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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Determine job requirements
   • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs)
   • Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times
   • Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs
   • Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions
2. Identify fabric performance characteristics
   • Use identification methods to identify fabrics and component fibres
   • Identify key performance characteristics of fabrics
   • Conduct performance testing of fabrics
   • Identify common problems and faults of fabrics
   • Identify fabric quality using established quality indicators
3. Identify fabric handling requirements
   • Use performance characteristics to describe appropriate uses of fabrics
   • Identify fibre and fabric finishes and implications for handling
   • Identify care requirements in handling fabrics and implications for production
4. Identify cleaning and labelling requirements
   • Identify care and cleaning requirements of fabrics
   • Identify labelling requirements according to current Australian Standards
   • Record outcomes according to workplace procedures

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following:	requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices
Australian Standards include:	the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken
Fabric types include the following:	natural and synthetic single yarn fabrics and blends knitted fabrics, including weft knits and warp knits woven fabrics, including plain, twill, satin, dobby, jacquard and pile non-woven fabrics, such as felts, nets, braids, bonded and composite emerging smart fabrics
Performance characteristics include one or more of the following:	stretch abrasion wearability absorbency durability elasticity heat sensitivity shrink resistance ease of care drape quality colour fastness strength
Performance testing includes five or more of the following:	light heat chemical reaction absorbency abrasion pill wash fabric finish
Finishes includes four or more of the following:	crease resistance fire retardency waterproofing or water resistance colouration for structural or applied design such as printing or dyeing surface finishes for aesthetics, stability or serviceability interlacing and interloping
Handling fabrics includes one or more of the following:	cutting dyeing printing pressing lining assembling sewing packaging and storage
Implications for production include one or more of the following:	sewing requirements such as needle size and type, machine type, thread type binding, joining, fusing requirements lining, reinforcement seam types

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Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:

reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices

locating and interpreting information in Australian Standard AS/NZ 1957:1998 Textiles – Care labelling

using a range of identification methods to identify key performance characteristics of at least two (2) different examples of each identified fabric type (at least ten (10) fabrics)

conducting and keeping record of a broad range of performance tests on a variety of fabrics, including at least five (5) different performance tests on five (5) fabric types

identifying fabric quality of at least ten (10) different fabrics using established quality indicators

preparing a table to summarise performance characteristics, common problems and faults, appropriate uses, care requirements in handling products, and implications for production, of at least ten (10) different fabrics

collecting at least two (2) fabric samples to demonstrate at least four (4) different finishes, identifying their application and implications for handling

identifying care, cleaning and labelling requirements of a sample of at least ten (10) different fabrics or products, to comply with Australian Standards

recording outcomes according to workplace procedures.

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Knowledge Evidence

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

relevant Australian Standards

fibre identification:

natural fibres, such as cotton, wool, silk, linen

man-made, such as rayon and acetate

synthetic, such as nylon and polyester

fabric identification methods:

identifying physical properties and features and other characteristics determined by clients or markets

checking of specifications and manuals

consultation with specialists

visual inspection

tactile analysis

acetone

burn test

performance characteristics

performance testing

care and cleaning requirements:

dry cleaning

hand washing

washing

drying

ironing

special requirements (e.g. hanging)

bleaching

quality indicators:

straight grain

even or uneven weave

slippage

length of fibres

pilling

even print or dye colour

print alignment or sizing

fabric resilience

workability

wash testing

fabric finishes

information resources on fibres and fabrics

workplace procedures

recording and reporting practices.

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