Validation programme for professional qualification as a mechanical woodworker

The mechanical woodworker

• plans and prepares their own work and raw materials.
• selects, checks, assembles and replaces (cutting) tools on the (woodworking) machines.
• sets up and adjusts the machines and checks the safety devices.
• performs basic preventative maintenance.
• internally transports raw materials, construction components and materials.
• processes workpieces such as parts for joinery elements, furniture and interior elements, by sawing, sanding, drilling, profiling and/or scraping with single conventional woodworking machines.

It often involves standardised work and repetitive actions. Depending on the type of woodworking machine, this may be automated to more or less of a degree. The profession is practised in the indoor workshop, usually as a team. The mechanical woodworker works with an eye for safety, environment, quality and well-being.

You can find detailed info about the validation programme in the validation standard for mechanical woodworkers (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window) (in Dutch).

If you want to demonstrate your experience as a mechanical woodworker at a validation body, you do so through a practical test and a verbal knowledge test.

The language of instruction for the tests is Dutch. You therefore need at least a basic knowledge of Dutch.

You must:

• working wood and panels with woodworking machines:
  • sanding solid wood
  • cutting wood and panels to size
  • drilling parts
  • apply side-profiling to parts
  • scraping parts,
• preparing the work:
  • selecting the correct raw material specified from a variety of wood species and panels
  • selecting the appropriate tool from a multitude of tools
  • loading the necessary materials, tools and raw materials onto an internal transport vehicle
  • setting and adjusting machines correctly
  • conducting a safety check of the tools and machines.