Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to perform industrial sewing on textile products.
The unit of competency applies to sewing operations to repair or finish textile products using a single machine or machines on a limited range of fabrics and textile products.
Work is conducted according to defined procedures. Tasks are preset and the operator must be able to work quickly and accurately to achieve required 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 perform industrial sewing | 2.1 | Receive and check work and determine any follow-up action |
2.2 | Lay out work in sequence | ||
2.3 | Prepare workstation according to workplace procedures, clean and check machine | ||
2.4 | Set up and adjust machine, needles, attachments and/or parts, and identify and report or replace worn or faulty items | ||
2.5 | Keep a record of operations | ||
3 | Sew textile product | 3.1 | Conduct sewing operations according to requirements to meet quality standards, speed of operations and workplace procedures |
3.2 | Control machine speed and work handling according to the type of operations, fabrics and product type | ||
3.3 | Check machine performance regularly and inspect finished work for signs of faulty operation | ||
3.4 | Take required action to rectify faults according to workplace procedures | ||
4 | Complete work | 4.1 | Inspect sewn components or textile products, check finished pieces against quality standards, identify any faults and take appropriate action |
4.2 | Record results of inspection and any action to correct or reject faulty work | ||
4.3 | Take and keep a record of preventative action to avoid any recurrence of defective work | ||
4.4 | Complete production records and packing slips | ||
4.5 | Direct completed work to the next operation or packing section |
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), safe work practices
applying relevant standards
checking work against job specifications and workplace practices
preparing workstation and work before commencing sewing operations
performing sewing operations on at least one (1) machine on at least five (5) textile samples or products
performing sewing to meet requirements, quality standards, speed of operations and workplace procedures
controlling machine speed and work handling according to the type of operations, fabrics and product type
checking machine performance regularly and inspecting finished work for signs of faulty operation, and taking required action
recognising, rectifying and reporting machine or product faults or problems, and any action to correct or reject faulty work
keeping a record of preventative action to avoid any recurrence of defective work
completing production records and packing slips
directing completed work to the next operation or packing section.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian Standards
techniques in using and maintaining identified industrial sewing machine
characteristics of fabrics and threads used in textile product
quality standards and practices
workplace procedures
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 performing industrial sewing on textile products, 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 PPE 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 |
Work for industrial sewing includes one or more of the following: | pieces of material or fabric components yarns and threads finished textile products components of textile products faulty textile products labels and tickets finishing components and accessories |
Check machine performance includes the following: | checking that the work matches job specifications checking that previous operations have been successfully completed |
Industrial machines include one or more of the following: | plain lockstitch sewing machine three, four or five thread overlocker zigzag sewing machine blind hemming machines |
Set-up includes the following: | correct thread, needle size and type, needle guard, tension setting and attachments |
Needles include the following: | a variety of size and types, such as standard and ball point |
Operations include one or more of the following: | sewing techniques where the positioning, feeding and handling of work pieces involves some discretionary changes, contouring or critical stopping points or special handling skills to accommodate fabric variations gathering, easing, tucking and stitching curves |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Textile production