Apprenticeship training course

Machining technician (level 3)

Setting up machines prior to production as well as monitoring and correcting them as needed.

• Qualification level: 3 ; Equivalent to A level.
• Typical duration: 42 months
• Apprenticeship category: Engineering and manufacturing
• Maximum funding: £27,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Centre lathe turner
  • Cnc centre lathe turner
  • Cnc edm machinist technician
  • Cnc gear cutter
  • Cnc gear cutter and grinder
  • Cnc horizontal borer
  • Cnc machinist
  • Cnc machinist (miller turner or grinder)
  • Cnc machinist programmer
  • Cnc vertical borer
  • Conventional vertical borer
  • Edm machinist technician
  • Gear cutter
  • Gear cutter and grinder
  • Horizontal borer
  • Machining technician
  • Machinist
  • Manual machinist (miller turner or grinder)
  • Precision engineer
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
  • Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
  • Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
  • Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
  • Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
  • Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
  • Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
  • Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
  • Plan and organise own work and resources.
  • Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
  • Select machining process.
  • Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
  • Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
  • Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
  • Measure and check components.
  • Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
  • Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
  • Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
  • Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
  • Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Apply ethical principles.
  • Apply team working principles.

Full information on Machining technician (level 3) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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