This apprenticeship has recently been revised as it has been used to underpin the development of Apprenticeship units. The revised Apprenticeship Assessment Plan (AAP) is still being developed and when approved will be uploaded and this banner removed. Further details of this and other occupational standards and apprenticeships in revision are available in the revisions status report.
Overview of the role
Carrying out a range of engineering operations.
Details of standard
This standard has options. Display duties and KSBs for:
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing environments. Engineering operatives typically work in sectors such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace, automotive, rail, construction, energy, and general manufacturing. You’ll often find them in workshops, production floors, maintenance departments, fabrication facilities, and assembly plants.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide support that enables engineering operations to run safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards. Engineering Operatives contribute to the creation, assembly, installation, repair, and testing of engineered products and systems, working with tools, equipment, and materials to meet precise specifications. Their role helps ensure that machinery is reliable, production workflows are maintained, and engineering projects progress as planned. In essence, they form the practical workforce that turns engineering instructions, plans, and designs into real, functioning components and equipment used across industry.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across engineering and manufacturing environments. On a daily basis, they may work closely with engineers, technicians, team leaders, production supervisors, and quality inspectors to ensure tasks are completed to specification and deadlines are met. Depending on the setting, they may also interact with warehouse staff, logistics teams, and sometimes external contractors or suppliers when materials, tools, or components are required. These interactions are essential for coordinating workflow, solving problems, and supporting smooth operational performance.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for carrying out supervised, practical engineering tasks that support the wider engineering or manufacturing operation. Their responsibilities focus on following established procedures, using tools and equipment correctly, preparing materials or components, carrying out basic assembly, fabrication, or maintenance tasks, and ensuring work meets required quality and safety standards.
Typical job titles include:
Core occupation duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 1 Maintain the work area for health, safety and environmental compliance before, during and after the operational task. |
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Duty 2 Follow work specifications and plans. For example, drawings and technical information. |
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Duty 3 Ensure tools, equipment and machinery are maintained and stored correctly. |
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Duty 4 Adhere to quality assurance processes. |
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Duty 5 Complete documentation and records. |
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Duty 6 Carry out engineering and manufacturing activities relevant to job role. |
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Duty 7 Work independently and as part of a team, contributing to business outcomes. |
Option duties
Maintenance operative duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 8 Carry out maintenance and repair tasks on mechanical, electrical, electronic, or fluid power systems. |
K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27
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Duty 9 Assist with fault diagnosis, testing, and corrective actions. |
K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27
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Manufacturing production operative duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 10 Operate and monitor production machinery and equipment. |
K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38
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Duty 11 Assemble and process components to required specifications. |
K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38
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Electrical and electronic operative duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 12 Carry out installation, testing, and maintenance of electrical and electronic systems. |
K39 K40 K41 K42 K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48
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Duty 13 Support fault finding and basic repairs. |
K39 K40 K41 K42 K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48
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Fabrication operative duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 14 Carry out cutting, shaping, and forming operations. |
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Duty 15 Assemble parts and structures to required standards. |
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Machining operative duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 16 Operate lathes, mills, and other machine tools |
K55 K56 K57 K58 K59 K60 K61 K62 K63 K64 K65 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 S48 S49 S50 S51
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Duty 17 Produce components to set tolerances and specifications. |
K55 K56 K57 K58 K59 K60 K61 K62 K63 K64 K65 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 S48 S49 S50 S51
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KSBs
Knowledge
K1: The engineering and manufacturing function and role of the Engineering Operative. Responsibilities, limits of role and escalation procedures.
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K2: Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Hazards and risks. Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA), Isolation and emergency stop procedures, Manual handling operations regulations, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working at height, Working in confined spaces.
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K3: Awareness of environment and sustainability regulations, standards and guidance and impact on role. Recycling, reuse, and safe disposal of waste.
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K4: Preparation and maintenance of the work area.
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K5: Workplace operating procedures. What they are and why they are important.
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K6: Methods of interpreting relevant information from engineering and manufacturing specifications, drawings and technical information.
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K7: Planning, prioritisation, organisation, and time management techniques.
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K8: Consumables, tools, equipment and machinery used during engineering and manufacturing activities.
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K9: Storage environment and requirements for consumables, tools, equipment and machinery used during engineering and manufacturing activities..
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K10: First line maintenance principles for tools, equipment and machinery.
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K11: Principles and methods of measuring and marking out materials.
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K12: Quality assurance requirements and monitoring processes.
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K13: Documentation requirements for engineering and manufacturing activities.
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K14: Continuous improvement (CI) techniques.
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K15: Verbal communication techniques.
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K16: Written communication techniques.
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K17: Information and digital technology: email, word processing, work sharing platforms, General data protection regulation (GDPR), cyber security.
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K18: Maintenance. Maintenance based safe working practices and procedures.
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K19: Maintenance. Maintenance planning techniques.
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K20: Maintenance. Maintenance strategies: Preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, condition-based maintenance, planned maintenance, risk-based maintenance.
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K21: Maintenance. Principles of maintenance testing schedules.
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K22: Maintenance. Maintenance diagnostic and fault-finding techniques.
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K23: Maintenance. Principles of mechanical systems, including gears, bearings, pumps and motors.
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K24: Maintenance. Principles of electrical systems, including wiring, circuits, motors and control panels.
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K25: Maintenance. Principles of fluid power systems, including pneumatic and hydraulic components and their function.
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K26: Maintenance. Electrical and electronic circuit analysis and troubleshooting.
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K27: Maintenance. Corrective action procedures.
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K28: Manufacturing production. Manufacturing production based safe working practices and procedures.
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K29: Manufacturing production. Manufacturing production planning techniques.
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K30: Manufacturing production. Principles and operation of manufacturing production systems, including, mass production, batch production, job production, production prioritisation and impact on business.
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K31: Manufacturing production. Forming, component and assembly fitting techniques: presswork, welding, fastening methods, joint integrity and automated assembly.
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K32: Manufacturing production. Principles of tolerances, fits and geometric dimensioning.
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K33: Manufacturing production. Principles of cycle times, throughput times and efficiency metrics.
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K34: Manufacturing production. Characteristics and properties of materials used in manufacturing production operations.
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K35: Manufacturing production. Setting up and operational methods for manual and semi-automated machines, including use of fixtures and jigs and work holding devices.
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K36: Manufacturing production. Diagnostic checks and methods for fault identification in manufacturing production operations.
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K37: Manufacturing production. Quality requirements for manufacturing production operations.
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K38: Manufacturing production The application of digital technologies and automation in manufacturing production.
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K39: Electrical and electronic. Electrical and electronic based safe working practices and procedures, including isolation and reinstatement of equipment or systems.
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K40: Electrical and electronic. Cable types and their application.
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K41: Electrical and electronic. Properties and applications of insulating and conductive materials.
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K42: Electrical and electronic. Principles of electrical systems, including electrical supply systems, wiring, circuits, motors, transformers, distribution boards and control panels.
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K43: Electrical and electronic. Principles of digital and analogue electronics.
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K44: Electrical and electronic. Fundamentals of electronic components, including resistors, capacitors, transistors, and diodes.
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K45: Electrical and electronic. Electrical and electronic assembly techniques.
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K46: Electrical and electronic. Principles of ohms law with respect to voltage, current, resistance and power in series, parallel and combinational circuits.
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K47: Electrical and electronic. Electrical and electronic testing techniques.
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K48: Electrical and electronic. Principles of circuit analysis and electrical and electronic fault-finding techniques.
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K49: Fabrication. Fabrication based safe working practices and procedures.
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K50: Fabrication. Marking out and preparation techniques.
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K51: Fabrication. Fabrication and joining techniques, including welding, bonding, sheet metal work, bolting, riveting and additive manufacturing.
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K52: Fabrication. Forming equipment, including press brakes, drawform presses, hydroform presses and rollers.
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K53: Fabrication. Characteristics and properties of materials used in fabrication operations, including metals, alloys and composites and their malleability, hardness and corrosion resistance.
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K54: Fabrication. Quality requirements for fabrication operations.
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K55: Machining. Machining based safe working practices and procedures.
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K56: Machining. Principles of manual and CNC machining, including turning, milling, drilling, and grinding.
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K57: Machining. Work holding devices for machining operations.
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K58: Machining. Characteristics and properties of materials used in machining operations.
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K59: Machining. Cutting speeds, feed rates, and machining parameters.
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K60: Machining. Tool types and tool selection for machining operations.
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K61: Machining. Principles of fault identification within machining operations.
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K62: Machining. Principles of machine fault identification, routine machine maintenance, and lubrication schedules.
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K63: Machining. Methods of monitoring machine performance.
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K64: Machining. Principles of first-off, in-process and final inspection.
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K65: Machining. Tolerances, fits, and geometric dimensioning.
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Skills
S1: Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
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S2: Follow procedures in compliance with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S3: Follow procedures in compliance with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S4: Prepare and maintain the work area before, during and after the engineering and manufacturing activity.
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S5: Follow workplace operating procedures.
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S6: Read and interpret engineering and manufacturing specifications, drawings and technical information.
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S7: Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan engineering and manufacturing activities.
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S8: Select and use consumables, tools, equipment and machinery for engineering and manufacturing activities.
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S9: Store consumables, tools, equipment and machinery in line with requirements.
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S10: Apply first line maintenance principles to tools, equipment and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
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S11: Measure and mark out materials as part of engineering and manufacturing activities.
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S12: Comply with quality assurance requirements and follow monitoring processes.
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S13: Record information relating to engineering and manufacturing activities, paper based or electronic.
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S14: Apply continuous improvement (CI) techniques, for example, contribute to the business by identifying possible opportunities for improving working practices, processes or procedures.
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S15: Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
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S16: Communicate in writing (electronically or paper based) with colleagues and supervisors.
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S17: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
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S18: Maintenance. Complete maintenance operations in line with maintenance based safe working practices and procedures.
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S19: Maintenance. Support maintenance operations in line with maintenance plans.
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S20: Maintenance. Support maintenance operations in line with maintenance strategies.
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S21: Maintenance. Conduct maintenance testing in line with testing schedules.
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S22: Maintenance. Use maintenance diagnostic techniques to identify faults.
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S23: Maintenance. Support maintenance operations related to engineering systems, for example, mechanical systems, electrical systems, fluid power systems.
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S24: Maintenance. Carry out corrective actions, including assembling and dismantling components, ensuring alignment and tolerance specifications are adhered to.
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S25: Manufacturing production. Complete manufacturing production operations in line with manufacturing production based safe working practices and procedures.
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S26: Manufacturing production. Complete manufacturing production operations in line with manufacturing production plans, for example assembly operations.
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S27: Manufacturing production. Adjust operating parameters during manufacturing production operations to meet specification.
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S28: Manufacturing production. Identify and select material for manufacturing production operations.
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S29: Manufacturing production. Set up and operate manual or semi-automated machines, for example, presses, assembly tools, including use of fixtures, jigs and work holding devices.
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S30: Manufacturing production. Identify faults in manufacturing production operations. For example, components and sub assemblies.
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S31: Manufacturing production. Carry out quality checks before, during and after manufacturing production operations.
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S32: Electrical and electronic. Complete electrical and electronic operations in line with electrical and electronic based safe working practices and procedures, including isolation and reinstatement of equipment or systems.
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S33: Electrical and electronic. Wire and terminate different types of cabling, for example single core, multi core, screened, fire resistant, armoured.
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S34: Electrical and electronic. Assemble a range of electrical and electronic components, for example component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors.
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S35: Electrical and electronic. Test electrical and electronic assembles and components, for example component panels, isolator switches, fuses, circuit breakers, contactors, relays, rail mounted terminal blocks, resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors.
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S36: Electrical and electronic. Identify faults within electrical or electronic systems.
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S37: Fabrication. Complete fabrication operations in line with fabrication based safe working practices and procedures.
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S38: Fabrication. Mark out and prepare components and assemblies for fabrication operations.
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S39: Fabrication. Use fabrication, joining and forming techniques to produce components and assemblies in fabrication operations, for example welding, bonding, sheet metal work, bolting, riveting and additive manufacturing.
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S40: Fabrication. Identify and select material for fabrication operations.
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S41: Fabrication. Carry out quality checks before, during and after fabrication operations.
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S42: Machining. Complete machining operations in line with machining based safe working practices and procedures.
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S43: Machining. Operate manual or CNC machines to complete machining operations.
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S44: Machining. Set up manual or CNC machines to complete machining operations, including material preparation and component alignment
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S45: Machining. Identify and select material for machining operations.
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S46: Machining. Control machining parameters: Adjust speed, feed, depth of cut, and coolant flow.
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S47: Machining. Select and use appropriate tooling to complete machining operations.
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S48: Machining. Identify faults within machining operations.
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S49: Machining. Identify faults with machine, complete routine maintenance activities and follow lubrication schedules.
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S50: Machining. Monitor machine performs, for example sounds, vibrations and behaviours.
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S51: Machining. Conduct first-off, in-process & final inspections in relation to machining operations.
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Behaviours
B1: Put health and safety first.
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B2: Take ownership of given work.
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B3: Demonstrate resilience in the workplace identifying challenges with opportunities.
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B4: Committed to continuous improvement and makes suggestions for improvements.
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B5: Support an inclusive workplace for example respectful of different views.
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B6: Seek learning and development opportunities.
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B7: Adhere to company values and principles.
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Qualifications
English and Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Other mandatory qualifications
| Option qualification | Applicable options |
|---|---|
High Level QualificationLevel 2 Diploma in engineering operations (skills) Level: 2 Additional information: Completion of this section is under the new approach as part of the wider apprenticeship assessment reform. |
Additional details
Occupational Level:
2
Duration (months):
18
Review
this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
Version log
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | Occupational standard revised | 27/03/2026 | Not set |
| 1.3 | Funding band revised | 19/02/2024 | 26/03/2026 |
| 1.2 | Funding band revised | 26/06/2023 | 18/02/2024 |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 11/05/2023 | 25/06/2023 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 24/09/2018 | 10/05/2023 |
Example progression routes
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