Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Print operative standard?
Knowledge
K1: Health and Safety practice and responsibilities: risk assessments, risk control, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), manual handling and ergonomic practice
K2: Health and Safety regulations and procedures: Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
K3: Environment and sustainability: Environmental Protection Act, consequences of waste disposal (landfill), energy efficiency
K4: Printing and Graphic Communication Industry and its markets
K5: Print industry: how organisations vary regarding their work, culture, values and production processes
K6: Print industry practices and processes: printing, quality assurance, materials and colour management
K7: The end-to-end production cycle, quality requirements, deadlines and targets, performance rates (efficiency)
K8: Works instructions purpose and requirement: the different variables within materials, colours, machine and wastage
K9: Problem solving techniques: identifying issues and developing solutions for print machinery, digital tools and online services
K10: Data security standards: management of information, data and content in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
K11: Equality & diversity in the workplace
K12: Work area maintenance and efficiency: 5S (Sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick and span)
K13: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Output image carrier techniques for onward production: print ready electronic files, plate, cylinders and screens
K14: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Techniques for the receipt, checking and processing of digital files: print ready permanent data files (PDFs), database, colour and ink profile files
K15: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Digital files checks, techniques for solving issues with software and workflow management: colour profiling and data integrity
K16: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Proofs: techniques for creating proofs from client files
K17: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Calibration methods for proof production equipment
K18: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Software packages for pre-press, design or workflow tasks
K19: Option 2: Press Operative. Print presses: methods for the preparation, set up, and shutting down of machinery
K20: Option 2: Press Operative. Properties and structures of materials, inks, toners, blankets, plates, cylinders and the various chemicals required for print operation and maintenance
K21: Option 2: Press Operative. Safe handling, storage and packaging procedures for print materials and chemicals
K22: Option 2: Press Operative. The maintenance requirements and risks for print machinery
K23: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Print finishing terminology: fold types and ways of conversion of sheets into products
K24: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Properties of printing materials, adhesives and chemicals: uses and benefits for paper, adhesive, laminate
K25: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Print finishing equipment, the various types and what it would be used for including any particular safety aspects
K26: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. The maintenance requirements and risks for finishing equipment
Skills
S1: Read, interpret and follow information, for example, printing instructions and specifications
S2: Inspect work against specifications and quality standards, for example, works instructions, colour standard, materials or files received
S3: Record information: digital or manual
S4: Follow health and safety regulations, legislation and procedures: PPE, manual handling and ergonomic practice
S5: Follow environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures
S6: Communicate with colleagues: written, verbal or digital. For example, using digital tools such as email, Information technology (IT) telephony, social media, multi-media, video, infographics
S7: Implement solutions as developed by management or supervisors
S8: Identify and report production issues. For example, missing fonts, incorrect materials supplied, wrong adhesive indicated
S9: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select and use software packages for pre-press, design or workflow tasks. For example, MS Office or equivalent, pdf workflow such as ‘Screen True-flow’, ‘Adobe InDesign’, ‘Adobe Illustrator’ and ERP system such as ‘Tharstern’
S10: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select, check and use equipment for the production of a printed or digital ‘proof’
S11: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Calibrate proof production equipment
S12: Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select, check and use equipment for the production of plates, screens, output files and materials
S13: Option 2: Press Operative. Identify and set up printing presses
S14: Option 2: Press Operative. Conduct and log first line preventative maintenance. For example, clean and lubricate printing equipment
S15: Option 2: Press Operative. Inspect the quality of print output during production run. For example, colour management, print resolution and product consistency
S17: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Identify, set up and load finishing equipment with materials. For example, guillotines, stitching-trimming machinery, binding machinery, laminating equipment, die-cutters
S18: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Conduct and log first line preventative maintenance. For example, clean and lubricate Post Press finishing equipment
S19: Option 2: Press Operative and Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Prepare print material for the next stage in production. For example, palletising; ensuring all material laid in the same direction, boxing, labelling
S20: Option 2: Press Operative and Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Identify and segregate printed materials into those for use in the next stage of production and those for recycling or disposal
S21: Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Inspect the quality of the finishing and report any issues arising during the process. For example, misalignment or gathering
Behaviours
B1: Prioritise health, safety, environment and sustainability at all times
B2: Adapt to changing priorities. For example, working requirements and new technologies
B3: Team focus. Takes responsibility for completing tasks, completes actions within limits of authority without direction and asks for help where required.
B4: Act professionally, for example wears work attire according to the company requirements, respectful, maintains security of business specific and personal data
B5: Self-motivated, manages own time effectively, takes responsibility to complete the task or job
B6: Committed to continuous professional development
Core occupation duties
DUTY: Read works instructions and organise print work activities. Ensure that machinery, tools, equipment and materials are available and report any issues
K4
K5
K6
K8
S1
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Select suitable equipment and plan own production activity
K4
K6
K7
S4
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Check print work and consumables received. Confirm they are as per job bag or works instructions before proceeding
K7
K8
K10
S2
S5
S8
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Carry out basic maintenance of print equipment. For example, calibrate equipment, oil and lubricate machinery
K1
K2
K3
S4
S5
B1
B5
DUTY: Report issues relating to quality, quantity, templates, specifications, workload, equipment, plans and deadlines
K1
K3
K6
K7
K8
K9
K10
K11
S2
S4
S6
S8
B1
B3
B5
DUTY: Complete documents and update relevant systems. For example, works instructions, quality records and safety logs
K6
K7
S3
S6
B5
DUTY: Check final output meets specification and works instructions
K3
K6
S8
B5
DUTY: Support continuous improvement initiatives in print activities
K4
K5
K6
K9
K11
S7
B1
B2
B3
B5
B6
DUTY: Maintain and monitor the work site using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5S)
K1
K2
K3
K11
K12
S4
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Pre-Press Operative duties
DUTY: Convert customer files using software to create a 'print ready' pre-press file. For example, software used may be ‘Adobe InDesign’, ‘Adobe Illustrator’ or pdf workflow such as ‘Screen True-flow’ and ERP system such as ‘Tharstern’
K4
K5
K6
K8
S1
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Perform pre checks on files received so that they do not cause technical issues for press and post-press production
K4
K6
K7
S4
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Produce a proof for the customer, customer services or other specified person or group
K7
K8
K10
S2
S5
S8
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Produce plates, cylinders, screens or electronic files to the required standard for printing
K1
K2
K3
S4
S5
B1
B5
Press Operative duties
DUTY: Prepare the print press for the next job on the schedule
K4
K5
K6
K8
S1
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Inspect the output at set intervals. Identify and report any issues such as misalignment or colour variations to the print technician or other supervisor
K4
K6
K7
S4
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Clean up and shut down machinery as needed once the printing job has been completed
K7
K8
K10
S2
S5
S8
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Remove work from the press and prepare work for passing to the next department. Ensure that all materials are assembled to protect quality. For example, work not smudged and facing in the same direction
K1
K2
K3
S4
S5
B1
B5
Post-Press Operative duties
DUTY: Set up the finishing equipment ready for the next job on the schedule
K4
K5
K6
K8
S1
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Inspect the output at set intervals. Report any quality issues such as misalignment or gathering to the print technician or other supervisor
K4
K6
K7
S4
S5
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Load materials. For example, flat sheet, folded sections to finishing machine efficiently and effectively
K7
K8
K10
S2
S5
S8
B1
B2
B5
DUTY: Take materials off the machine as per the defined protocols. Pack or prepare materials for the next department or process as per the works instructions
