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Key information

  1. Status: Standard in development
  2. Ticked Proposal approved
    Ticked Occupational standard approved
    Ticked End-point assessment plan approved
    Ticked Funding approved
  3. Reference: ST0025
  4. Level: 6
  5. Typical duration to gateway: 42 months
  6. Typical EPA period: 6 months
  7. Route: Engineering and manufacturing
  8. Maximum funding: £27000
  9. Lars code: 11
  10. EQA provider: Office for Students
  11. Example progression routes:
  12. Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in a range of sectors that involve manufacturing, for example automotive, maritime, aerospace, food and drink and in wider manufacturing sectors.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to turn materials, components, or other commodities into a final product often on an assembly, production or process flow line. Manufacturing engineers select the most effective and efficient technologies and processes to manufacture a product. For a new, modified facility or product they would be involved in the design of the optimal manufacturing process and the design and layout of the manufacturing facility including discrete work areas or cells. They would identify equipment and resource requirements and also develop an operational plan for production, which may include considering manpower planning, logistics, procurement and supply chain requirements. They would also be involved in the installation and commissioning of new plant or equipment. For existing manufacturing facilities, they are involved in the monitoring of equipment, ensuring it is maintained for optimal performance. They investigate and resolve production problems and identify opportunities for improvements to increase productivity and efficiency. They ensure the facility, and its people, are safe and explore ways to reduce the impact of production on the environment including taking into account any sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) whilst maintaining product quality and adherence to relevant compliance or regulatory requirements.

In their daily work an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of other engineers, functions and managers both within their own organisation and their supply chain. They may spend their working day in a variety of locations such as in manufacturing work areas but with time also spent in an office environment.

An employee in this occupation will operate with a great deal of autonomy and will be responsible for ensuring that projects or programmes of work are launched, produced or delivered on time. They will be responsible for collecting, storing or supplying data in line with organisational requirements such as production volumes, quality, equipment efficiency, resource plans, health and safety and financial data. They will also be responsible for keeping up to date with current and developing trends in the manufacturing sector including developments in technology. 

Typical job titles include:

Current manufacturing engineer Industrial engineer Integrated manufacturing engineer Manufacturing engineer Manufacturing excellence engineer Manufacturing process engineer Manufacturing programmes engineer Process engineer Production engineer

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Lead a safety culture in their defined work area at all times, ensuring their own safety and the safety of others.

K1 K2 K3 K10 K13 K23

S6 S8 S14 S16 S18

B1 B2 B6

Duty 2 Ensure that manufacturing engineering projects comply with legislation, compliance testing, regulatory requirements, and sustainability requirements.

K1 K2 K3 K10 K11 K13 K20 K26 K27 K28

S6 S8 S10 S11 S16 S19 S20 S23

B1 B2 B6 B7

Duty 3 Be proactive and take responsibility for identifying, developing and maintaining own personal and professional development.

K3 K6 K7 K12 K16 K17 K19

S16

B5 B6

Duty 4 Work independently or as part of a team to provide specialist manufacturing engineering leadership.

K5 K11 K21 K23 K25

S6 S12 S14 S16 S18

B2 B3 B4 B6

Duty 5 Determine the type and level of technical data analysis and information required to complete the manufacturing engineering project or task outcome.

K3 K6 K7 K8 K11 K13 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S9 S16

B6

Duty 6 Plan, organise and manage resources such as people, equipment, components and data to monitor progress, identify risks and any relevant mitigation to meet project or task outcomes.

K1 K2 K4 K7 K9 K13 K15 K18 K20 K22 K23 K26 K27

S3 S6 S7 S8 S9 S14 S15 S16 S19 S20 S21

B1 B3 B6

Duty 7 Lead and deliver manufacturing projects or programmes of work to the agreed requirements, including schedule, quality and budget.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 K9 K10 K13 K15 K18 K19 K22 K26 K27

S1 S2 S4 S6 S7 S8 S9 S12 S13 S14 S16 S18 S19 S20 S21 S23

B1 B2 B3 B6

Duty 8 Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.

K5 K12 K21 K23 K25

S14 S15 S16 S17 S18

B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 9 Determine the appropriate problem solving and diagnostic tools and techniques to be used. Lead the problem-solving activity to enable development and modifications or updates to manufacturing facilities, systems or equipment.

K11 K13 K20 K21 K28

S2 S5 S10 S11 S14 S16 S21

B6

Duty 10 Identify and lead improvement activities such as supporting automation, digital transformation and other technological developments.

K10 K11 K13 K14 K15 K18 K19 K20 K22 K23 K26 K27

S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S10 S12 S14 S16 S18 S20 S22

B1 B2 B3 B6 B7

Duty 11 Produce validated designs, developments, modifications or updates to manufacturing facilities, systems or components through computer aided design, modelling, “live” testing or using virtual simulation software to industry standards.

K1 K2 K4 K8 K10 K16 K17 K19 K24 K28

S2 S3 S4 S5 S7 S9 S11 S12 S13 S15 S16 S20

B2 B5 B6 B7

Duty 12 Ensure all project or work programme documentation has been completed correctly and accurately to ensure it meets organisational compliance, industry standards or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and traceability requirements.

K1 K2 K8 K9 K12 K14 K15 K18 K23 K24 K26 K27

S1 S3 S4 S6 S8 S10 S12 S13 S15 S16 S19 S20 S23

B1 B2 B6

Duty 13 Produce technical documentation with applicable supporting data or information, as required, to inform project outcomes and decision making.

K2 K8 K10 K11 K14 K15 K16 K18 K24 K26 K27

S1 S3 S4 S13 S15 S16 S19 S20 S21

B2 B6

Duty 14 Identify and share good practice and work collaboratively.

K5 K12 K14 K19

S10 S12 S14 S15 S16 S17

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Safety and security legislation, regulations and standards associated with the manufacturing engineering environment. Cyber security and statutory safety standards. Back to Duty

K2: Hazards, risks and safe systems of work in a manufacturing engineering environment. Back to Duty

K3: Principles and applications of mechanics in a manufacturing environment: motion, energy and force to ensure that systems and components function safely, efficiently and reliably. Back to Duty

K4: Factors that determine material, resource, equipment and component selection. For example, quality, efficiency, performance, workforce and layout. Back to Duty

K5: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and ways to overcome them. Back to Duty

K6: Principles of mathematics and scientific methods including analytical techniques. Evaluating statistical data, complex numbers and matrices required in a manufacturing environment. Back to Duty

K7: Principles of electrical, electronic systems, components, schematic and circuit diagrams, control and digital engineering relevant to manufacturing environments. Back to Duty

K8: Data collection, storage, and presentation techniques. Back to Duty

K9: Project commercials: delays, changes and impacts. Back to Duty

K10: Techniques used for improving and enhancing manufactured products, commodities, systems or components: safety, reliability, quality, performance and sustainability. Back to Duty

K11: Problem solving tools and techniques for establishing performance characteristics, for example: Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA), Fishbone diagrams. Back to Duty

K12: Workplace training and development techniques: personal and professional development. Coaching and transfer of knowledge. Back to Duty

K13: Processes and procedures used to optimise safety, efficiency, performance, productivity and sustainability. Back to Duty

K14: Quality management and assurance processes. Back to Duty

K15: Management of change (MOC) processes: requesting change, determining viability, planning, implementing and evaluating changes to a product, system or component. Use of data to support change. Adherence to MOC, risks and limitations of MOC approval. Back to Duty

K16: Principles of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and the application in a manufacturing environment. Back to Duty

K17: Principles and applications of simulation software in a manufacturing environment. Back to Duty

K18: Project management techniques for project delivery: planning, cost and budget control, risk, and quality. Back to Duty

K19: Current and emerging technology in a manufacturing environment: mechanical and electrical integration, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, manufacturing systems, robotics, 3D printing, awareness of cloud computing and cyber security. Back to Duty

K20: Maintenance management strategies of plant machinery, systems and equipment. For example, planned and preventative maintenance. Back to Duty

K21: Collaboration working methods with stakeholders: best practice, quality and performance measures, issue resolution. Back to Duty

K22: Manufacturing processes and technologies, for example small or batch manufacturing, machining, casting, molding, automation, continuous flow, and high and low volume manufacturing. Back to Duty

K23: Teamwork and leadership: negotiation techniques, conflict management and development techniques. Back to Duty

K24: Written communication techniques. Plain English principles. Manufacturing engineering terminology. Report writing, presentations, data analysis documentation. Back to Duty

K25: Equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Unconscious bias. Back to Duty

K26: Environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the manufacturing engineering environment. Carbon zero, recycling and reusability targets.  Back to Duty

K27: Project documentation: ownership, company procedures, selection and appropriate use. Back to Duty

K28: Pre-operation checks required on plant and equipment. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Translate conceptual ideas or technical requirements into developmental outcomes, operational designs, or specifications for manufacturing projects or programmes of work. Back to Duty

S2: Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve problems and determine solutions or actions. Back to Duty

S3: Collate, store, use and present data and supporting documentation. Back to Duty

S4: Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic and circuit diagrams, engineering drawings or 3D CAD models, simulation models, engineering reports, test reports, fault reports or data analytics. Back to Duty

S5: Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data evidence. Back to Duty

S6: Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as planning, safety, quality, cost, performance and sustainability. Back to Duty

S7: Apply processes for project or programme management such as escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation. Back to Duty

S8: Comply with statutory and organisational safety and security standards and requirements, supporting safety risk assessments and mitigate any risks identified within the design, manufacture, development or test activity. Back to Duty

S9: Identify and use manufacturing processes, resources and technologies to turn the materials, components or other commodities into a finished product or system. Back to Duty

S10: Apply quality management and assurance processes to identify and rectify faults, inaccuracies, discrepancies or unexpected results during the manufacturing engineering process. Back to Duty

S11: Carry out pre operations checks of engineering manufacturing systems and equipment before use. Back to Duty

S12: Manage continuous improvement activities using techniques such as Six Sigma, 5s, Kaizen, Lean, Kanban, Statistical Process Control or Value Stream Mapping. Back to Duty

S13: Create, maintain and review project documentation. Record and action any non-conformities. Back to Duty

S14: Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders. Back to Duty

S15: Communicate in writing for example technical reports, documents and presentations. Back to Duty

S16: Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders. Manage differing and competing interests with stakeholders. Back to Duty

S17: Identify and complete opportunities for personal and professional development including keeping up to date with current and emerging technology. Back to Duty

S18: Apply and promote policies and practices to support equity, diversity and inclusion. Back to Duty

S19: Consider management of change (MOC) requirements when undertaking manufacturing projects or programmes of work. Back to Duty

S20: Comply with environmental and sustainability legislation, regulations and standards associated with the manufacturing engineering environment. Uses resources efficiently, for example waste minimisation. Back to Duty

S21: Ensure equipment is managed and maintained. Back to Duty

S22: Optimise processes and procedures, such as relating to safety, efficiency, performance, productivity and sustainability. Back to Duty

S23: Ensure that all systems or equipment has been correctly configured, checked and tested for safe operation, efficiency and reliability. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Promotes a healthy and safe working environment. Back to Duty

B2: Take responsibility for the compliance and quality of work in their area and enable others to meet these standards. Back to Duty

B3: Agile and resilient in dealing with new and changing situations. Back to Duty

B4: Supportive of the needs and concerns of others, especially where this relates to diversity and inclusion. Back to Duty

B5: Committed to maintaining and enhancing competence of self and others through Continued Professional Development (CPD). Back to Duty

B6: Acts in an ethical and professional manner. Back to Duty

B7: Leads by example and promotes sustainable approaches. Back to Duty

Qualifications

English and Maths

English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

Other mandatory qualifications

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Professional recognition

This standard partially aligns with the following professional recognition:

  • Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) for Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

    This programme has been designed to align with the requirements of the engineering profession. This does not guarantee recognition by either the Engineering Council or the professional engineering institutions (PEIs) it licenses, unless the programme has been formally recognised (approved or accredited) by one or more PEIs and listed on the Engineering Council’s recognised course search database which can be found on their website. Anyone seeking professional registration or further advice is advised to contact the appropriate PEI to discuss their application.

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Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
Revised version awaiting implementation Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised but remained the same. 13/10/2025 Not set
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 26/02/2024 12/10/2025
1.0 Approved for delivery 12/11/2014 25/02/2024
Employers involved in creating the standard: Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, BMW, Siemens, Perkins, Rolls Royce, JCB, Ford, Lander, Toyota, Britvic.

Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

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