This occupation is found in the furniture, furnishings and interiors manufacturing industry. Furniture making operatives manufacture furniture for domestic, office and commercial settings. Furniture making operatives make both mass-produced products and individually designed furniture. They also manufacture the various components needed to produce fitted kitchens, bathrooms or bedrooms. They measure, prepare and mark out materials and set up and operate machinery. Some will need to use computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery and other technology involved in manufacturing furniture. They assemble, rectify, rework and repair furniture and understand finishing techniques. Employers vary in size from micro to large.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to manufacture, assemble, furniture and furniture components. They also pack and store finished furniture. They also perform first line maintenance and contribute to continuous improvement activities. They read and interpret instructions, completing documentation and clean up work areas as part of the role. The occupation can be physically demanding, involving lifting of components, and standing for long periods of time. It involves working with machinery, tools, and equipment. Furniture making operatives often work shift systems. The seasonality of the industry, plus peaks and troughs in orders, often demands overtime working. 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. Furniture making operatives can work in a range of environments from small, independent shops that produce custom furniture to factories that mass-produces pieces of furniture.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of colleagues. These include other furniture making 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 the quality, accuracy, and timely completion of their own work. They will be responsible for meeting production targets. They must work within the health, safety and environmental regulations and guidance, including use of appropriate protective clothing 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.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Receive, read, and interpret job specifications. For example, drawings, and technical information. |
K1 K2 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 S1 S2 S4 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S22 S24 S29 |
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Duty 2 Maintain the work area for health, safety, and environmental compliance before, during, and after the furniture making activity. |
K2 K3 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K30 K31 K32 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S22 S24 |
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Duty 3 Plan work and resources, including sustainable practices to complete and meet targets for the furniture manufacturing activities. |
K1 K2 K3 K6 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S22 S24 S25 S27 S28 |
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Duty 4 Organise availability and condition of machinery, tools, equipment and materials. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K27 K30 K31 K32 K33 |
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Duty 5 Perform first line maintenance tasks on furniture machinery, tools and equipment. For example, checking, cleaning and lubricating. |
K3 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K27 K30 K31 K32 |
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Duty 6 Prepare for operation of machinery, power tools, hand tools and equipment used to manufacture furniture and components. |
K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K27 K31 |
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Duty 7 Check jigs and templates for furniture production. For example, checking for any faults or damage, reporting issues. |
K4 K5 K7 K8 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K27 K31 |
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Duty 8 Prepare materials prior to assembly and post-assembly and for job completion. Resolve flaws or issues with materials. For example, sand, clean and glue materials, including plywood, medium density fibreboard (MDF), and melamine faced chipboard (MFC). |
K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K25 K27 K30 K31 K32 |
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Duty 9 Manufacture components of furniture using machinery, tools, and equipment. For example, measure, cut and shape materials using saws, chisels, planes, power tools and woodworking machinery. |
K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K31 K32 |
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Duty 10 Assemble components of furniture. For example, glue joints and fit part sections using staples, dowels, screws, and nails. |
K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K31 K32 |
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Duty 11 Complete finishing operations on assembled furniture. For example, spray techniques on surfaces, attach fittings and fixtures to assembled furniture. |
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Duty 12 Complete rectification, repair, or rework on furniture items where necessary. |
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Duty 13 Pack and store finished assemblies and conduct quality assurance checks. Rectify or report issues. |
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Duty 14 Complete documentation or digital information relating to the furniture making process. For example, job sheets, work to do lists, production records. |
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Duty 15 Support continuous improvement and problem solving activities. For example, identify issues to address business needs. |
K1: The furniture industry function and role of the operative. Responsibilities, limits of role and escalation procedures.
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K2: Job specifications, technical drawings and technical information.
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K3: Planning for furniture manufacturing activity, work organisation, resources, materials and time management.
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K4: Safe systems of work including risk assessments.
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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. 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).
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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.
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K7: Preparation and maintenance of the work area.
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K8: Workplace operating procedures. What they are and why they are important.
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K9: Tools and equipment used in furniture manufacturing.
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K10: Storage environment, for tools and equipment.
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K11: Maintenance of tools and equipment including pre-checks, inspections and tool condition.
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K12: Machinery used in furniture manufacturing.
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K13: Maintenance of machinery for furniture manufacturing activity including cleaning and lubrication.
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K14: Setting up machinery to perform furniture manufacturing operations.
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K15: Types of materials used in furniture making.
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K16: Methods of preparing materials.
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K17: Methods of packing and storage: components and products.
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K18: Jigs and templates. Purpose, condition and use.
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K19: Measuring and marking out of materials. Calibration of measurement tools and equipment.
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K20: Furniture component manufacturing processes including cutting and shaping.
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K21: Types of jointing techniques used in making furniture.
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K22: Furniture assembly techniques.
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K23: Types of furniture fittings and fixtures. Purpose and use.
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K24: Principles and techniques for finishing furniture surfaces including spraying.
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K25: Rectification, repair and rework techniques used on manufactured furniture.
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K26: Methods for the handling and movement of products and components.
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K27: Quality assurance processes.
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K28: Methods of documenting work in progress for the furniture making activity.
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K29: Continuous improvement techniques: lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S and KAIZEN.
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K30: Team working principles.
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K31: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on their work.
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K32: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information.
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K33: Written communication techniques - electronic and paper. Industry terminology
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K34: Information and digital technology: email, collaboration packages, databases, equipment digital interfaces, management information systems, word processing, work sharing platforms, GDPR, cyber security.
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S1: Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for furniture making activity.
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S2: Plan furniture making activity including timescales for completion, and organise materials and resources.
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S3: Prepare and maintain the work area.
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S4: Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
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S5: Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S6: Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S7: Follow workplace operating procedures.
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S8: Store tools and equipment.
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S9: Select tools, equipment, and machinery for furniture making activity.
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S10: Apply first line maintenance of, tools, equipment, and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
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S11: Set up and operate furniture making machinery.
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S12: Identify and select materials used in furniture making.
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S13: Apply preparation techniques to materials.
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S14: Prepare and use jigs and templates used in the work activity. Check jigs and templates for damage.
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S15: Measure and mark out materials including measurement tool calibration checks.
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S16: Manufacture furniture components including cutting and shaping.
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S17: Apply jointing techniques to produce furniture components.
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S18: Assemble and secure furniture components in position, for example clamping and gluing techniques.
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S19: Attach furniture fittings and fixtures.
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S20: Carry out rectification, repair and rework of manufactured furniture.
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S21: Follow quality assurance processes.
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S22: Pack and store components and products.
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S23: Record furniture making activity information - paper based or electronic.
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S24: Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S and KAIZEN.
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S25: Apply team working principles.
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S26: Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
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S27: Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
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S28: Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
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S29: Communicate in writing with colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronically or paper based.
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S30: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
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S31: Undertake and record learning and development activities.
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B1: Put health and safety first.
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B2: Take ownership of given work.
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B3: Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
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B4: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B5: Support an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.
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B6: Seek learning and development opportunities.
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English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 22/08/2024 | Not set |
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