Rules, certificates and documentation in toolmaking
What you should be able to do, and what should be in place
Unlike many trades, toolmaker is not an authorization trade where you need a special state licence to perform the work. But that does not mean the trade is without rules. On the contrary, you work in an environment with machines, chemicals and high demands for precision, and there are quite a few rules and documentation that come with it.
§The journeyman's certificate is your qualification
When you pass the journeyman exam you get a journeyman certificate. It is proof that you are skilled in the trade and it is your most important paper when applying for jobs. The journeyman certificate is recognized throughout the industry and documents that you master the disciplines the training requires.
§Certificates you may encounter along the way
In the course of your training and working life, you may take various certificates and courses, depending on your workplace and tasks. For example, a licence to operate a truck or crane if you need to handle heavy equipment, or special safety courses. Which ones are relevant depends on what your particular company does.
- 01Journeyman's certificate — proof that you are skilled
- 02Any forklift or crane certificate if you handle heavy equipment
- 03Safety courses related to machinery and processes at the workplace
- 04Internal documentation and quality management in the company
§Machines and safety rules
You work with lathes, mills, grinders and CNC equipment, and clear rules apply here for how the machines must be used, guarded and maintained. The Work Environment Authority supervises compliance with work environment rules, and your employer has a duty to instruct you before you operate a machine.
§Quality and measurement documentation
A major theme in the trade is being able to document that the tool you make meets the dimensions that have been agreed. You measure items with precision equipment and write down the control so the company can vouch for quality to the customer. This traceability is often a requirement from the companies you deliver to.
“In a trade where tolerances are measured in thousandths of a millimetre, documentation is just as important as craftsmanship.”