Control output and quality from screen printing units on multi-station screen printing machines
Overview
This standard is for screen printers with responsibility for running, multi-station screen printing machines. The standard involves the production of printed work which meets the quality required by the customer with the minimum of wasted materials and achieving the productivity levels required by the company. A multi-station machine is one that prints two or more colours in a single pass through the machine. It includes the running of such machines, including the identification and correction of associated print faults, whether they are caused by machine or materials.
Multi-station screen printing machines have many possible configurations and features. This standard requires a machine operator to be able to print multi-colour print on multi-station presses. The printer must have a full working knowledge of multi-station presses. Practical ability must be demonstrated in producing printed work to a commercially acceptable standard, with consistency throughout the run, on different substrates and covering a sufficient range of printed work to show full competence as a multi-colour screen printer. This should include a variety of different kinds of images.
The printer must be able to check and assess the quality of print under correct viewing conditions against an approved proof and make whatever adjustments are necessary to the press to achieve and maintain the quality required. Ink densities, dot measurements or spectral colour should meet recognised standards and/or are consistent with an approved 'pass sheet'.
The printer is required to be familiar with colour standards and how such standards are maintained. If equipment such as densitometers and spectrophotometers is in use in the company, then the printer must be capable of operating and understanding it.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Maintain the quality of output from screen printing stations
- confirm you have authority to commence production
- run multi-station screen printing machines at the optimum speed, achieving required standards
- check that output matches pass sheets
- run required number of good items, keeping spoiled material to a minimum following standard operating procedures
- identify and remove any sub-standard items from finished work following standard operating procedures
- report to your manager if circumstances beyond your control prevent you from achieving the required quantity or quality of printed sheets
- remove waste following current legislation
- record production and quality assurance details required**
Identify and rectify print problems
**
9. Identify and correct the cause of machine problems that affect the quality of images and reduce rate of output
10. Identify and correct the cause of consumable problems that affect the quality of images and reduce rate of output
11. Identify machine parts that may require replacing and make sure that such parts are available when required
12. Identify maintenance that needs to be carried out on machines and make sure that it is brought to the attention of the person in your company who will schedule it in the production plans
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Health and safety
- your legal duties for health and safety in the workplace as defined by the relevant health and safety legislation
- your duties and responsibilities for health and safety as defined by any specific legislation covering your job role
- workplace health and safety procedures
- hazards and risks in the workplace, their assessment and the action to take to deal with them
- hazards and risks in your own job, their assessment and the action to take to deal with them - including relevant regulations on the safe handling of equipment and materials.
- manufacturer's health and safety requirements relevant to your job
- what personal protective equipment should be used in your job
- how to stop a machine in the event of an emergency
Communication
*
9. with colleagues, customers and suppliers
*
Workplace policy and practice
*
10. workplace objectives, priorities, standards and procedures
11. the working practices existing in the workplace
*
The operation of equipment
*
12. the range of adjustments and settings on multi-station screen printing machines
13. the operating practices and procedures for multi-station screen printing machine
*
Printing
*
14. the principles of lithographic printing
*
The causes and treatment of common faults
*
15. processing (printing) faults
16. machine faults
*
Administrative procedures
*
17. recording and reporting
*
Environmental
*
18. the legal requirements for the classification, storage, carriage and disposal of waste
19. any specific environmental legislation that covers processes in your company
*
Quality assurance and control
**
20. equipment for controlling quality in machine printing
**
Problem solving
**
21. types of problems that may need to be solved
- sources of information
- techniques for solving complex problems
- techniques for assessing machine faults
**
Cleaning, lubrication and maintenance
**
25. the principal activities involved with machine cleaning, lubrication and maintenance
26. roles and responsibilities for cleaning, lubrication and maintenance
27. machine faults and how they can be rectified
28. the maintenance plans for machines which you operate
29. which components wear or become degraded over time
30. what is meant by the phrase 'safe system of work' and how it applies to cleaning, lubrication and maintenance activities
31. the choice and use of suitable cleaning agents and lubricants
32. what parts of the machine you are allowed to clean, lubricate and maintain