Directory of Semiskilled Trades

Sector : 05 - Woodworking and Furniture Making Info

8750 Wood Panel Preparation Assistant

M750
Field of application Wood panel cutters are employed by manufacturers of furniture, cabinets or any other product made from wood-based panels in small- or mid-sized industries. They cut panels made from plywood, fibreboard, particle board or related materials.
Other job titles No other job title

551 - Prepare to cut solid wood or wood-based panels 2

Performance criteria

  • Compliance with work instructions
  • Compliance with the production plan or procedures
  • Accurate identification of wood species used in cabinet-making, wood-based panels or related materials
  • Accurate interpretation of the plan
  • Concern with making optimum use of the raw material
  • Correct visualization of the product to be made

Tasks

  • Receive instructions from the person in charge.
  • Consult the plan of the product to be made.
  • Read the information on the cutting list (materials, identification of pieces, code, dimensions, number of pieces, etc.).
  • Select the rough timber planks by species, dimension and quality, or select the wood-based panels according to their dimensions and quality.
  • Identify any defects in the wood (natural defects or defects associated with drying, stacking or processing) or defects specific to the panels.
  • Determine the parts of the plank to be kept or discarded when cutting the solid wood, or check the computerized cutting list.
  • Set aside any solid wood pieces or wood-based panels considered unusable for the project. Optional task or competency
  • Measure the humidity level of the wood to ensure that it does not exceed the required level. Optional task or competency
  • Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.

547 - Trim the edges of the solid wood pieces or wood-based panels 2

Performance criteria

  • Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
  • Compliance with work instructions
  • Compliance with the production plan or procedures
  • Observance of manufacturer’s specifications
  • Compliance with quality standards
  • Proper application of work techniques
  • Proper use of tools, instruments and equipment
  • Concern for the attainment of the production objectives
  • Concern for using materials sparingly

Tasks

  • Ensure that personal protective equipment is in good condition and worn properly.
  • Ensure that the workspace is safe (no debris around the dimensioning saw or conventional saw, the dust ventilator open, etc). Optional task or competency
  • Check the condition of the saw blade and ensure that none of the teeth are bent or broken. Optional task or competency
  • Remove and replace the saw blade. Optional task or competency
  • Adjust the saw blade and check its squareness. Optional task or competency
  • Set the fences to the width required. Optional task or competency
  • Ensure that the equipment has safety mechanisms (blade guards, cut guides, etc.) and ensure that they are in good working condition.
  • Check the settings the or have them approved by the person in charge.
  • Place the solid wood piece or the panel on the feeder plate of the dimensioning saw or conventional saw.
  • Push the solid wood piece or the panel along the feeder plate of the dimensioning saw or conventional saw.
  • Check the quality of the cut.
  • Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.
  • Stack the cut pieces on a cart.
  • Fill out the production form. Optional task or competency

825001 - Cut wood-based panels 2

Performance criteria

  • Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
  • Compliance with work instructions
  • Compliance with the production plan or procedures
  • Observance of manufacturer’s specifications
  • Compliance with quality standards
  • Proper application of work techniques
  • Proper use of tools, instruments and equipment
  • Appropriate use of the imperial or metric measurement system
  • Concern for the attainment of the production objectives
  • Concern for using materials sparingly

Tasks

  • Ensure that personal protective equipment is in good condition and worn properly.
  • Ensure that the workspace is safe (no debris around the horizontal panel saw, dust ventilator open, etc).
  • Check the condition of the saw blades (main blade and scoring blade). Optional task or competency
  • Remove and replace the saw blades. Optional task or competency
  • Adjust the saw blades and check their squareness. Optional task or competency
  • Set the cut guides.
  • Ensure that the equipment has safety mechanisms (riving knife, protective hood, etc.) and ensure that they are in good working condition.
  • Check the settings or have them approved by the person in charge.
  • Measure the length or width of the piece to be cut and draw the cut line.
  • Place the panel on the feeder plate.
  • Push the panel along the feeder plate to make a longitudinal cut and then a cross-cut.
  • Check the quality of the cut.
  • Transfer the numbers from the cutting plan onto the pieces.
  • Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.
  • Stack the panels on a cart.
  • Fill out the production form. Optional task or competency

825002 - Ensure that the vertical panel saw is working properly Optional task or competency 2

Performance criteria

  • Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
  • Compliance with work instructions
  • Compliance with the production plan or procedures
  • Observance of manufacturer’s specifications
  • Compliance with quality standards
  • Proper application of work techniques
  • Proper use of tools, instruments and equipment
  • Concern for the attainment of the production objectives
  • Concern for using materials sparingly

Tasks

  • Ensure that personal protective equipment is in good condition and worn properly.
  • Ensure that the workspace is safe (no debris around the vertical panel saw, dust ventilator open, etc).
  • Check the condition of the saw blade. Optional task or competency
  • Remove and replace the saw blade. Optional task or competency
  • Adjust the settings. Optional task or competency
  • Ensure that the equipment has safety mechanisms and ensure that they are in good working condition.
  • Check the settings or have them approved by the person in charge.
  • Position the blade motor housing in accordance with the type of cut (horizontal or vertical).
  • Place the panel in the vertical panel saw.
  • Activate the mechanism.
  • Check the quality of the cut.
  • Detect any problems and inform the person in charge.
  • Stack the panels on a cart.
  • Fill out the production form. Optional task or competency

548 - Maintain the work area and the machine-tool cutters 1

Performance criteria

  • Compliance with occupational health and safety rules
  • Compliance with work instructions
  • Observance of maintenance schedule
  • Proper application of work techniques
  • Order and cleanliness

Tasks

  • Turn off the machine-tool cutters.
  • Remove dust from the machine-tool cutters.
  • Return the machine-tool cutters to their initial settings.
  • Put back the safety guards. Optional task or competency
  • Close the duster ventilator.
  • Put away the tools and accessories.
  • Clean and sweep the work area.
  • Grade reusable offcuts.
  • Report signs of breakage to the maintenance service or person in charge.
Info Optional competency or task. Competencies or tasks marked with this symbol are not required in all workplaces. They could be included in a student’s training plan if the practicum setting offers the opportunity for the student to apply them.