Key information

  1. Reference: ST0243
  2. Date updated: 02/10/2024
  3. Level: 3
  4. Route: Agriculture, environmental and animal care
  5. Regulated occupation: No

This is not the latest approved version of this apprenticeship. View the latest version

Print occupational standard

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is typically found in the agricultural, horticultural, forestry, amenities and outdoor power sectors.

A land-based engineering technician may work in the employer’s workplace or on site from a fully equipped service vehicle. They are required to work flexible working hours as dictated by seasonal requirements.

The technician acts as an ambassador for the employer’s business and the products represented, utilising their own initiative in a customer facing role.

Businesses employing land-based engineering technicians deliver technical support to their end user customers, dealership networks or own manufacturing activities.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the customer by conducting installation, setup, maintenance, diagnostic and the repair of land-based equipment throughout its end to end operating lifecycle.

They will conduct inspections and consultations and compile condition reports.  They diagnose and repair complex faults in prime movers, machinery, and equipment, prepare repair proposals and implement timely and cost-effective repairs.

The land-based engineering technician will verify the performance of prime movers, machinery and equipment against the manufacturer’s specification and customers’ expectations.

They understand the interrelationship of machines and the interface between machine, biological systems and the influence of the crop condition and working environment on optimum performance and operating expense.

They perform a multi-disciplinary role requiring a diverse blend of diagnostic activities and logical thought processes relating to mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic and autonomous and automated land-based machinery and equipment.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of internal and external customers. This may include colleagues, suppliers, manufacturers, business to business customers and the public. They will embrace equality, diversity and inclusion. 

They will typically report to a line manager.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing work to specification and quality requirements, on schedule and without immediate supervision.

Land-based service engineering technicians are responsible for managing the outcome of their assigned tasks. 

They need to consider the land-based environment and conditions in which they operate along with health and safety and the implications of lone working.

Technicians are often called upon to supervise and mentor junior colleagues and dispense advice to customers regarding machinery selection and the application of technologically advanced products.

 

Typical job titles include:

Agricultural machinery service technician Agricultural service technician Field service technician Forestry service engineering technician Golf and turf service technician Grounds care service technician Horticultural service engineering technician Land-based service engineering technician Milking system technician

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Conduct technical consultations specific to land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers and the environment in which they are utilised. Including precision technologies, technological developments, machinery interaction with crop, turf, soil conditions, livestock, weather or climatic conditions and optimum operational efficiency.

K1 K4 K9 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 S11 S13 S16 S17 S19 S31

B1 B2 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9

Duty 2 Gather intelligence on the malfunction, breakdown and performance of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers. Including their application, operation and interaction with each other, the working environment and factors influencing performance (such as crop and soil types, soil conditions and weather).

K1 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K16 K18 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S9 S11 S12 S13 S15 S16 S17 S18 S27 S31

B1 B3 B6 B7 B9

Duty 3 Undertake on-site operational testing of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers to either simulate the conditions leading to customer complaints or to validate operational performance.

K1 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S8 S11 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S27 S31

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 4 Perform appropriate diagnostic processes to test and record technical data, intermittent faults and developing faults. Including the use of crop, environment, fluid sampling and analysis, monitoring via telemetry.

K1 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K16 K18 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S8 S9 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S27 S31

B1 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 5 Examine failed parts and gathered information to establish the root cause of land-based machinery, equipment and prime mover failures.

K1 K7 K10 K11 K12

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S8 S9 S12 S13 S15 S16 S17

B1 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 6 Formulate and communicate conclusions and recommend viable repair options, considering timelines, due diligence, and the impact on the customer’s land-based operation. For example crop, produce, surface quality, and revenue loss.

K6 K8 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K18 K21 K22

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S9 S11 S12 S13 S15 S16 S17 S18 S22 S23 S24 S27 S31

B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 7 Compile detailed technical reports and communicate findings and actions taken or required to resolve issues, keeping stakeholders informed of progress and managing escalation.

K6 K7 K8 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K18 K19 K21

S1 S3 S4 S5 S6 S9 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S22 S23 S24 S26 S27 S31

B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 8 Carry out mechanical repairs to complex land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers. Including preparation, processing, cutting, conditioning, placement, application, material handling, transportation, autonomous and operator controlled prime movers, machinery and equipment.

K1 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K21

S1 S2 S4 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 9 Conduct complex electrical and electronic system repairs on land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers. For example, precision technology, electronic systems management, telemetry, autonomous and automated operations used in the land-based sector.

K1 K15 K17

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S7 S9 S10 S14 S32

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 10 Conduct complex repairs to hydraulic, pneumatic, hydrostatic, fluid powered systems employed in land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers.

K1 K16 K19 K21

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S7 S9 S10

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 11 Supervise, support and implement a schedule of repair operations for others to follow.

K5 K13 K14 K16

S2 S4 S6 S7 S9 S12 S14 S15 S20 S21 S23

B2 B4 B5 B6 B9

Duty 12 Install, demonstrate and hand over land-based engineering machinery and equipment in bespoke land-based environments in accordance with legislative requirements and company procedures. Including the handover of repaired machines adjusted to accommodate varying crop types, soil types and conditions, crop and climatic conditions.

K4 K9 K20 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S11 S16 S17 S18 S19 S25 S26 S31

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 13 Set up land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers to achieve optimal performance. Optimise precision technologies and consider sustainable production, seasonal changes, minimising waste and meet net zero objectives.

K1 K4 K9 K16 K20 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S4 S6 S11 S16 S17 S18 S19 S25 S26 S31

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B9

Duty 14 Engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and share best practice, keeping up to date with advances in land-based working practices and the land-based engineering technologies associated with them.

K5 K20 K25

S4 S30

B9 B10

Duty 15 Support the completion of technical expert reports and statements for use in dispute cases involving land-based engineering machinery and equipment. (for example misrepresentation, not fit for purpose, not of merchantable quality, negligent repair, accidents and insurance claims).

K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K18 K19 K20 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S8 S11 S12 S13 S15 S16 S17 S18 S22 S31

B2 B6 B7 B8 B9

Duty 16 Provide recommendations and technical information to support the preparation of estimates and quotations for the repair, refurbishment, resale and seasonal servicing of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers.

K4 K6 K7 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S9 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S21 S23 S24 S27 S31

B2 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9

Duty 17 Carry out dynamic risk assessments for activities carried out in land-based engineering environments, considering the diverse aspects of the work site (for example, biosecurity, livestock, diseases, cross contamination, remote lone working, toxic working environments, contamination and decontamination).

K1 K2 K3 K23

S2 S3 S4 S6 S28 S29

B1 B5 B6 B7 B9

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The importance of ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation and ensuring the safety of self, colleagues and others in the work environment. Back to Duty

K2: How to administer emergency first aid and implications when working remotely in isolated rural locations. Back to Duty

K3: Risks encountered when working onsite in the land-based sector including the procedures to monitor and review risk assessments and respond dynamically to new hazards and methods of mitigation. Back to Duty

K4: How to identify and evaluate environmentally friendly and sustainable land based working practices. Back to Duty

K5: Techniques and methods used to support and develop colleagues. Back to Duty

K6: How to interpret diagnostic data (including telematics) and apply this information to form dynamic, logical fault finding and diagnostic processes. Back to Duty

K7: Principles and processes of diagnostics testing to reach logical, evidence-based conclusions. Back to Duty

K8: Methods used to simulate the conditions and land based work environments and test the validity of customer complaints. Back to Duty

K9: How operational techniques, machine application, crops and soil types, the weather and working environment affect field-based performance. Back to Duty

K10: Root cause analysis and fault finding techniques. Back to Duty

K11: How to assess land-based machinery and equipment for repair considering crop and revenue loss when determining options. Back to Duty

K12: How to compile technical reports, statements and recommendations. Back to Duty

K13: Methods used to repair complex mechanical land-based prime movers. Back to Duty

K14: Methods used to repair land-based machinery and equipment attachments. Back to Duty

K15: Methods used to repair complex electrical and electronic systems including network communication systems, GPS, telematics, autonomous and automated systems. Back to Duty

K16: The application of precision land based technology and electronic management systems. Back to Duty

K17: How to maintain the integrity of electrical components. Back to Duty

K18: The differences between ownership, stewardship and custodianship of big data and how it is utilised in the land-based sector. Back to Duty

K19: How to conduct complex repairs to hydraulic, pneumatic, hydrostatic and fluid powered systems. Back to Duty

K20: How to set-up, operate and validate the performance of land-based prime-movers machinery and equipment and the factors that impact optimum performance including, crop condition, crop types, weather conditions, soil and surface types, maintenance, and operating techniques. Back to Duty

K21: Factors to consider when conducting land-based technical consultations including floatation tyres, ballast, cutting or working width, power requirements, range of adjustments, service ability, speeds of operation, combinations of machinery and residual values. Back to Duty

K22: How to determine compatibility of machinery combinations with prime movers and their interaction with one another. Back to Duty

K23: Handover and installation procedures to colleagues, customers and end users. Back to Duty

K24: Customer interaction, customer care techniques and how to deal with demanding customers, customer complaints and unrealistic expectations. Back to Duty

K25: Methods used to keep up to date with land based technological and working practice advances. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Interpret technical data, documentation, schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams and technical specifications. Back to Duty

S2: Work in accordance with Safe Systems of Work and apply control measures such as Health and Safety at Work Act, lone working, working at height and risk assessments adopting mitigation measures to safeguard, bystanders, the public, property and livestock. Back to Duty

S3: Use digital equipment to interrogate land-based machinery, equipment and prime mover performance and extract data and communicate to stakeholders. Back to Duty

S4: Obtain information from colleagues and stakeholders employing a range of techniques. Back to Duty

S5: Establish the information required to perform an efficient and effective diagnosis. Back to Duty

S6: Communicate technical matters to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Back to Duty

S7: Perform repairs of technologically advanced land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines and industry standards. Back to Duty

S8: Measure and assess wear tolerances and deformation in line with manufacturer instructions or guidance. Back to Duty

S9: Identify components that require either repair or replacement, including providing alternative solutions for repair or replacement as appropriate. Back to Duty

S10: Repair or replace component parts in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. Back to Duty

S11: Establish and replicate the circumstances and conditions that give rise to reported faults. Back to Duty

S12: Determine whether reported symptoms are a characteristic or a fault. Back to Duty

S13: Diagnose faults and reported underperformance of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers using approved diagnostic procedures and equipment and logical problem-solving techniques. Back to Duty

S14: Maintain, interrogate, calibrate and repair electronic equipment and systems, including precision technology, electronic management systems, telemetry, autonomous and automated operations used in the land-based sector. Back to Duty

S15: Differentiate between the root cause and symptom of land-based machinery, equipment and prime mover failures. Back to Duty

S16: Identify crop, soil, climatic and environmental factors that impact on the performance of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers. Back to Duty

S17: Identify the equipment settings appropriate to the working conditions giving due consideration to crop, soil types, conditions and environments, weather and climatic conditions. Back to Duty

S18: Perform verification tests to check performance against manufacturer specification land-based machinery, equipment and prime mover performance. Back to Duty

S19: Identify stakeholder requirements and provide tailored advice that informs their selection and operation of appropriate machinery, equipment and prime movers to meet the land based environment in which it will be operated. Back to Duty

S20: Applies supervision and mentoring techniques to support junior colleagues' development. Back to Duty

S21: Plan and prepare maintenance or repair work schedules for showing task allocation, sequencing, workflow and time management. Back to Duty

S22: Compile technical reports and statements. Back to Duty

S23: Provide technical input to facilitate the compilation of repair schedules, action plans, quotations and estimates. Back to Duty

S24: Identify the parts and services required to enable the reinstatement of land-based machinery, equipment and prime movers for the purposes of estimates and quotations. Back to Duty

S25: Perform installation and handover of machinery, equipment and prime movers, explaining their safe operation, the settings required for the environmental conditions and application, the maintenance and warranty requirements. Back to Duty

S26: Establish level of customer understanding of how to operate the machinery or equipment following installation and handover. Back to Duty

S27: Use predictive and preventative maintenance effectively to minimise land-based machinery, equipment and prime mover downtime. Back to Duty

S28: Identify toxic and hazardous substances and environments and apply suitable and sustainable control measures. Back to Duty

S29: Dispose of equipment, components and substances in accordance with environmental regulations, industry standards and company policy. Back to Duty

S30: Keep up to date with advances in environment land-based working practices and the land-based engineering technologies and share best practice. Back to Duty

S31: How contextual factors (including operational techniques, application, crop, soil types and conditions, environments, weather and climatic conditions) impact on machine performance and faults. Back to Duty

S32: Repair complex electrical and electronic systems in accordance with job requirements. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Actively complies with and promotes a safe and healthy working environment. Back to Duty

B2: Is an ambassador for the business, respecting confidentiality, working efficiently, treating customers, employees and colleagues respectfully whilst meeting customer and employer expectations. Back to Duty

B3: Uses own initiative to make recommendations and complete work. Completes tasks on schedule and accordance with the job requirements. Back to Duty

B4: Demonstrates attention to detail and employs a logical approach to problem resolution. Back to Duty

B5: Embraces a sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the careful use of resources and appropriate handling and disposal of waste products connected with land-based engineering machinery and equipment. Back to Duty

B6: Acts ethically and with integrity, giving considered guidance to stakeholders and following up on unresolved matters and outstanding questions. Back to Duty

B7: Adapts to changes in work environments, instructions and tasks. Back to Duty

B8: Committed to keeping up to date with industry best practice, relevant legislation and technological advancement. Back to Duty

B9: Stays motivated and committed when facing adverse challenges. Back to Duty

B10: Promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. Back to Duty


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