KEY POINTS:
What: Carpet and Yarn Cadetship Programme and National Diploma in Textiles Manufacture. Includes Level 4 National Certificate in First Line Management and Level 5 Diploma in Textiles Manufacture.
Who: Apparel and Textile Industry Training Organisation Ph (03) 377 8443 training@atito.org.nz, www.atito.org.nz
Entry requirements: Working in industry or have previous experience of it.
Course costs: Paid by employer. About $10,000 for the full four years, including accommodation, air fares and meals for the block courses for those living outside of Christchurch.
Starting salary: Leading hands - $42,000 to $44,000 (with overtime). Increases on completion of overtime and movement up the scale.
Lying on a carpet in front of the telly is the closest most of us get to carpet fibres - but we usually don't look closely at how it is made. Yet that comfortable and often beautiful flooring takes much skill and labour to manufacture.
Apparel and Textile Industry Training Organisation (ATITO) chief executive and textiles training adviser John Dorgan says carpet manufacturing is a technologically advanced industry, requiring skilled people. Five years ago, ATITO set up a four-year unit standard cadetship programme to develop the skills of potential supervisors and managers.
Cadets learn about processes involved in carpet manufacturing such as industry-processing operations, knowledge of fibres, spun yarns and dyeing processes. The second two years concentrate on leadership skills.
Twice a year, cadets attend technical block courses in Christchurch with AgResearch, a technical training provider for the textile industry.
People interested in employment in carpet manufacturing should contact employers in their area about possible vacancies. Dorgan says the ATITO advisers can also advise on vacancies.
THE CADET
Jason Howearth
Assistant technical manager
Cavalier Bremworth
As an assistant technical manager I help with the day-to-day operations in the plant dealing with issues around the manufacture of the carpet. This includes ensuring audit procedures are being followed.
I started here when I was 16, had a couple of years' break, and then returned. I began on the factory floor as the final baler which meant I wrapped and baled the carpet. I progressed to leading hand and then I spent a couple of years tufting - actually making the carpet.
When I went into the assistant management role, part of the requirement was to do the cadetship but I was keen anyway because I wanted to learn more.
I started the cadetship three years ago and I'm now in the final phase. I have to do a report on a recent technological development in textiles which involves explaining the development, cost benefits to the company, disadvantages and advantages and then making a recommendation about it.
I have enjoyed learning about people management and goal setting, time management, communication skills, decision making and problem solving. I've also liked learning about the technical side; yarn specifications, measurements and carpet manufacturing.
I've found it really interesting to learn the whole process of making yarn, measuring thickness, density and texture and the importance of working to specifications.
I've really liked learning the "why" behind the machines. Learning the full process about how yarn is made helps me understand each stage on the factory floor and the technical issues better.
THE EMPLOYER
Craig
Plant manager
Cavalier Bremworth
We identified Jason as successor in the technical area. We put him into the cadetship because he showed promise; he had good people skills, was reasonably articulate and had knowledge of carpet manufacturing because he'd been on the floor.
We put five through the first year the cadetship was offered. This year, we didn't start anyone because we didn't need more staff moving to that level.
We look for people with good tufting experience or plant experience that have proven themselves with the company. Hands' on experience is necessary, whether it is six weeks, six months or a year.
The value of the course is that it gives people the ability to move into managerial or supervisory positions. They don't come out knowing everything but they gain good basic technical skills about making yarn and carpet, and exposure to first-line management. It also develops better skills with managing people and that is really important.
We have seen a huge improvement in all our leading hands and supervisors who have done the course. They are more independent, make better decisions, manage shifts better and have the conviction to stand behind their decisions.
