Application
This unit of competency cover the skills and knowledge required to source materials and resources to produce garments and accessories. It applies to locating and comparing required products and services from local and overseas suppliers/contractors.
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 | Determine job requirements from specifications, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to source materials | 2.1 | Identify and research all materials and resources required for production |
2.2 | Use computer and web-based technologies to locate and communicate with fashion industry suppliers/contractors in Australia and overseas | ||
2.3 | Identify materials and services available from different suppliers | ||
2.4 | Compare costs and identify minimum order requirements | ||
2.5 | Identify the role of shipping and customs agents, shipping costs and mechanisms for purchasing overseas and minimising costs | ||
3 | Research purchasing costs | 3.1 | Identify and compare cost options of different suppliers/contractors |
3.2 | Identify all costs, including hidden costs, for purchasing materials and resources from selected suppliers/contractors | ||
3.3 | Identify costs of purchasing direct from overseas suppliers, contractors or manufacturers, and compare with purchasing from local suppliers | ||
3.4 | Identify and apply appropriate communication practices and identify potential communication barriers | ||
4 | Finalise and review purchasing | 4.1 | Compare sources against required specifications and select suppliers/contractors based on their ability to meet required specifications |
4.2 | Place and monitor progress of orders, and check orders when they are received | ||
4.3 | Prepare documentation and establish protocols for handling goods received | ||
4.4 | Apply quality standards for goods and services used in fashion industry | ||
4.5 | Complete documentation and identify opportunities to improve processes | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of 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
using computer and web-based technologies to research at least three (3) domestic and three (3) overseas potential sources
preparing a table or spreadsheet identifying all cost options, including hidden costs, for purchasing materials and resources from selected suppliers/contractors
comparing purchasing direct from overseas suppliers, contractors or manufacturers with purchasing from local suppliers
analysing performance characteristics and making judgements on preferred and less suitable purchase options
selecting suppliers/contractors based on their ability to meet required specifications
placing and monitoring progress of orders, preparing documentation, checking orders and establishing protocols for handling goods received
communicating effectively with others in Australia and overseas
completing and maintaining relevant documentation
maintaining accurate records.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
work instructions, SOPs and safe work practice
Australian Standards for garment constructions
information sources for materials, resources and suppliers
cost options
criteria for making cost comparisons
workplace practices and procedures for purchasing and receiving
sources for suppliers:
yellow pages
web
trade directories
trade shows
networking
agents
trade magazines
quality practices
characteristics of fabrics and materials
hidden costs:
minimum order requirements
sample garments not being included in costing of bulk garments
wastage of fabric and materials
transport and delivery
time delay in client response or payment
tariffs/duties/taxes
quality
international purchasing procedures
communication strategies:
effective verbal and non-verbal communication
oral, written and visual communication
active listening
positive language
recognising and adapting to cultural differences
negotiation and conflict resolution skills
communication barriers:
time zone/time of day differences
cultural differences
oral language skills
written language skills
differences in language
different work practices
workplace practices
fashion materials and resources
recording and reporting 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 sourcing materials for fashion production, 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 includes: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Materials and resources include the following: | types of fabric suppliers/contractors specifications trims services required |
Fabric suppliers/contractors include one or more of the following: | wholesalers importers mills jobbers converters |
Services include one or more of the following: | patternmaking embroidery dyers knitting cut make trim pleaters |
Cost options include the following: | lead times payment requirements payment options suppliers’ capacity to meet delivery requirements capacity to satisfy price and quality requirements shipping and freight |
Specifications include the following: | price quality quantity time requirements special features |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology