Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to conduct quality assurance for patterns and garments.
This unit of competency applies to quality assurance standards that patternmakers and others who work in the patternmaking industry need to meet. The quality assurance process is required to ensure that the garment produced from the pattern meets all requirements of the design specifications.
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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to conduct quality assurance | 2.1 | Identify all steps of the quality process for development of patterns and garment production according to Australian Standards |
2.2 | Analyse specification document and check information is complete | ||
2.3 | Identify input and output requirements and check garment measurement table | ||
2.4 | Assess integrity and validity of base pattern to ensure seams match and darts are proved | ||
2.5 | Check if block and pattern is appropriate for design and identify construction and finishing methods | ||
2.6 | Prepare tools and equipment and prepare garment for measuring | ||
3 | Implement quality assurance practices | 3.1 | Take accurate garment measurements and compare to specifications in measurement table |
3.2 | Verify garment sizing and identify and record any problems, faults or deviations | ||
3.3 | Report problems to designer, patternmaker and sample machinist | ||
3.4 | Obtain fabric performance and testing information and verify against label information | ||
3.5 | Identify faults or production problems for garment construction or patterns, and recommend suitable preventative or corrective action | ||
4 | Conclude quality assurance process | 4.1 | Check garment or article against specifications and attach tickets, labels and swing tags, as required, according to Australian Standards |
4.2 | Prepare for despatch according to industry standards, environmental considerations and sustainable practice | ||
4.3 | Despatch completed garments and complete and store quality assurance, production and other records | ||
Evidence of Performance
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) and safe work practices
applying relevant standards
interpreting specifications, assessing integrity and validity of base pattern and checking if block and pattern is appropriate
taking accurate garment measurements and comparing to specifications in measurement table
implementing relevant quality assurance assessments on at least two (2) occasions
identifying, recording and reporting faults, deviations from specifications or production problems to relevant people
taking action, as required, where quality assurance has not been met
preparing garments for despatch according to industry standards, environmental considerations and sustainable practice
maintaining accurate quality assurance, production and other records.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Australian Standards for patterns and garment construction
measures required to undertake quality assurance assessment
garment construction and finishing methods
garment measurements:
circumference and linear measurements
measuring across the top of the shoulder of the garment
sleeve
underarm to side seam
neck circumference
waist circumference
patternmaking tools and equipment:
tape measure
pen/pencil
measurement or size chart or table
eraser
Australian Standard Chart
body sciences:
structural anatomy
morphology
anthropometry
garment faults, quality deviations and production problems:
material faults, such as weak spots, pilling and bleeding
construction process faults, such as broken thread, inappropriate seams, seam finishing, seam puckering and needle damage
labelling and specifications faults, such as incorrect care label and instructions, and incorrect size
production problems for garment construction or patterns
preparation for despatch:
boxing
packing
bagging
folding
hanging
environmental considerations and sustainable practices
documentation and recording practices.
Assessment Conditions
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 quality assurance in fashion design, 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.
Foundation Skills
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.
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 |
Construction and finishing methods include one or more of the following: | seam finishes, such as flat seam, blind hem and French seam allocation of seam allowance stitches, such as straight, zigzag, overlock and buttonholes stitch requirements pressing, such as steam, heat and iron |
Verify garment sizing includes the following: | identifying different sizes comparing body measurements to garment sizing identifying grading increments/growth in measurement at nominated points on pattern and across different styles verifying body measurements of base size developing a size chart, where required |
Faults and quality deviations include one or more of the following: | material faults, such as weak spots, pilling and bleeding construction process faults, such as broken thread, inappropriate seams, seam finishing, seam puckering and needle damage labelling and specifications faults, such as incorrect care label and instructions, and incorrect size production problems for garment construction or patterns |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology