Level 3 Machining technician

• 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, adjust or edit conventional or CNC machining equipment settings and programmes 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 programme 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.

This summary page outlines the information that you and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should also read the end-point assessment plan for the full details including roles and responsibilities, assessment method requirements and re-sits and re-takes.

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. It assesses your competence against the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) on the occupational standard. You will have been trained on them during your training, both on and off the job. The EPA is your chance to show an independent assessor you can do the occupation you have been trained for. Your employer will only recommend you start the EPA when you have finished your training and both your employer and you think you are ready. Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should provide you with support on what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA. 

The typical length of the on-programme (training) part of this apprenticeship is 42 months. The end-point assessment period will typically last 3 months.

The grades available for this apprenticeship are:

Practical demonstration with questions

• fail
• pass

Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

• fail
• pass
• distinction

Knowledge test

• fail
• pass
• distinction

At the end of the apprenticeship, and having passed the EPA, you will be awarded with your apprenticeship certificate.

The gateway is the point when all on-programme training and any mandatory qualification requirements have been met. When you have completed your training and your employer says you are competent in your occupation, you enter the gateway. The EPAO will check any mandatory qualifications are complete. They will tell you how to submit any necessary documents (for example, a portfolio). After the EPAO confirms that you have met all the requirements, the EPA starts.  

When you reach the gateway, you need to complete the following: 

• have achieved English and mathematics qualifications (including those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement) as specified by the apprenticeship funding rules. British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications are an alternative to English qualifications for those who have BSL as their primary language.
• passed any other mandated qualifications listed in the occupational standard. For the machining technician, The qualification(s) required is: EAL L3 Extended diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge) or Pearson BTEC L3 diploma in Advanced manufacturing engineering (Machining) (Development Technical Knowledge) or City and Guilds Machining technician (1273)
• for the interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence you must submit: portfolio of evidence
• for the practical assessment with questions the EPAO must discuss with the employer the suitable machine(s) type and components produced by the apprentice in the workplace in the normal course of the role. The EPAO will then use this information to select an appropriate assessment task from a bank of tasks that have been developed in consultation with employers. The apprentice and employer are not to be told the machine type and component to be produced in advance of the assessment

Where geometric tolerances are appropriate to the specific features these will be set by the EPAO in accordance with the practical demonstration task

The apprentice must compile a portfolio of evidence during the on-programme period of the apprenticeship. It should only contain evidence related to the KSBs that will be assessed by this assessment method. It will typically contain 8 discrete pieces of evidence drawn from at least 3 separate job packs or reports. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs. Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB; a qualitative as opposed to quantitative approach is suggested.

Evidence sources may include:

• workplace documentation and records, for example:
• workplace policies and procedures
• witness statements
• annotated photographs
• video clips (maximum total duration 10 minutes); the apprentice must be in view and identifiable

This is not a definitive list; other evidence sources can be included.

The portfolio of evidence should not include reflective accounts or any methods of self-assessment. Any employer contributions should focus on direct observation of performance (for example, witness statements) rather than opinions. The evidence provided should be valid and attributable to the apprentice; the portfolio of evidence should contain a statement from the employer and apprentice confirming this.

The EPAO should not assess the portfolio of evidence directly as it underpins the interview. Independent assessors should review the portfolio of evidence to prepare questions for the interview assessment method. They are not required to provide feedback after this review.