This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to press whole garments.

The unit of competency applies to pressing of whole garments, which may include many components, complex seams and fabrics. Operator skills may contribute to the final appearance and finish of the work. Fabrics could include wool suiting, satin, velvet, chiffon, silks, linen, and lace.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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

applying relevant standards

preparing work area and pressing equipment, and lay out work in correct proximity and sequence

checking work against specifications and pressing instructions, identifying faults, spots and marks, and taking appropriate follow-up action

sequencing and positioning work on pressing equipment according to product requirements

using at least three (3) different types of pressing equipment to apply heat, steam, vacuum, pressure and time according to product requirements and fabric specifications

controlling equipment and handling work to suit variations in fabric, work type, construction and pressing requirements, for at least three (3) different garments and two (2) fabric types

inspecting pressed work, comparing against workplace pressing standards, and reporting and recording results and subsequent action to correct faulty work

recording any preventative action taken to avoid any recurrence of faulty work

hanging, packing and directing pressed garment to required despatch area, despatch storage or packing sections.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

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

relevant Australian Standards

pressing requirements and characteristics of a variety of fabrics and other materials used in garment assembly

pressing equipment

quality standards and practices

workplace procedures

recording and reporting practices.

Assessors must:

satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator

have vocational competency in pressing whole garments, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.

Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Not applicable

Clothing production