Proskills: Making Skills Work

Typical Tasks

General Skills required

Experience requested

Qualifications

• Study drawings, work orders or samples to determine specifications.
• Select and fit knives, saws, drill bits or other machine tools to perform the desired functions.
• Attach guides, fixtures or jigs to machines so that operations are performed safely.
• Adjust stops, guides, feed rollers and tailstocks, and the angle and height of tables for easy and safe machining.
• Select the direction and speed of rotation of machinery to produce smooth finishes.
• Select timbers.
• Feed wood and timber-based boards into machines or operate automatic feed mechanisms.
• Programme and control Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines.
• Adjust parts to maintain conformity of work within specifications.
• Undertake mechanical repairs to machinery.
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of workers engaged in wood machining and turning.

• Ability to perform manual tasks.
• Good eyesight.
• Able to carry out basic mathematical calculations.
• Aptitude for using machinery.
• Capable of understanding written instructions.
• Free from allergies to dust.
• Able to work to a high level of accuracy.

This will be dependent on the job role at which you enter the industry; however if you have little or no experience 5 or more GCSEs at grade A to C are valued by employers.

There are no fixed entry level requirements.

Qualifications valued by employers may include:

• GCSE’s, ideally grade A to C
• A Level’s
• L2/L3/L4 CAD/CAM Design.
• NVQ L2/L3 in Furniture Production.
• NVQ L2/L3 in Wood Machining.
• Furniture Apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship.