Mattress Manufacturing Operative

Course Overview

This occupation is found in the furniture, furnishings and interiors manufacturing industry, usually in factory environments in medium to large sized businesses. Mattress Manufacturing Operatives create a range of mattresses for consumers including memory foam, pocket sprung, latex, open coil, and continuous coil. They may also include hybrid mattress manufacturing combining both springs and foam layers producing more eco-friendly mattresses. They may use recyclable materials and fabrics for the filling of the mattresses impacting on the environment and sustainability. Production ranges from bespoke to mass-produced mattresses.

Mattress manufacturing operatives cut, sew and prepare materials and set up and operate machinery (some machinery may be automated). They prepare and conduct operations for quilting, assembly, tape edging, tufting, packing and labelling. They will also perform quality assurance checks on mattresses. They perform first line maintenance on machinery and will read and interpret instructions and complete documentation.

Depending on the size of the organisation, mattress manufacturing operatives may work on their own, or as part of a wider team, interacting with colleagues such as other mattress manufacturing operatives, designers, production or manufacturing managers, quality technicians, production leaders and product developers.

The occupation can be physically demanding, involving the lifting of heavy mattresses and standing for long periods of time. Mattress Mnnufacturing Operatives often work shift systems and may work overtime.

Course Duration

Up to 18 months (ie a practical training period of up to 15 months, followed by an End Point Assessment (EPA) period of up to 3 months).

Entry Requirements

You will have to take a Skills Scan to ensure your current level of maths and English is at the required level.

Assessment

• Interview
• Observation with Questions

Progression

After completing the Level 2 Apprenticeship, you can progress onto one of the Level 3 Furniture Apprenticeships depending on your role:

Advanced Furniture CNC Technician
Bespoke Furniture Maker
Fitted Furniture Design Technician