Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to plane and sand the the surfaces of panels, optimising board thickness or retaining integrity of veneers. Work is complete in a forest products factory setting and includes operator maintenance.
The unit applies to Timber Products Technician, Production Worker.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. |
1. Prepare for planing and sanding | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Obtain type and quantity of panels for planing or sanding from the production process. 1.4 Plan planing or sanding process in line with work order. |
2. Plane and sand panels | 2.1 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection practices. 2.2 Complete pre start-up checks and set planing or sanding thickness and feed rate for optimal product recovery. 2.3 Position material and feed at rate appropriate to machine speed, capacity, board or veneer panel thickness and condition. 2.4 Plane or sand panels to specification and assess panel visually throughout process for thickness, finish quality and veneer faults. 2.5 Coordinate outfeed to ensure efficient recovery of planed or sanded material. 2.6 Check dust extraction equipment regularly and clean to avoid blockages. |
3. Redistribute material | 3.1 Grade finished panels for quality and use in line with industry standards. 3.2 Direct material to storage or processing operations in line with organisational procedures. 3.3 Dispose of sub-standard material in line with environmental protection practices. 3.4 Clean work area in line with organisational safety procedures. |
4. Complete operator maintenance | 4.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment. 4.2 Check planer blades or sanding belts for bluntness or damage. 4.3 Remove and replace planer blades or sanding belts in line with manufacturer’s recommendations. 4.4 Keep machine area clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures. 4.5 Record and report production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
follow organisational policies and procedures relevant to planing and sanding panels
plane and sand panels in readiness for application to panel products or for interim storage
redistribute material on site using designated equipment
conduct operator maintenance on planing and sanding equipment
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
planning or sanding techniques
methods of visual inspection
characteristics of timber and veneer
typical flow of material supply in and out of the planing and sanding area
typical work flow processes and sanding techniques for optimising thickness, finish and quality of timber and veneer panels
typical timber and veneer defects and how they affect ability to produce quality finished product:
warp
wane
cupping
shakes
insect defects
knots
resin pockets
lifting veneer
bonding problems
key features of, and applicable terminology for, industry standard grades for re-classifying quality and use of planed and sanded timber and veneer panels
purpose, features and operation of equipment used to plane and sand panels:
panel planers or thicknessers
surface planers or buzzers
drum sanders
panel sanders
veneer sanders
stroke sanders
dust extraction equipment:
machine specific dust extraction systems with collection bags
hopper-based extraction systems
methods for assessing condition of planer blades and sanding belts
organisational policies and procedures specific to planing and sanding panels:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements
environmental protection practices for forest products factory settings:
reducing water and energy use
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber and other waste
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
planing equipment
sanders including one or more of the following:
drum sanders
panel sanders
veneer sanders
stroke sanders
dust extraction equipment
maintenance tools and equipment for planers and sanders
consumable planer blades and sanding belts
personal protective equipment suitable for planing and sanding panels
commercial panels
manufacturers’ instructions for use and maintenance of equipment
work order with specific instructions for planing and sanding panels
template documents for recording production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements
organisational policies and procedures for planing and sanding panels.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | identify quantities of required material within work orders and count numbers of panels interpret order sizes and set up equipment to achieve correct dimensions and grades calculate the feed rate to optimise quality and quantity of production output. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders manufacturers’ instructions and maintenance recommendations. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and production using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Common Technical