Furniture making operative

This occupation is found in the furniture, furnishings and interiors manufacturing industry. Furniture making operatives manufacture furniture for domestic, office and commercial settings. Furniture making operatives make both mass-produced products and individually designed furniture. They also manufacture the various components needed to produce fitted kitchens, bathrooms or bedrooms. They measure, prepare and mark out materials and set up and operate machinery. Some will need to use computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery and other technology involved in manufacturing furniture. They assemble, rectify, rework and repair furniture and understand finishing techniques. Employers vary in size from micro to large.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to manufacture, assemble, furniture and furniture components. They also pack and store finished furniture. They also perform first line maintenance and contribute to continuous improvement activities. They read and interpret instructions, completing documentation and clean up work areas as part of the role. The occupation can be physically demanding, involving lifting of components, and standing for long periods of time. It involves working with machinery, tools, and equipment. Furniture making operatives often work shift systems. The seasonality of the industry, plus peaks and troughs in orders, often demands overtime working. Depending on the size of the organisation, they may be required to work on their own, or they may work as part of a wider team. Furniture making operatives can work in a range of environments from small, independent shops that produce custom furniture to factories that mass-produces pieces of furniture.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of colleagues. These include other furniture making operatives, designers, production or manufacturing managers, quality technicians, production leaders and product developers. They usually report to a supervisor or shift team leader. They will be able to work with minimum supervision.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the quality, accuracy, and timely completion of their own work. They will be responsible for meeting production targets. They must work within the health, safety and environmental regulations and guidance, including use of appropriate protective clothing and equipment. All work must be completed in a safe and efficient manner as directed by supervisory staff. They are responsible for ensuring that they use resources efficiently. They recycle and reuse resources where possible, minimising waste and must include the safe disposal of waste.