| The term Craftsperson is normally used to describe a person who is highly skilled in practical ways. Working to complex drawings to very close tolerances. For example in using machine tools (often controlled by computers) to manufacture component parts for tools which in turn will make parts or when a person assembles and modifies parts to build a complex tool or fixture (a Toolmaker).
Another craft area is Maintenance Engineering altough nowadays very often engineers involved in maintaining complex plant are often called Technicians. There are many varied and different craft trades including: Toolmaker; Patternmaker; Welder and Fabricator; Maintenance Engineer; Fitter etc.
The term Technician is used for those who are involved in deciding how a product should be made for production in the manufacturing area (often referred to as the factory) or they may be involved in the estimation of what product is going to cost.Some technicians will be involved in drawing components, very often through the use of computers running special software. Generally their job is often more technicial than the craftperson's and may well involve them in writing reports and resolving complex engineering problems.
The training they get is similar initially, but varies after the initial foundation year.
The Technician will often take a different route through college to the Craftperson and this is normally reflected in the entrance requirements being higher for the technician (at least 5 GCSEs at grade C including Maths, Science and English). The craftperson will usually study for City & Guilds in the Craft area they are being trained, which reinforces the in depth practical skills required. The technician programme is normally much more broad based.
Both Craft and Technician will be trained to at least NVQ3 and some technicians will be trained to NVQ4 and may well be encouraged by their companies to go on and get a degree in engineering. |
