Description
Veneer graders inspect slices of veneer for quality. They look for irregularities, blemishes and production errors, and grade the slices for the desirability of the patterns.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to veneer grader:
plywood quailty grader
veneer tester
plywood tester
plywood rater
plywood stock grader
veneer quailty grader
plywood-stock grader
plywood quality tester
veneer quality tester
plywood quality rater
veneer quality rater
veneer rater
plywood grader
Minimum qualifications
A high school diploma is generally required to work as veneer grader.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Veneer grader is a Skill level 2 occupation.
Veneer grader career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to veneer grader.
engineered wood board grader
pulp grader
lumber grader
product grader
product quality controller
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of veneer grader. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of veneer grader with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
welding inspector
material testing technician
wood production supervisor
machine operator supervisor
wood assembly supervisor
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of veneer grader.
- Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
- Quality assurance methodologies: Quality assurance principles, standard requirements, and the set of processes and activities used for measuring, controlling and ensuring the quality of products and processes.
- Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.
- Types of veneers: The properties and purposes of different kinds of veneers, such as raw, paper backed or reconstituted veneer.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of veneer grader.
- Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
- Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
- Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
- Grade veneer: Assess the quality of veneer looking for flaws, tears, and irregularities and evaluating its aesthetic value based on criteria such as colours and patterns.
- Report test findings: Report test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, using metrics, tables, and visual methods to clarify where needed.
- Oversee quality control: Monitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.
- Use non-destructive testing equipment: Use specific non-destructive testing methods and equipment that do not cause any damage to the product, such as X-rays, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, industrial CT scanning and others, in order to find defects in and assure quality of a manufactured and a repaired product.
- Distinguish wood quality: Distinguish different types of wood quality schemes, grading rules, and standards. See how quality differs between certain kinds of wood, such as hardwoods and softwoods.
- Perform sample testing: Examine and perform tests on prepared samples; avoid any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination during the testing phase. Operate sampling equipment in line with design parameters.
- Prepare samples for testing: Take and prepare samples for testing, verify their representability; avoid bias and any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination. Provide clear numbering, labelling and recording of the sample details, in order to make sure that the results can be accurately matched to the original material.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of veneer grader. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of veneer grader. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
- Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
- Set quality assurance objectives: Define quality assurance targets and procedures and see to their maintenance and continued improvement by reviewing targets, protocols, supplies, processes, equipment and technologies for quality standards.
- Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
- Define manufacturing quality criteria: Define and describe the criteria by which data quality is measured for manufacturing purposes, such as international standards and manufacturing regulations.
- Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
- Meet contract specifications: Meet contract specifications, schedules and manufacturers’ information. Check that the work can be carried out in the estimated and allocated time.
- Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
- Revise quality control systems documentation: Revise quality control documents. Read through the documents, editing them, and revise items in the documentation like the numbering scheme, process to create new documents, revision and follow up process, closure of non-conformities, methods for tracking documents, etc.
- Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
- Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
- Recommend product improvements: Recommend product modifications and process improvements.
- Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
ISCO group and title
7543 – Product graders and testers (excluding foods and beverages)
References
- Veneer grader – ESCO