T Levels focus on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.
This occupation is found in a range of sectors such as advanced manufacturing engineering, engineering construction, and maritime.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out metal fabrication work using things such as rolled steel joists, columns, channels, steel plate and metal sheet etc.
Work includes manufacturing or repair of bridges, oil rigs, ships and submarines, petro-chemical installations, cranes, platforms, aircraft, automotive and machinery parts, sheet metal enclosures, equipment supports, and anything that can be fabricated out of metal. Fabricators can work alone or in teams, in factories or on operational sites. Fabricators use a large range of metals including steel, aluminium and titanium at a range of thicknesses from 0.5mm up to over 20mm. The size and weight of the fabrications can range from components that can easily be picked up by hand, to massive structures that require several cranes to manipulate.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with planners, supervisors, inspectors, designers, welders, pipefitters, fitters, machinists, riggers, steel erectors, stores personnel, painters and many others involved in manufacturing, production, maintenance and repair.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the quality and accuracy of their own work whilst ensuring it conforms to a relevant specification such as an engineering drawing or an international standard. Fabricators are also responsible for the health, safety and environmental (HS&E) protection of themselves and others around them.
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 1 Work safely at all times complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, organisational and environmental requirements |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 |
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Duty 2 Plan and prepare for the METAL fabrication activities before commencing work |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 |
|
Duty 3 Check materials conform to the specified grades, dimensions and thicknesses identified on detailed engineering drawings. |
|
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Duty 4 Use the correct methods for the moving and handling resources and materials |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 |
|
Duty 5 Set up, check AND adjust the equipment for use in the safe and reliable fabrication of METAL products or components and maintaining the equipment in a reliable and safe condition throughout |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 |
|
Duty 6 Interpret technical drawings, patterns, templates and specifications to mark out, produce and assemble complex fabricated products to meet the required specification and quality requirements |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 |
|
Duty 7 Use appropriate tools, equipment and techniques to shape and form (HOT or COLD) metal materials, demonstrating and applying knowledge of material properties and characteristics throughout. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 |
|
Duty 8 Monitor resources and activities throughout the fabrication of products or components, identifying areas for improving the production process where possible |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 |
|
Duty 9 Cutting, drilling, shaping and preparing METAL materials during fabrication activities using manual and power tools, thermal and laser cutting, as required calculating dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments/equipment |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 |
|
Duty 10 Operate appropriate tools and equipment to join metal parts using a range of mechanical fasteners and fixing techniques required by the specifications appropriate to the fabrication activity being carried out and in accordance with approved joining procedures and quality requirements |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 |
|
Duty 11 Operate joining equipment to join metal parts using a range of appropriate techniques to the standards required by the specifications for the fabrication activity being carried out |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 |
|
Duty 12 Inspect and test joins for security against required standard |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 |
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Duty 13 Carry out quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 |
|
Duty 14 Deal with problems that occur within the fabrication activity in line with responsibilities of the role |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 |
|
Duty 15 Restore the work area and equipment to a safe and reliable condition on completion of the activity |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 |
|
Duty 16 Complete documentation at the appropriate stages of the work activity |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 |
K1: The importance of complying with statutory, quality, organisational and health and safety regulations.
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K2: General engineering mathematical and scientific principles, methods, techniques, graphical expressions, symbols formulae and calculations.
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K3: The structure, properties and characteristics of common materials.
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K4: The typical problems that may arise within their normal work activities/environment.
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K5: Approved diagnostic methods and techniques used to help solve engineering problems.
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K6: The importance of only using current approved processes, procedures, documentation and the potential implications if they are not adhered to.
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K7: The different roles and functions in the organisation and how they interact.
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K8: Why it is important to continually review fabrication and general engineering processes and procedures.
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K9: The correct methods of moving and handling materials.
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K10: Processes for preparing materials to be marked out.
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K11: The tools and techniques available for cutting, shaping, assembling and finishing materials.
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K12: Allowances for cutting, notching, bending, rolling and forming materials.
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K13: Describe Pattern development processes, tooling and equipment.
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K14: Describe Cutting and forming techniques, tooling and equipment.
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K15: Describe Assembly and finishing processes, tooling and equipment.
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K16: Inspection techniques that can be applied to check shape and dimensional accuracy.
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K17: Factors influencing selection of forming process.
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K18: Principles, procedures and testing of different joining techniques (Mechanised or Manual).
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K19: Equipment associated with Manual or Mechanised joining techniques including maintaining equipment in a reliable and safe condition.
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K20: Consumables used in Manual or Mechanised joining.
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K21: Effects of heating and cooling metals.
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K22: Metallurgy associated with joining.
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K23: Different types of Welds and joints.
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K24: How to interpret relevant engineering data and documentation.
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S1: Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
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S2: Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
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S3: Obtain, check and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
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S4: Carry out relevant planning and preparation activities before commencing work activity.
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S5: Undertake the work activity using the correct processes, procedures and equipment.
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S6: Carry out the required checks (such as quality, compliance or testing) using the correct procedures, processes and/or equipment.
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S7: Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
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S8: Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
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S9: Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
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S10: Identify and follow correct Metal work instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
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S11: Mark out using appropriate tools and techniques.
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S12: Cut and form Metal for the production or maintenance of fabricated products.
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S13: Produce and assemble Metal products to required specification and quality requirements.
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S14: Identify and follow correct joining instructions, specifications, drawing etc.
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S15: Carry out the relevant preparation before starting the joining fabrication activity.
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S16: Set up, check, adjust and use joining and related equipment.
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S17: Weld joints in accordance with approved welding procedures and quality requirements.
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B1: Personal responsibility and resilience – Comply with the health and safety guidance and procedures, be disciplined and have a responsible approach to risk, work diligently regardless of how much they are being supervised, accept responsibility for managing time and workload and stay motivated and committed when facing challenges.
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B2: Work effectively in teams – Integrate with the team, support other people, consider implications of their own actions on other people and the business whilst working effectively to get the task completed.
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B3: Effective communication and interpersonal skills – An open and honest communicator, communicates clearly using appropriate methods, listen well to others and have a positive and respectful attitude.
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B4: Focus on quality and problem solving – Follow instructions and guidance, demonstrate attention to detail, follow a logical approach to problem solving and seek opportunities to improve quality, speed and efficiency.
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B5: Continuous personal development – Reflect on skills, knowledge and behaviours and seek opportunities to develop, adapt to different situations, environments or technologies and have a positive attitude to feedback and advice.
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Qualification type: T Level
Qualification level: 3
Awarding organisation: City & Guilds
Approval date: 04/11/2021
Available from: 01/09/2022
Occupational specialism: Fabrication and Welding Technologies
Qualification type: TQ
Qualification level: 3
Awarding organisation: Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited
Approval date: 07/03/2024
Occupational pathway: N/A
Qualification category: Occupational entry technical qualifications
Age range: Adults only
Work placement: No
ST0607 Metal fabricator
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