirements, scope of the work and the budget with the customer. Set expectations with the customer.

Assessment

Assess items of furniture for repair in order to produce a condition and options report.

Requirements

Evaluate and specify restoration requirements. Develop a plan for the restoration work.

Research

Carry out research to understand the history of furniture and the different periods.

Restoration

 

Restoration

 

Repair & Restore

Repair structural components. Replicate and restore components.

Basic Finishing

 Prepare existing and newly restored surfaces and finish furniture using basic finishing methods.

Finishing

 

 Reporting

Write a report on the work that has been carried out to include sketches and photographs of the process.

 Recommendations

Provide the customer with relevant aftercare and instructions and recommendations for future use and handling.

Optional

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Specialist

 

Decorative Effects

Re- create decorative effects on furniture.

Re-upholstery

Reupholster structural and decorative elements of furniture. Ensure you use appropriate fabrics.

French Polishing

French polish furniture using traditional methods to a glass finish.

Modern furniture service repairer

Modern Furniture Service Repairers fix a wide range of problems, including damage to furniture, upholstery, beds, mattresses, mechanisms and fittings.  They visit customers’ premises to inspect items, assess requirements and carry out repairs.

To be a Modern Furniture Service Repairer you should have a hands on approach, with good practical skills, excellent communication skills, an eye for detail and good observational and co-ordination skills.   You should have a patient and organised approach, good listening skills and be an ambassador for your company.

The programme is designed to give a wide range of skills appropriate to Modern Furniture Service Repair and will lead to a lifelong trade.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it Modern Furniture Service Repairers will be able to undertake all mandatory and three of the optional requirements.

Mandatory

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Preparation

 

Assessment

Carry out an assessment of the fault.  Assess and specify requirements for work to be carried out and agree with customers.

Customer Service

Develop customer relationships. This includes building customer confidence in the level of service provided, meeting the ongoing needs and expectations of customers and developing relationships between customers and your organisation.

Sign off

 

Recommendations

Provide customers with relevant aftercare and instructions and recommendations for future use.

Report

Complete reports on the work carried out.

Optional

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Repair

 

Upholstery

Repair upholstery faults including fabrics, frames, fillings, stitching, scratches, scuffs, tears, holes, seam issues, discolouration and colour loss, arms, collapsed surfaces and springs.

Furniture

Repair furniture faults including cosmetic, structural, veneers, foil and laminated surfaces.

Beds and mattresses

Repair beds and mattress faults including broken frames, replacing tufts, damaged stitching and mattress settlement.

Flat pack

Repair flat pack furniture faults including cosmetic and structural.

Mechanisms and fittings

Repair/replace mechanism and fittings faults including lifting mechanisms, recliners and electrical components,

Leather repairs

Repair scuffs, scratches, stains, burn marks, water marks and discolouration in leather.

Foam convertor and upholstery cushion interior manufacturer

A Foam Convertor and Cushion Manufacturer produces cushioning products using a wide range of conversion equipment. This includes setting up, operating and maintaining processing and cutting equipment. This equipment can range from small manually operated machines to large automated CNC profiling and shaping equipment. They are involved in the conversion of large polyurethane blocks and other filling materials into padding and cushioning components for the production of upholstered furniture and bedding.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Foam Convertor and Cushion Manufacturers will be able to undertake all mandatory requirements and 4 optional requirements.

Mandatory

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Preparation

 

 Raw materials

 Identify and explain characteristics of raw materials.

 Product Specifications

 Understand product specification instructions and diagrams

Production Process & Flow Requirements

Prepare, arrange and coordinate material flow through identified work stations following required production route

Finishing

 

Rectification / Rework

 Identify faulty products and undertake rectification process

Safe Handling and Storage

 Pack and label products in the required format according to customer specification

Optional

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Sewn Case Production

Lay Up, Measure & Mark Out

 Operate manual and / or automatic fabric spreading equipment using safe systems of work.

 Cut Shapes

Cut shapes using manual hand held cutting equipment and / or CNC fabric cutter according to safe systems of work

Prepare Cut Parts & Sew Components

 Prepare cut components ready for sewing and sew by hand through use of sewing machinery.

Sewn Case Production

Prepare Cases

 Prepare cases in line with filling requirements

Fill Cases

 Fill cases through use of manual and / or automated filling methods

Finishing

Close filling opening to required standards through use of closing machinery to prevent filling migration

Foam Cutting

 

Operate CNC Machinery

 Prepare, set up and operate foam CNC & profiling machinery using safe systems of work.

Operate Large Cutting Machinery

Prepare, set up and operate vertical and horizontal cutting machines using safe systems of work.

Operate Small Cutting Machinery

Operate small cutting and shaping machinery using templates and jigs to ensure repeatability and accuracy of component parts

Foam assembly

 

Prepare Components

Prepare all cut components along with required drawings ready for assembly

Automated  Fabrication

Operate automated fabrication line to required operating procedures.

Manual Fabrication

Assemble cut parts through correct use of sprayed adhesive equipment and assembly techniques to the required tolerances and quality standards

Wood machinist

A Furniture Wood Machinist produces components for furniture using a wide range of wood working machinery. This includes setting up, operating and maintaining wood working machines such as saws, planers, moulders, lathes, routers and CNC/NC machines. Wood Machinists will take raw materials and produce components to a given specification to be used in the manufacture of furniture. They will often be working individually so being able to motivate themselves and work on their own initiative is essential. Having a keen eye for detail, apprentices will work in environments from small workshops to large scale factories. Following this route will allow an apprentice to develop a wide range of skills across different types of wood working machines.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Wood Machinists will be able to undertake all the mandatory requirements and four of the optional requirements.

Mandatory

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Essential

 

Measure and Mark Out

Measure and mark out materials to specification within the acceptable tolerances following standard operating procedures.

Tooling

Select, prepare and maintain woodmachining tooling.

Cutting

Prepare, set up and operate cutting wood machinery.

Planing

Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser (can be a combined machine) and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round).

Optional

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Pre-Machining

 Calibrating

Calibrate measuring equipment, keep tools and equipment clear of debris and dirt and ensure tools are kept sharp.

Jigs and Templates  Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production.  Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.

Profiling

Prepare, set up and operate profiling wood machinery. This includes vertical spindle moulder (straight work), four sided planer and moulder, high-speed router, double-end tenoner, wood turning lathe, copying lathe, linear shaper, rotary shaper machines

Machining

 

Boring

Prepare, set up and operate boring wood machinery. This includes single-head machine and multi-head machine.

Sanding

Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing.

Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding. This includes the use of wide belt sander, overhead narrow belt sander, disc sander, bobbin sander, linisher and profile sander.

Edge Banding

.Carry out the edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. This includes, edge-banding by hand, colour matching, timber and PVC lippings, calibration and finishing techniques.

Operate Machinery and Equipment  Operate woodworking machinery and equipment to meet company requirements. Prepare tools and equipment including tooling technology and calibration of measuring equipment.
 Joints

Prepare, set up and operate wood machinery to produce jointed wood and wood-based products. This includes chisel morticer, chain morticer, slot morticer, dovetailer, vertical spindle moulder, stair router, single-end tenoner, double-end tenoner, round-end tenoner, dowler and router.

Finishing

 
 Assembly Assemble components of furniture following standard operating procedures. Understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important.

Furniture CNC specialist

A Furniture CNC Specialist produces components for furniture using CNC machines. This includes setting up, operating and maintaining CNC machines and saws to cut, plane, shape and sand all types of wood and man-made wood components. They have an interest in computers and machines.  They need to be able to work using their own initiative and motivate themselves. Furniture CNC Specialists work in environments where an ability to work to targets in terms of output and quality standards is essential. These can be wide ranging from small workshops to large scale factories. This programme is designed to give an excellent grounding for anyone who wants a career working with CNC machines.

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the industry whilst maintaining the rigour of every single apprenticeship within it, Furniture CNC Specialists will be able to undertake all the mandatory requirements and three of the optional requirements.

Mandatory

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Essential

 

Measure and Mark Out

Measure and mark out materials to specification within the acceptable tolerances following standard operating procedures.

Tooling

Select, prepare and maintain CNC/NC tooling.

Operate CNC/NC Machinery and Equipment

Operate CNC/NC machinery and equipment to meet company requirements.

Prepare tools and equipment including tooling technology and calibration of measuring equipment.

 CNC/NC Processing

Understand the principles of CNC/NC processing. This includes the capabilities of machinery used, how the machinery operates, principles of machinery and the manufacturing processes used in your organisation.

Mechatronics System Principles and Fault Finding

Understand mechatronics systems principles and fault finding. This includes diagnosing simple faults, understanding total production maintenance, engineered systems, and the basic principles of pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and electrical actuation systems.

Optional 

YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO AND BE ABLE TO

Preparation

 
Methods of Measurement Inspect and use measuring equipment, keep tools and equipment clear of debris and dirt.
Jigs and Templates

Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production.  Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.

Sanding  Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding. This includes the use of wide belt sander, overhead narrow belt sander, disc sander, bobbin sander, linisher and profile sander.
 Edge Banding  Carry out the edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. This includes colour matching, timber and PVC lippings, calibration and finishing techniques.
 Planing  Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser (can be a combined machine) and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round).
 Joints Prepare, set up and operate CNC/NC machinery  to produce jointed wood and wood­ based products. This includes chisel morticer, chain morticer, slot morticer, dovetailer, vertical spindle moulder, stair router, single-end tenoner, double-end tenoner, round-end tenoner, dowler and router.
 Assembly

 Assemble components of furniture following standard operating procedures..

Understand the sequence or assembly and why this is important


Maths and English requirements

For apprentices that  have not yet achieved level 2 English and maths, they must achieve IeveilEnglish and maths and take the test for level 2 prior to taking their endpoint assessment.

Duration

Typically this apprenticeship will take 24 months to complete.

Review date

After 3 years.


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Status: Approved for delivery
Level: 2
Reference: ST0203
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 28/06/2021
Approved for delivery: 7 September 2016
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway : 24 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £9000
Options: Bed Manufacturer, Foam Convertor and Upholstery Cushion Interior Manufacturer, Furniture CNC Specialist, Furniture Finisher, Furniture Restorer, General Furniture Manufacturer, Modern Furniture Service Repairer, Modern Upholsterer, Wood Machinist, Furniture Installer
LARS Code: 137
EQA Provider: Ofqual

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Employers involved in creating the standard: Silentnight Group, AMUSF, Burgess Beds, Dewars French Polishers, Duresta, G Plan, JKB, Lebus Upholstery, Nathan Furniture, Parker Knoll, REM, Reylon, Senator, Simpsons Furniture, The Furniture Makers, Sylvan Enterprises, Wendy Shorter Interiors, British Furniture Confederation, Willowbrook, Erinstar, Health Beds Ltd, Hypnos Limited, Simmons Beds UK, Bodyease, Steinhoff UK Manufacturing Ltd, Dunlopillo, Myers, Slumberland, Staples, Sweet Dreams, Blum UK, Pendennis, Rolls Royce, Bucks Bedrooms, Artistic Upholstery Limited, Interform Furniture, Axiom Displays, Baron Mercers, Imperial Office Furniture, SW Watson & Son Ltd, My Fathers Heart in Sheffield, Cotswold Caners, DFS, Sofa Brands International, Vale Upholstery, HSL Upholstery, Tetrad Upholstery, Plumbs Upholstery, Saxon Leather, Buoyant Upholstery, Furnico, Home Improvements, Mills and Scott, National Bed Federation, British Furniture Manufacturers, The Upholders, Proskills, Burnley College, North Lancs Training Group, Chichester College, World Skills, Cornwall College, Webs Training

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