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Apprenticeship training course

Surface finisher (level 3)

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Information about Surface finisher (level 3)

Surface finishing is a broad range of industrial processes that alter the surface of a manufactured item to achieve a certain property.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Characteristics and features of the surface finishing industry and the surface finisher’s role and placement within the industry, and who surface finishers interact with in order to perform their work operations.
  • Communication techniques, their role and features, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each when communicating with different customers and stakeholders (internal and external). Organisational processes and procedures regarding communication channels, techniques and how communications and their outcomes are recorded and documented.
  • Surface finishing terminology and its meaning. Uses of information technology relevant to surface finishing work operations.
  • Problem-solving and testing techniques and methods used to resolve surface finishing problems relevant to their area of responsibility.
  • Sourcing of materials and equipment, costing, pricing and budgeting principles and identifying and addressing discrepancies and quality issues.
  • Organisational policies, processes and procedures for the design, planning and set up, and delivery of surface finishing activities including tools, materials, equipment and environment.
  • Legislation, regulations, industry guidance, practices and procedures that direct health and safety and environmental sustainability at work and the importance of complying with control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH). Personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
  • The requirement for personal responsibility and regular health surveillance and the importance of properly adhering to disposal of hazardous waste principals ensuring protection of the environment.
  • Ways of ensuring quality of surface finishing processes and work products, including continuous business improvement techniques and how they are integrated into surface finishing work processes and procedures.
  • Sources of information and guidance that directs surface finishing work operations, typically including drawings and technical specifications, where this information and guidance can be found and when and where it should be used.
  • Mathematical techniques and calculations that underpin surface finishing work.
  • Range and purpose of tools, materials and equipment used when setting up and when performing surface finishing operations, their characteristics, features, their safe use, movement and operation and the consequences of using inappropriate tools and techniques for the correct surface finish.
  • The relationship between different substrates, materials and complex shapes.
  • Importance of accurately completing surface finishing documentation and the information that needs to be recorded during different stages of surface finishing work operations.
  • Importance of restoring the work area to a tidy and safe state on completion of surface finishing work operation and what this entails.
  • Checks, tests and inspections undertaken before, during and after performing different surface finishing work operations, how these are undertaken and any remedial action required.
  • The common types of defects (for example, sags, seeds, runs) and contamination effects found at inspection and their potential causes.
  • Application principles and techniques for different surface finishing materials.
  • Basic operational principles of surface finishing equipment and their servicing and maintenance requirements.
  • Importance of customer service and customer service principles and techniques.
  • Human factors and how they can affect an individual’s performance while carrying out maintenance and surface finishing activities.
  • Work at height regulations and requirements for safe access and egress from a vessel such as engineering controls (handrails, guard rails, guard wires etc.) and PPE to be worn during the work at height activity and its care and correct use (e.g. harnesses and lanyards).
  • Process and safety requirements for working in confined spaces.
  • Regulations and requirements to setup work platforms, staging, towers and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP) and training requirements to ensure safe use.
  • Requirements of lifting operations and lifting equipment regulation (LOLER) in relation to MEWPs and harnesses.
  • Working practices, hazards, associated risks and the emergency preparedness when carrying out work in an operational marine environment (including on or near the water) including the use of electrical power tools and requirements for PPE such as life jackets.
  • Flexible work practice and how marine paint operations effect the workflow and schedule of other trades to accommodate work processes and COSHH requirements such as to meet product overcoating timeframes.
  • Local restrictions in relation to work operations such as site of special scientific interest (SSSI) restrictions in harbours and rivers and consideration for environmental protection of watercourses.
  • Products, techniques and various methods of applying coatings by hand such as roll and tip and hand varnishing.
  • Products, techniques, requirements and various methods of polishing and finishing such as French polishing and gel coat finishing.
  • Products, techniques and requirements for spraying large complex shapes, structures and components, including the need to maintain a wet edge whilst spraying. Team-based application methods such as multiple sprayers, pot men and spotters to safely spray hulls and large structures.
  • Characteristics and features of the surface finishing industry and the surface finisher’s role and placement within the industry, and who surface finishers interact with in order to perform their work operations.
  • Communication techniques, their role and features, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each when communicating with different customers and stakeholders (internal and external). Organisational processes and procedures regarding communication channels, techniques and how communications and their outcomes are recorded and documented.
  • Surface finishing terminology and its meaning. Uses of information technology relevant to surface finishing work operations.
  • Problem-solving and testing techniques and methods used to resolve surface finishing problems relevant to their area of responsibility.
  • Sourcing of materials and equipment, costing, pricing and budgeting principles and identifying and addressing discrepancies and quality issues.
  • Organisational policies, processes and procedures for the design, planning and set up, and delivery of surface finishing activities including tools, materials, equipment and environment.
  • Legislation, regulations, industry guidance, practices and procedures that direct health and safety and environmental sustainability at work and the importance of complying with control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH). Personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
  • The requirement for personal responsibility and regular health surveillance and the importance of properly adhering to disposal of hazardous waste principals ensuring protection of the environment.
  • Ways of ensuring quality of surface finishing processes and work products, including continuous business improvement techniques and how they are integrated into surface finishing work processes and procedures.
  • Sources of information and guidance that directs surface finishing work operations, typically including drawings and technical specifications, where this information and guidance can be found and when and where it should be used.
  • Mathematical techniques and calculations that underpin surface finishing work.
  • Range and purpose of tools, materials and equipment used when setting up and when performing surface finishing operations, their characteristics, features, their safe use, movement and operation and the consequences of using inappropriate tools and techniques for the correct surface finish.
  • The relationship between different substrates, materials and complex shapes.
  • Importance of accurately completing surface finishing documentation and the information that needs to be recorded during different stages of surface finishing work operations.
  • Importance of restoring the work area to a tidy and safe state on completion of surface finishing work operation and what this entails.
  • Checks, tests and inspections undertaken before, during and after performing different surface finishing work operations, how these are undertaken and any remedial action required.
  • The common types of defects (for example, sags, seeds, runs) and contamination effects found at inspection and their potential causes.
  • Application principles and techniques for different surface finishing materials.
  • Basic operational principles of surface finishing equipment and their servicing and maintenance requirements.
  • Importance of customer service and customer service principles and techniques.
  • Human factors and how they can affect an individual’s performance while carrying out maintenance and surface finishing activities.
  • Specific coatings and metal treatments used in aviation painting, including types of finish, measurement of coating thickness and the application techniques for matt and gloss finishes.
  • Processes used to prepare an aircraft for refinishing including aircraft bonding, inspection techniques and protection of vital components.
  • Composites and substrates used in aviation and the preparation techniques used with these materials.
  • Military or civil regulations as applicable to aircraft refinishing.
  • Critical areas on an aircraft and how these can be affected by refinishing including Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) requirements.
  • Inspection techniques to inspect an aircraft post paint strip such as inspecting for corrosion. Types of corrosion, treatment of corrosion and techniques used for inspecting for delamination.
  • Processes used in applying and positioning both mandatory and customer selected external markings.
  • Process and safety requirements for working in confined spaces.
  • Characteristics and features of the surface finishing industry and the surface finisher’s role and placement within the industry, and who surface finishers interact with in order to perform their work operations.
  • Communication techniques, their role and features, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each when communicating with different customers and stakeholders (internal and external). Organisational processes and procedures regarding communication channels, techniques and how communications and their outcomes are recorded and documented.
  • Surface finishing terminology and its meaning. Uses of information technology relevant to surface finishing work operations.
  • Problem-solving and testing techniques and methods used to resolve surface finishing problems relevant to their area of responsibility.
  • Sourcing of materials and equipment, costing, pricing and budgeting principles and identifying and addressing discrepancies and quality issues.
  • Organisational policies, processes and procedures for the design, planning and set up, and delivery of surface finishing activities including tools, materials, equipment and environment.
  • Legislation, regulations, industry guidance, practices and procedures that direct health and safety and environmental sustainability at work and the importance of complying with control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH). Personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
  • The requirement for personal responsibility and regular health surveillance and the importance of properly adhering to disposal of hazardous waste principals ensuring protection of the environment.
  • Ways of ensuring quality of surface finishing processes and work products, including continuous business improvement techniques and how they are integrated into surface finishing work processes and procedures.
  • Sources of information and guidance that directs surface finishing work operations, typically including drawings and technical specifications, where this information and guidance can be found and when and where it should be used.
  • Mathematical techniques and calculations that underpin surface finishing work.
  • Range and purpose of tools, materials and equipment used when setting up and when performing surface finishing operations, their characteristics, features, their safe use, movement and operation and the consequences of using inappropriate tools and techniques for the correct surface finish.
  • The relationship between different substrates, materials and complex shapes.
  • Importance of accurately completing surface finishing documentation and the information that needs to be recorded during different stages of surface finishing work operations.
  • Importance of restoring the work area to a tidy and safe state on completion of surface finishing work operation and what this entails.
  • Checks, tests and inspections undertaken before, during and after performing different surface finishing work operations, how these are undertaken and any remedial action required.
  • The common types of defects (for example, sags, seeds, runs) and contamination effects found at inspection and their potential causes.
  • Application principles and techniques for different surface finishing materials.
  • Basic operational principles of surface finishing equipment and their servicing and maintenance requirements.
  • Importance of customer service and customer service principles and techniques.
  • Human factors and how they can affect an individual’s performance while carrying out maintenance and surface finishing activities.
  • Properties of substrates related to the automotive sector including plastics, metals and carbon fibres. Impact of the substrate on the surface finish, including changes in colour match and variations in techniques.
  • Types of coatings used in automotive including anti-chip blackouts, base coats and their characteristics and application techniques.
  • The defect recording, processing and completion requirements required at automotive paint inspection stages.
  • Methods used for masking out product, types of masking materials, application techniques.
  • Methods of demasking, common concerns and defects arising from incorrect demasking.
  • Techniques, tools, materials and methods used in polishing and finishing of automotive vehicle finishes.
  • Types of spot repair. Techniques, tools, materials and methods used to carry out spot repairs.

Skills

  • Use communication and interpersonal techniques and terminology to aid interactions with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and others.
  • Deliver appropriate customer service principles and techniques, in accordance with organisational policy and processes.
  • Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work and complying with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance.
  • Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when planning and performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Follow approved industry and manufacturer’s guidance and techniques, operational work methods, practices, processes, principles and procedures when undertaking different surface finishing work operations, within required time frames.
  • Select, use, and store resources safely and correctly including tools, materials, equipment, machinery and consumables.
  • Carry out the correct preparation techniques when working with a substrate.
  • Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement, consulting internally and externally as appropriate.
  • Conduct required tests and checks when performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational and legislative policy and procedures.
  • Complete records and documentation relevant to surface finishing work operations, in accordance with requirements such as legislative or regulatory.
  • Check and identify surface defects and contamination issues to company and industry standards, using appropriate and relevant documentation.
  • Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
  • Carry out required rework using approved materials and techniques.
  • Perform routine maintenance and servicing on relevant equipment.
  • Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
  • Adhere to work at height regulations and requirements for safe access and egress from or around a vessel and utilise appropriate PPE when working at height ensuring pre-use checks, operation and maintenance activities are carried out correctly.
  • Setup work platforms to requirements and current regulations including staging, towers and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP) to ensure safe use.
  • Carry out lifting operations in accordance with lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations (LOLER).
  • Identify hazards and control their associated risks when working on or near the water, using techniques such as risk assessment. Use emergency preparedness procedures when carrying out work in an operational marine environment (including on or near the water).
  • Adapt working practices to support marine paint operations which affect the workflow. Schedule work to accommodate other trades processes and COSHH requirements such as to meet product overcoating timeframes.
  • Use products, techniques and various methods of applying coatings by hand such as roll and tip and hand varnishing.
  • Use the correct products, techniques and various methods of polishing and finishing such as French polishing and gel coat finishing.
  • Use products, techniques, methods and equipment for spraying complex shapes, structures and components such as maintaining a wet edge whilst spraying and team-based application methods (multiple sprayers, pot men and spotters to safely spray hulls and large structures).
  • Set up spray facilities in accordance with the manufacturer’s product data sheets and differing temperature and humidity requirements when applying coatings to wooden, composite or metal vessels.
  • Carry out masking and demasking of large or complex shapes, without causing surface finish defects during the demask process.
  • Use communication and interpersonal techniques and terminology to aid interactions with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and others.
  • Deliver appropriate customer service principles and techniques, in accordance with organisational policy and processes.
  • Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work and complying with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance.
  • Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when planning and performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Follow approved industry and manufacturer’s guidance and techniques, operational work methods, practices, processes, principles and procedures when undertaking different surface finishing work operations, within required time frames.
  • Select, use, and store resources safely and correctly including tools, materials, equipment, machinery and consumables.
  • Carry out the correct preparation techniques when working with a substrate.
  • Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement, consulting internally and externally as appropriate.
  • Conduct required tests and checks when performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational and legislative policy and procedures.
  • Complete records and documentation relevant to surface finishing work operations, in accordance with requirements such as legislative or regulatory.
  • Check and identify surface defects and contamination issues to company and industry standards, using appropriate and relevant documentation.
  • Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
  • Carry out required rework using approved materials and techniques.
  • Perform routine maintenance and servicing on relevant equipment.
  • Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
  • Follow the approved ground handling procedures in place to ensure the aircraft is correctly positioned in the hangar, ensuring safe working systems are in place to allow access prior to commencement of agreed works.
  • Comply with the manufacturer’s guidance notes on specific aircraft types using the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, structural repair manual and procedures when preparing and finishing aircraft substrates along with in-house quality documentation and procedures.
  • Inspect, identify and report surface defects, contamination and quality issues using appropriate and relevant documentation and in accordance with the manufacturer’s and the regulators requirements.
  • Complete relevant task staging documentation to the work carried out, ensure this has been signed for and any materials used recorded and provide reference for technical data used.
  • Inspect an aircraft, recording and rectifying listed defects using relevant documentation. Comply with technical data and measuring methods during the inspection, for example dent and buckle charts, structural repair manual and standard practices.
  • Interpret and understand Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and customer data to apply and position external markings, both mandatory and customer selected.
  • Use communication and interpersonal techniques and terminology to aid interactions with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and others.
  • Deliver appropriate customer service principles and techniques, in accordance with organisational policy and processes.
  • Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work and complying with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance.
  • Consider sustainability and environmental impacts when planning and performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Follow approved industry and manufacturer’s guidance and techniques, operational work methods, practices, processes, principles and procedures when undertaking different surface finishing work operations, within required time frames.
  • Select, use, and store resources safely and correctly including tools, materials, equipment, machinery and consumables.
  • Carry out the correct preparation techniques when working with a substrate.
  • Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement, consulting internally and externally as appropriate.
  • Conduct required tests and checks when performing surface finishing work operations.
  • Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational and legislative policy and procedures.
  • Complete records and documentation relevant to surface finishing work operations, in accordance with requirements such as legislative or regulatory.
  • Check and identify surface defects and contamination issues to company and industry standards, using appropriate and relevant documentation.
  • Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.
  • Carry out required rework using approved materials and techniques.
  • Perform routine maintenance and servicing on relevant equipment.
  • Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.
  • Use materials, equipment and techniques to achieve acceptable finishes on substrates such as plastics, metals and composites used in automotive manufacture.
  • Apply spray coatings across varying parts of a vehicle shell including vertical, horizontal and internal aspects of the vehicle.
  • Apply various types of spray coating, such as base coats, lacquer coats, anti-chip.
  • Carry out masking of product.
  • Demask products without causing surface finish defects.
  • Select the materials and methods and complete polishing and finishing of vehicle coatings.

Behaviours

  • Embrace a safety culture and situational awareness including being hazard and risk aware when working.
  • Embrace an environmentally sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and own actions.
  • Demonstrate commitment to quality, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.
  • Focus on the requirements of the customer (internal and external), seeking to provide outstanding customer service, meeting customer requirements.
  • Work individually and as part of a team, communicating at different levels to achieve positive work results.
  • Treat everyone with respect and courtesy, valuing diversity.
  • Motivated, meticulous, proactive and adaptable, with a focus on continuous personal development and knowledge sharing.
  • Manage own time to complete work operations within the confines of job responsibility.
  • Demonstrate due consideration of human factors in performing maintenance and surface finishing activities.
  • Embrace a safety culture and situational awareness including being hazard and risk aware when working.
  • Embrace an environmentally sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and own actions.
  • Demonstrate commitment to quality, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.
  • Focus on the requirements of the customer (internal and external), seeking to provide outstanding customer service, meeting customer requirements.
  • Work individually and as part of a team, communicating at different levels to achieve positive work results.
  • Treat everyone with respect and courtesy, valuing diversity.
  • Motivated, meticulous, proactive and adaptable, with a focus on continuous personal development and knowledge sharing.
  • Manage own time to complete work operations within the confines of job responsibility.
  • Demonstrate due consideration of human factors in performing maintenance and surface finishing activities.
  • Embrace a safety culture and situational awareness including being hazard and risk aware when working.
  • Embrace an environmentally sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and own actions.
  • Demonstrate commitment to quality, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.
  • Focus on the requirements of the customer (internal and external), seeking to provide outstanding customer service, meeting customer requirements.
  • Work individually and as part of a team, communicating at different levels to achieve positive work results.
  • Treat everyone with respect and courtesy, valuing diversity.
  • Motivated, meticulous, proactive and adaptable, with a focus on continuous personal development and knowledge sharing.
  • Manage own time to complete work operations within the confines of job responsibility.
  • Demonstrate due consideration of human factors in performing maintenance and surface finishing activities.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Engineering and manufacturing
Qualification level
3
Equal to A level
Course duration
42 months
Maximum funding
£24,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Marine surface finisher
  • Marine painter
  • Marine sprayer
  • Yacht painter
  • Marine French polisher
  • Yacht finisher
  • Marine coatings finisher
  • Paint technician
  • Detail paint finisher
  • Detail painter interior components
  • Aviation paint technician
  • Aviation woodwork/lacquer finisher
  • Vehicle painter
  • Vehicle sprayer
  • Paint team member

View more information about Surface finisher (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.