Fabrication and Welding Engineering

Engineering covers a wide range of sectors and activities, and is a fast moving and diverse industry with many occupational routes including a significant number of roles at Technician level, Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships and Graduate level Apprenticeships can be supportive in meeting the needs of the sector in many areas of engineering skills requirements.

The Level 3 qualification is work based but candidates are required to attend college to complete an NC or HNC and this can take between 12 and 24 months depending on the chosen route.   The qualification structure requires the learner to complete common mandatory units within their chosen pathway followed by a number of optional units from a provided selection but additional units can be taken to meet a business’s needs. There are 6 separate pathways under this framework.   The first 3 mandatory units apply to each pathway as listed below:

 

 

Full details of the qualification can be found on the SQA or EAL Website as appropriate using the following link :

Full details of the Modern Apprenticeship framework can be found on the Skills Development Scotland Website using this link :

Qualification Modern Apprenticeship
Awards Body EAL
SVQ Level 3
SCQF Level 6
Course Code GL3N 23
Mandatory Units

All 3 mandatory assessment routes must be completed

SFWE3/001A Complying with statutory regulations and organisation safety requirements
SFWE3/002A Using and interpreting engineering data and documentation
SFWE3/003A Working efficiently and effectively in engineering
Optional Units

Pathway 1 – Pipe and Tube Fabrication SFWEA

Learners must complete a further 5 assessment routes from the optional section (optional section : 1 assessment route must be chosen from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 1 from Group D) (total of 8 units) for this pathway 

Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/022A Marking out components for metalwork
SFWE3/027A Developing and marking out templates for metalwork

Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/033A Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment
SFWE3/034A Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs

Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/044A Forming pipework by machine bending
SFWE3/045A Producing pipe fabrications
SFWE3/037A Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines

Group D : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/028A Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners
SFWE3/046A Producing socket and flange fillet welded joints in pipe using a manual welding process
SFWE3/029A Bonding engineering materials using adhesives
SFWE3/039A Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components

 

Pathway 2 – Manual Welding SFWEB

Learners must complete a further 1 assessment route(total of 4 units) for this pathway 

One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/004A Welding materials by the manual metal arc process
SFWE3/005A Welding materials by the semi-automatic MIG/MAG and flux cored arc processes
SFWE3/006A Welding materials by the manual TIG and plasma arc welding process
SFWE3/007A Welding materials by the manual oxy/fuel gas welding process
SFWE/008A Welding pipe/tube using multiple manual arc welding processes
SFWE/009A Welding plate using multiple manual arc welding processes

 

Pathway 3 – Welding Machine Settings and Operating SFWEC

Learners must complete a further 2 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A and 1 from Group B (total of 5 units) for this pathway 

Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/010A Preparing mechanised arc welding equipment for production
SFWE3/011A Preparing resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines for production

Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/016A Welding materials with mechanised arc welding equipment
SFWE3/017A Welding materials using resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines

 

Pathway 4 – Plateworking (3mm upwards) SFWED

Learners must complete 6 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway 

Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/022A Marking out components for metalwork
SFWE3/027A Developing and marketing out templates for metalwork

Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/032A Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines
SFWE3/033A Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment
SFWE3/034A Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs
SFWE3/066A Operating CNC fabrication equipment

Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/035A Bending and forming plate using press brakes or bending machines
SFWE3/036A Forming platework using power rolling machines
SFWE3/037A Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines
SFWE3/038A Producing platework assemblies

Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/028A Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners
SFWE3/031A Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process
SFWE3/039A Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components

 

Pathway 5 – Sheet Metalworking (3mm or less) SFWEE

Learners must complete a further 3 mandatory assessment routes from Group A, plus 3 additional optional assessment routes – 2 from Group B, and 1 from Group C (total of 9 units) for this pathway 

Group A : The following 3 mandatory assessment routes must be completed

SFWE3/022A Marking out components for metalwork
SFWE3/023A Cutting sheet metal to shape using hand and machine tools
SFWE3/024A Forming sheet metal using hand and machine tools

Group B : Two optional assessment routes must be completed

SFWE3/025A Producing sheet metal assemblies
SFWE3/026A Heat treating materials for fabrication activities
SFWE3/027A Developing and marking out templates for metalwork

Group C : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/028A Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners
SFWE3/029A Bonding engineering materials using adhesives
SFWE3/030A Joining materials by resistance spot welding
SFWE3/031A Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process
SFWE3/039A Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components
SFWE3/066A Operating CNC fabrication equipment

 

Pathway 6 – Structural Steelwork SFWEF

Learners must complete a further 6 optional assessment routes – 1 assessment route from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway 

Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/022A Marking out components for metalwork
SFWE3/027A Developing and marking out templates for metalwork

Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/032A Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines
SFWE3/033A Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment
SFWE3/034A Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs
SFWE3/066A Operating CNC fabrication equipment

Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/040A Forming structural sections using machines
SFWE3/041A Producing structural steel ancillary components
SFWE3/042A Producing major structural components/sub-assemblies
SFWE3/037A Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines

Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed

SFWE3/028A Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners
SFWE3/031A Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process
SFWE3/039A Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components
SFWE3/043A Erecting structural steelwork
Workplace Core Skills
F427 04 Communication at Level 5
F42B 04 Numeracy Level 5
F42F 04 Information and Communication Technology Level 5
F42K 04 Problem Solving Level 5
F42P 04 Working with Others Level 5
Restricted Combinations
Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering EAL SVQ3 Fabrication and Welding Engineering SCQF Level 6 (GL3N 23)