Contents
Contents
Details of the occupational standard
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in the furniture, furnishings and interiors manufacturing industry. Mattress manufacturing operatives create a range of mattresses for consumers including memory foam, pocket sprung, latex, open coil, and continuous coil. They may also include hybrid mattress manufacturing combining both springs and foam layers producing more eco-friendly mattresses. They may use recyclable materials and fabrics for the filling of the mattresses impacting on the environment and sustainability. Production ranges from bespoke to mass-produced mattresses. Employers are usually medium to large businesses.
The broad purpose of the occupation is the manufacture of mattresses. Mattress manufacturing operatives cut, sew and prepare materials and set up and operate machinery. Some machinery may be automated. They prepare and conduct operations for quilting, assembly, tape edging, tufting, packing and labelling. They will also perform quality assurance checks on mattresses. They perform first line maintenance on machinery. They read and interpret instructions and complete documentation. They contribute to continuous improvement activities. Mattress manufacturing operatives work in factory environments. The occupation can be physically demanding, involving lifting of heavy mattresses and standing for long periods of time. Mattress manufacturing operatives often work shift systems. Depending on the size of the organisation, they may be required to work on their own, or they may work as part of a wider team. The seasonality of the industry, plus peaks and troughs in orders, often demands overtime working.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of colleagues including other Mattress manufacturing operatives, designers, production or manufacturing managers, quality technicians, production leaders and product developers. They usually report to a supervisor or shift team leader. They will be able to work with minimum supervision.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their duties in line with company procedures, processes and priorities. They are responsible for meeting production targets. They must take responsibility for the quality, accuracy, and timely completion of the work they undertake. They must work within health, safety and environmental regulations and guidance. They must use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), tools and equipment. All work must be completed in a safe and efficient manner as directed by supervisory staff. They are responsible for ensuring that they use resources efficiently. They recycle and reuse resources where possible, minimising waste and must include the safe disposal of waste.
Typical job titles include:
Occupation duties
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Receive, read and interpret job specifications. For example drawings and technical information. |
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Duty 2 Maintain the work area for health, safety, and environmental compliance before, during, and after the mattress manufacturing activity. |
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Duty 3 Plan work and resources to complete mattress manufacturing activities. |
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Duty 4 Organise availability and condition of machinery, tools, equipment and materials. |
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Duty 5 Perform first line maintenance tasks on mattress manufacturing machinery, tools and equipment. For example, checking, cleaning and lubricating. |
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Duty 6 Prepare for operation of machinery, power tools, hand tools and equipment used to manufacture mattresses. |
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Duty 7 Prepare materials for mattress construction. Resolve flaws or issues with materials. For example, cutting, sewing and quilting mattress panels and components using hand or automated equipment. |
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Duty 8 Assemble mattress core. For example, apply the insulator, cushioning layers, springs. |
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Duty 9 Complete finishes to mattress assembly. For example, tufting, tape edging using hand or automated equipment. |
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Duty 10 Complete rectification, repair, or rework on mattresses where necessary. |
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Duty 11 Pack and store completed mattresses and conduct quality assurance checks. Rectify or report issues. |
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Duty 12 Complete documentation relating to the mattress manufacturing process. For example, job sheets, work to do lists, production records. |
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Duty 13 Support continuous improvement and problem solving activities. For example, identify issues to address business needs. |
KSBs
Knowledge
K1: The furniture industry function and role of the operative. Responsibilities, limits of role and escalation procedures.
Back to Duty
K2: Job specifications, technical drawings and technical information.
Back to Duty
K3: Planning for mattress manufacturing activity, work organisation, resources, materials and time management.
Back to Duty
K4: Safe systems of work including risk assessments.
Back to Duty
K5: Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Back to Duty
K6: Environment and sustainability regulation, standards and guidance relevant to the occupation and the operative’s responsibilities. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
Back to Duty
K7: Preparation and maintenance of the work area.
Back to Duty
K8: Workplace operating procedures. What they are and why they are important.
Back to Duty
K9: Tools and equipment used in mattress manufacturing.
Back to Duty
K10: Storage environment, for tools and equipment.
Back to Duty
K11: Maintenance of tools and equipment including pre-checks, inspections and tool condition.
Back to Duty
K12: Machinery used in mattress manufacturing.
Back to Duty
K13: Maintenance of machinery for mattress manufacturing activity including cleaning and lubrication.
Back to Duty
K14: Setting up machinery to perform mattress manufacturing operations.
Back to Duty
K15: Types of materials and fillings used in mattress manufacturing.
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K16: Measuring and marking out of materials. Calibration of measurement tools and equipment.
Back to Duty
K17: Mattress pre-construction processes: cutting, sewing, quilting, hand side stitching, and panel cutting.
Back to Duty
K18: Methods of assembly for core mattress types: spring units and fillings, memory foam, pocket sprung, latex, open coil, and continuous coil.
Back to Duty
K19: Mattress finishing techniques: tufting, tape edging.
Back to Duty
K20: Rectification and rework techniques used on mattresses.
Back to Duty
K21: Methods for packing, storing and handling mattresses.
Back to Duty
K22: Quality assurance processes.
Back to Duty
K23: Methods of documenting work in progress for the mattress manufacturing activity.
Back to Duty
K24: Continuous improvement techniques: lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S, KAIZEN.
Back to Duty
K25: Team working principles.
Back to Duty
K26: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on their work.
Back to Duty
K27: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience.
Back to Duty
K28: Written communication techniques - electronic and paper. Industry terminology.
Back to Duty
K29: Information and digital technology: email, collaboration packages, databases, equipment digital interfaces, management information systems, word processing, work sharing platforms, GDPR, cyber security.
Back to Duty
Skills
S1: Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for mattress manufacturing activity.
Back to Duty
S2: Plan mattress manufacturing activity including timescales for completion, and resources.
Back to Duty
S3: Prepare and maintain the work area.
Back to Duty
S4: Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
Back to Duty
S5: Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
Back to Duty
S6: Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Back to Duty
S7: Follow workplace operating procedures.
Back to Duty
S8: Store tools and equipment.
Back to Duty
S9: Select tools, equipment, and machinery for mattress manufacturing activity.
Back to Duty
S10: Identify and select materials and fillings used in mattress manufacturing.
Back to Duty
S11: Measure and mark out materials including measurement tool calibration checks.
Back to Duty
S12: Apply first line maintenance of tools, equipment and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
Back to Duty
S13: Set up and operate mattress manufacturing machinery. For example, spring making, quilting, tape edging, panel cutting, tufting machinery.
Back to Duty
S14: Carry out pre-construction, core assembly and finishing techniques for mattresses: cutting and sewing labels, borders and panels; hand stitching; quilting; core assembly for foam, pocket sprung, latex, open coil or continuous coil; tufting and tape edging.
Back to Duty
S15: Carry out rectification, repair or rework of mattress assembly.
Back to Duty
S16: Follow quality assurance processes.
Back to Duty
S17: Pack, store and handle mattresses.
Back to Duty
S18: Record mattress manufacturing activity information - paper based or electronic.
Back to Duty
S19: Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S, and KAIZEN.
Back to Duty
S20: Apply team working principles.
Back to Duty
S21: Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
Back to Duty
S22: Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
Back to Duty
S23: Communicate verbally, for example with colleagues and supervisors.
Back to Duty
S24: Communicate in writing with others, for example, colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronic or paper based.
Back to Duty
S25: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Back to Duty
S26: Undertake and record learning and development activities.
Back to Duty
Behaviours
B1: Put health and safety first.
Back to Duty
B2: Take ownership of given work.
Back to Duty
B3: Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
Back to Duty
B4: Team-focus to meet work goals.
Back to Duty
B5: Support an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.
Back to Duty
B6: Seek learning and development opportunities.
Back to Duty
Qualifications
English and Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Version log
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 15/10/2024 | Not set |
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