Starts on this apprenticeship are paused in the absence of an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). Starts will be permitted again once a suitable EPAO is in place.
Create knitted components or products that meet customer and/or organisation specifications and quality standards.
This occupation is found in the manufacturing, creative and design sectors, in the production of knitted fabrics and knitted products. Products are used in the clothing, medical, construction and automotive industries. Products range from luxury apparel to fast fashion, plasters to implantable medical devices, pond liners to road underlay and car seat covers to engine components.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to create knitted components or products that meet customer and/or organisation specifications and quality standards. Knitting product manufacturing technicians may work on one-off items for specific customers, product samples to be replicated or on larger production runs. They use knitting methods such as flat knitting, circular knitting, warp knitting and weft knitting. Each method produces an entirely different finish. For example, weft knitting produces a shaped component, whilst warp knitting produces only fabric yardage.
They work to a high level of accuracy; with close attention to detail, following given design briefs, which include specifications. They select the raw materials and machines appropriate for the job, select a relevant programme and set up specialist knitting machines to produce the item to specifications. They oversee the machines as they knit the product, dealing with manufacturing, quality, operational and process issues throughout production. They understand the end-to-end knitting process and support continuous improvement work as needed. They carry out routine, preventative maintenance, fault find and rectify common issues on knitting machines, ensuring they deliver a consistent level of quality production. They work efficiently, sometimes working under pressure, to meet customer or production deadlines.
Employers vary in size from micro to large. Knitted product manufacturing technicians work in a production factory environment or a sample room with access to production facilities.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with their production manager or supervisor and personnel involved in the design, development and production of knitted products. This will vary depending on the business size, structure and working environment. Typically, in a small production unit, they would work with the designer and maybe the production manager. In a workshop producing bespoke knitwear, they may work with the designer and the sample maker. In a wider factory setting, they often report to a supervisor or production manager and may work as part of a larger team, consulting with design, development and production staff, to ensure specifications are met.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for production of knitted products, implementing and overseeing efficient production methods, ensuring the knitted product meets the quality standard and design brief. They must work effectively on their own, or they may work as part of a wider team and must comply with health and safety requirements.
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Duty 1 Select the appropriate knitting machines and plan own knitting production activity to achieve quality and quantity within given timescales. |
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Duty 2 Select yarns or materials for knitting against the product brief and report any shortages or quality issues |
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Duty 3 Evaluate the product brief for the knitted product to be made for example, specifications, style, quality, quality, size, colour and timeline |
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Duty 4 Select and use specialist software programs to produce the required product to the given specifications |
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Duty 5 Prepare and test knitting machines and equipment to enable the formation of the required knitted product for example, threading, gauge, needles |
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Duty 6 Operate, oversee and control knitting machines whilst in production, adjusting the machines as necessary to maintain quality |
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Duty 7 Inspect knitted items against quality standards and specifications throughout the knitting process |
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Duty 8 Investigate and analyse faults in knitted products and remedy if possible for example, misshapen, poor tension, missed stitches, shading |
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Duty 9 Conduct first line preventative maintenance on knitting machines, fault find and rectify common issues to ensure a consistent level of quality throughout the production process. For example, cleaning, checking, adjusting and changing needles on knitting machines. |
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Duty 10 Identify, communicate and report issues effecting quality, quantity and deadlines |
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Duty 11 Complete work documentation communicating as needed with colleagues for example, production sheets, job cards, work dockets |
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Duty 12 Support continuous improvement activity |
K1: Health & Safety: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Manual Handling, First aid procedures, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Risk Assessment
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K2: Equality & Diversity in the workplace
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K3: Waste and energy management, environmental and sustainability policies and procedures
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K4: Different types of knitting machines used in the production process and their applications: jacquard, circular, computerised flat knitting machines
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K5: The set up, programming and adjustment of knitting machines
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K6: Routine knitting machine maintenance: cleaning, preventative maintenance, testing
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K7: Knitting machine programmes: data input, software, issues and adjustments
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K8: Yarn or material types, origin, behaviour and specifications: content, characteristics and storage requirements
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K9: Work organisation; the importance and benefits of a clean, clear, well organised work area
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K10: Different types of knitting processes: weft knitting, interlock, purl, warp knitting
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K11: The principles of the knitting process: stitch formation, knitting structures, stitch density
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K12: How knitted components or knitted fabric make up the end product
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K13: Work documentation purpose and requirements: technical packs, specifications, technical sheets, Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), dockets/tickets
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K14: Problem solving techniques: fault finding and rectifying for knitting machines and knitted product
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K15: Production efficiencies, priorities and performance: targets, performance rates, deadlines
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K16: Quality standards and systems: specification, tolerances, and quality checks
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K17: The principles of continuous improvement methods: lean manufacture, 6-sigma, KAIZEN, 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain)
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K18: Production costs of the knitted product: raw materials, labour, overheads
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K19: Team working techniques and benefits
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K20: Time management techniques: production planning, prioritising and tracking
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K21: Commercial awareness: the supply chain, product design, competition and customer expectations
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K22: Past and current UK knitting industry: medical, hosiery, geotextiles, fashion, performance wear
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K23: Methods of communication: verbal
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S1: Read and interpret knitting instructions and specifications
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S2: Schedule, plan and prioritise the workload
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S3: Identify, report and resolve any discrepancies with work instructions
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S4: Select and use yarns or materials, for example colour, type, count
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S5: Inspect raw materials, identifying and reporting faults if necessary
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S6: Identify and set up knitting machines
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S7: Organise and prepare the work area for knitting production
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S8: Select software and input data
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S9: Conduct safety checks in relation to the work area and knitting machines
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S10: Conduct test runs and identify quality issues
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S11: Correct product faults
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S12: Identify, report and resolve knitting machine issues
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S13: Adjust knitting machines
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S14: Change knitting machine needles and elements as required
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S15: Quality check final products and prepare for the next stage of the process
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S16: Identify and segregate reject products
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S17: Identify and segregate material for reuse, recycling and disposal
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S18: Enter information for example work records, work tickets, work dockets
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S19: Conduct first line preventative maintenance, for example stripping and cleaning knitting machines
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S20: Apply continuous improvement techniques
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S21: Communicate with colleagues for example verbal and written work instructions
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S22: Produce a knitted product costing
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S23: Follow safe working practices, for example follows manual handling, lifting and safe ergonomic practice
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B1: Team player, for example participates with others to accomplish organisational and team goals
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B2: Prioritises health, safety and welfare of self and others over other demands
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B3: Adaptable for example responds positively to changes in priorities and work deadlines
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B4: Takes ownership for work, for example accepts responsibilities, demonstrates initiative, motivated, and self-managing
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B5: Strives for continuous improvements in relation to product quality, production processes, and production systems
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B6: Committed to continued professional development for example reflects on performance, seeks opportunities to develop and advance in response to the evolving production environment and technologies
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| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
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| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 24/08/2020 | Not set |
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