Assess the quality of glass and glass-related materials/components in the fabrication of glass supporting systems
Overview
This standard covers the skills and knowledge needed to make assessments of the quality of glass and glass-related materials/components in the fabrication of glass supporting systems, i.e. those materials that are either glass or are associated with their use, e.g. raw materials, frames and ancillaries. You will need to be able to identify the main characteristics of the glass and glass-related materials/components that they work with, and to ensure that the materials/components match the specifications required by the work being undertaken. You need to be able to detect any obvious variations, e.g. defects in the manufacture of the materials that could adversely affect the work. You also need to be able to identify the most likely causes of these variations, and make recommendations to correct them to the appropriate people
This unit applies to operatives who fabricate windows, doors, conservatories and curtain walling.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- comply with health and safety requirements and procedures at all times
- check equipment used to assess quality is functioning following standard operating procedures
- assess glass and glass-related materials/components using appropriate equipment and methods
- identify the main characteristics and features of the glass and glass-related materials/components following standard operating procedures
- check glass and glass-related materials/components meet the information on them following standard operating procedures
- report any discrepancies to the appropriate people following standard operating procedures
- obtain specifications for the glass and glass-related materials/components following standard operating procedures
- examine glass and glass-related materials/components for variations in quality following standard operating procedures
- check equipment used in the examination process meets company standards
- identify any variation between the quality of the glass and glass-related materials/components and specifications
- access all relevant information on the causes of the variation in glass and glass-related materials/components following standard operating procedures
- identify likely causes of variations and prioritise investigations following standard operating procedures
- identify the causes of the variation following standard operating procedures
- obtain expert assistance when the causes of variations cannot be identified following standard operating procedures
- identify suitable solutions for rectifying the causes of variations
- check quality assurance results are recorded in the appropriate information systems
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- relevant health and safety responsibilities and obligations
- relevant health and safety procedures that need to be followed
- quantity of glass and glass-related materials/components used for different work activities
- type of glass and glass-related materials/components required for different jobs
- how to confirm the specification of glass and glass-related materials/components
- problems that can occur and standard operating procedures for dealing with them
- quality standards products should meet
- types of variations in quality that could occur
- indications of quality variations
- most appropriate types of information for identifying causes of a variation
- likelihood of a variation occurring in different glass and glass-related materials/components
- methods used for identifying causes of variations
- when it is appropriate to bring in additional expertise and the consequences on the organisation and customers
- types of solution possible for different quality assurance problems
- equipment to use for different work activities
- how to operate different types of equipment
- how different types of equipment can be set up for different requirements
- information systems used
- why it is important to use the information systems