Lacquering and polishing veneered vehicle components
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to apply lacquer, and to polish veneered vehicle hard trim components, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select and prepare materials, and to spray veneered components using appropriate equipment and techniques. You will also be expected to finish lacquered components using a variety of methods and techniques, and to check that they have been completed to the level of accuracy and quality required by the specifications.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the lacquering and finishing activities undertaken, and to report any problems with these activities that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying procedures appropriate to the lacquering and finishing of veneered hard trim components. You will understand the manufacturing methods and techniques used, and their application. You will also know about the ancillary equipment, and the properties and workability of materials and consumables, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the lacquering and polishing activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- ensure the material surfaces to be treated are suitably prepared for the finishing operations to be carried out
- check that the finishing equipment and treatment solutions are set up and maintained at satisfactory operating conditions and levels
- carry out lacquering and polishing processes in accordance with operating procedures and the component specification
- ensure that the treated work piece achieves the required characteristics and meets the finishing specification
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- dispose of waste and excess materials in line with agreed organisational procedures
- ensure that work records are completed, stored securely and available to others as per organisational policy
- leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities, as per organisational and legal requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken whilst carrying out the activities (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area and activities and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) to be worn during the activities
- the specific safety requirements relating to the use of spraying and polishing equipment
- the hazards associated with the activities, and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
- the procedure for obtaining the required drawings, job instructions and other related specifications, and how to interpret them correctly
- how to prepare spraying materials to ensure that the lacquer meets specification
- the correct and safe use of polishes and polishing machines, and their effects on the surface finish
- the appropriate surface cleaning techniques and procedures to be adopted to ensure contaminant-free components prior to spraying
- factors affecting the coating of lacquer on components and the techniques to be applied to overcome them, (such as overspray, underspray, aeration)
- how to develop the surface finish by the use of finishing papers and polishes
- the correct application of fillers, stains, adhesives and other methods and techniques to rectify defects of veneered surfaces
- the various methods of holding and clamping components to be lacquered, and their effects on the spraying technique
- the correct and safe procedure for cleaning and storing spraying equipment
- the problems associated with spraying equipment and the application of routine maintenance
- the defects incurred during the finishing and polishing process, and how to resolve them
- the quality control procedures to be adopted throughout the process
- the correct and safe procedure to be adopted for the disposal of all waste materials
- the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
- how to access, use and maintain information to comply with organisational requirements and legislation
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the lacquering and polishing activities:
- obtain and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, material data sheets, quality control documentation)
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, hazardous substances , personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
- check that all cables, extension leads or air supply hoses are in a safe, tested and serviceable condition
- check that all tools and equipment to be used are within current calibration/certification dates (where applicable)
- ensure that components to be polished have been correctly prepared and are free from foreign objects, dirt or other contamination
- maintain the polishing and lacquering equipment in a safe and usable condition at all times
- use safe and approved techniques to lacquer and polish the components
- return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the polishing and lacquering activities
- leave the work area in a safe and appropriate condition on completion of the activities
Prepare veneered components for lacquering by using three of the following:
- cleaner
- finishing paper
- sealers
- adhesive
- stains
- fillers
Use a variety of methods for securing components ready for spraying, including two of the following:
- stick support (hand held)
- jigs
- racks
- flat trays
Carry out lacquering and finishing, to include two of the following:
- veneered contoured substrates
- veneered flat substrates
- veneered ply sandwich
Spray lacquer onto veneered components using all the following techniques:
- vertical spray path
- angular spray path
- horizontal spray path
- internal contours
Carry out all the following quality checks on completion of spraying:
- free from excess film or runs
- no underspray areas
- free from aeration
- surface has no contaminants
- surface does not contain thin film areas
Finish lacquered component using three of the following:
- flatting
- hand sanding
- power polisher
- belt sander
- wax polish
Check lacquered and polished components comply with all of the following quality and accuracy standards:
- finished component if free from rub-through
- component is free from damage, tares and blemishes
- all quality control checks have been carried out, and the required standards achieved
- component meets required specification