Machining Technician Apprenticeship Level 3

Completion of the Apprenticeship is designed to be recognised by relevant Professional Engineering Institutions at the appropriate level of professional registration (EngTech).

You may choose to progress onto a Higher/Degree Level Apprenticeships,  full time learning programme or a range of further employment opportunities.

This standard has been designed to satisfy the requirements for Professional Registration as Engineering Technician (EngTech) as define by the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

Machinists in the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering sector are predominantly involved in highly skilled, complex and precision work, machining components from specialist materials using conventional and/or CNC machine tools such as centre lathes, vertical and horizontal milling machines, horizontal and cylindrical grinding machines, electro discharge machines, single and multi- axis CNC machine tools centres.

You can apply for an Apprenticeship if you are living in England, over 16 and not in full-time education. You must be in paid employment for the duration of your Apprenticeship, you cannot be self-employed or a volunteer. Employers must pay you the minimum Apprenticeship wage or more, for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

On this Apprenticeship you will gain the knowledge, skills and behaviour required for the following Machining Technician duties:

• Duty 1 Conduct safety checks and performance monitoring for machining, associated equipment and surrounding work area.
• Duty 2 Receive, read and interpret engineering data and documentation, engineering drawings and technical data. Contribute to or plan the days machining schedule.
• Duty 3 Check and inspect materials to be machined to ensure that they conform to quality standards. Identify and report any issues or faults such as incorrect grades, dimensions and thicknesses.
• Duty 4 Plan and prepare sequence for the machining activities. Ensure that the correct tooling, work holding, and materials are used. This applies to conventional complex or CNC complex machining tasks.
• Duty 5 Set up, operate, or adjust conventional machines or set up, prove and validate CNC machining equipment settings and programs for the machine tool being used.
• Duty 6 Machine high-quality complex components using a broad range of processes. For example, internal or external thread cutting, slots and pockets, internal or external under cutting. Also profile forms, tapered and eccentric diameters, bored holes, and tee slots.
• Duty 7 Inspect components produced. Adjust the machining equipment or program and tooling to ensure components meet quality requirements.
• Duty 8 Identify, communicate and report issues affecting machining component quality, quantity and deadlines.
• Duty 9 Complete machining documentation at all stages of the work activity. For example, standard operational procedures, control documentation and contribution to audits.
• Duty 10 Maintain and restore the machining work area, performing housekeeping and waste management as appropriate. Ensure tools, unused materials and equipment are returned to a safe, clean and approved condition on completion of machining work.
• Duty 11 Keep stakeholders for example, customers, colleagues and line managers informed about machining work.
• Duty 12 Perform scheduled daily inspection and machine shut down or safe isolation.
• Duty 13 Support continuous improvement activity to address business problems.