Country Report and Synthesis Report - POLAND Research grid and ...

1

Bolster Up Work package 2 – Analysis of needs and qualification

Country Report and Synthesis Report - POLAND

Research grid and guidelines for producing the national country-reports

� Preliminary remark

This is a revised structure of the national reports together with a rearrangement of the criteria-

list from our Kick-off meeting.

The topics under 1 to 4 can be developed by using sector information and secondary analysis.

The themes 4 and 5 should be explored with analysis and interviews; they can be compacted in

the discussions within the national Focus groups.

With reference to our discussion in Frankfurt I have focused all contents/questions on the

heading topic "qualification". The national reports should include elaborations (including

statistics, assessments, reviews and so on) to all six topics.

Total number of pages: 30 – 35

� Six topics for reporting

1. Basic information and classification of the apprenticeship as cabinet maker &

upholsterer

Task:

Please prepare a short and concise overview about both professions, including a statement of

the sectoral framework into which the occupations fall.

Plus actual numbers of those employed and trained in the occupations concerned, with some

indication of how this has or is changing.

Upholsterer makes designed upholstering parts of new and renovated furniture as well as

collections of furniture, upholstering parts of transport equipment (f. ex. sittings), sport equipment

and upholstery decorative work associated with furnishing interiors. In this profession very important

is good performance of the osteoarticular system, muscular system and the efficiency of the sense of

balance. Very useful are also spatial imagination, imagination with creative thinking, artistic and

technical talents.Feature that facielieties good performance for upholstery work is accurate. This

profession can be done by disebled: deaf or hard- of- hearing. There are many types of work

conditions for upholsterer but in Poland the most popular is individual activity. There are few

multiplayer companies.

The most typical position in upholstery is upholsterer. Master of upholstery is also usually owner

or co-owner of craft company. Definietly there are less people in positions such as upholsterer that

2


cuts fabric and fitter upholstery components. Specjalisations in this proffession are upholsterer

decorator and renovator of upholstered furniture.

Cabinet maker is a person who makes various types of furniture. He sees the technical

documantation of furniture and than he prepares all necessary materials, tools and machines. He

uses hand tools as well as mechanical ones. Work of cabinet maker is also puryfing surfaces of

furniture by varnishing, marquetry and incrustation. Cabinet maker should have such features as

sense of responsibility, technical abilities and hand-eye coordination. The main activities cabinet

maker does in abode of company, but the installation of furniture is usualy done in customer’s house.

Cabinet maker is a proffession that can be done in group or separetly. There are a few types of

specialisation:

1. Machine cabinet maker- that is responsible for treatment of wood and wood-based panels for

furniture production,

2. Assembly cabinet maker- that install furniture,

3. Finishing cabinet maker that is responsible for final apperance of furniture,

4. Painter cabinet maker- that varnish and paint furniture elements,

5. Furniture renovator- that repairs and renovate old and stylish furniture,

6. Foreman cabinet maker- that manage of small group of workers,

7. Master of cabinet making- that prepare plan of production and is responsible for safety of

workers.

The main requirements for being upholsterer or cabinet maker are:

- at least 18 years old,

- minimum finished basic vocational school,

- 3 years of experience in upholstery company,

- finishing appropriate course.

In Poland there are about 24 thousands of furniture companies. Almost 9 thousands (36%) of them

are the upholstery companies and the rest are cabinet maker’s companies. Size structure of furniture

companies is as follows:

o big and middle companies- 406 companies (in this 146 upholstery companies),

o small companies- 1700 companies (in this 612 upholstery companies),

o micro companies- 21900 companies (in this 7884 upholstery companies).

Furniture sector in Poland gives 160 thousands jobs. About 72 thousands (45%) of these jobs

are in upholstery market. It is observed that across years 2004-2010 number of people passing trade

and master exams for all specialisations is rather stable (2004- 92.766, 2005- 88.672, 2006- 85.112,

3


2007- 88.929, 2008- 92.652, 2009- 93.814, 2010- 90.669). Anyway, the number of people passing

trade and master exams for cabinet makers and upholsterers is not so constant. Changeable number

of cabinet makers and upholsterers is shown in table.

Year Cabinet makers Upholsterers

No. of cabinet

makers candidates

Percentage of all

trade and master

candidates

No. of upholsterers

candidates

Percentage of all

trade and master

candidates

2004 8.266 8,9% 957 1,0%

2005 8.425 9,5% 1.164 1,3%

2006 8.556 10,1% 1.233 1,4%

2007 7.865 8,8% 1.553 1,7%

2008 8.140 8,8% 1.372 1,5%

2009 7.681 8,2% 1.150 1,2%

2010 6.674 7,4% 899 0,9%

Forecast number of cabinet makers and upholsterers candidates to trade and master title is shown in

table.

Year No. of people (16-18 years

old) finishing high school and

vocational school

No. of people passing

cabinet makers exam

No. of people passing

upholsterers exam

2010 1.447.000 6.674 899

2015 1.173.000 5.396 704

2020 1.049.000 4.825 629

2025 1.187.000 5.460 712

2030 1.221.000 5.617 733

2. Acquirement of qualification: Organisation & system of apprenticeship

Task:

Please prepare brief information about the national system and standards – in particular

related to the both concrete professions cabinet maker and upholsterer.

Please inform about a typical way of accession and graduating the vocational education of

young people.

No overall information about national education systems – but specific information for

cabinet making and upholstery, which may come under different sectors depending on the

country and may be much less clearly defined in sectoral terms or in terms of VET provision.

VET for cabinet makers and upholsterers in Poland is additional course for people who have at

least secondary education. Training for cabinet makers and upholsterers and passing the exams give

only a certificate that confirms knowledge and skills of person. The title makes easier to find a job or

customers for products but doesn’t lead to new educational degree.

4


Exams for upholsterers and cabinet makers are organised only by specialised companies-

Associations that have authority to conduct examinations given by Chamber of Trade. Questions for

exam are arranged by Polish Craft Association (for cabinet makers) and by Central Examination

Committee. Formally, based on polish legislators training is a about 3-months course that is finished

by appropriate exams. Qualification exams have to check level of vocational knowledge and skills

(cabinet maker’s or upholsterer’s) that is consists of two parts- theoretical and practical. Exam for

trade title consists of 2-hours written theoretical part and 4-hours practical part. Exam for master

title consists of 3-hours written theoretical part with 1-hour oral part and 6-hours practical part.

After passing the exams student gets the title of carpenter or journeyman. Getting trade title gives

person possibility to apply for next title- master.

All exams are consistent with polish general system and standards. Polish system and standards

for trade trainings of upholsterers and cabinet makers are based on a few regulation instruments

such as:

1.Regulations of National Education Minister of 21 March 2001 on the conditions and method

assessing, classifying and promoting students and test in public schools (Journal of Laws of 2001 no.

29, pos. 323, dated 6 April 2001 , as amended).

2.Regulations of Minister of National Education and Sport of 8 May 2004 on classification of

vocational education (Journal of Laws of 2004 no. 114, pos. 1195, dated 19 May 2004, as amended).

3.Regulations of Minister of National Education and Sport of 3 February 2003 on performance

standards that are the basis for conducting the examination confirming vocational qualifications

(Annex to Journal of Laws of 2003 no. 49, pos. 411, dated 24 March 2003).

4.Act of 19 August 2011. amending the Law on education system and some other acts.

5.Regulation on the classification of vocational education on 23 December 2011.

6. Regulation on the curriculum of education in the professions of 7 February 2012.

7. Regulation on the framework curricula of 7 February 2012.

8. Regulation on conditions and manner of assessing, classifying and promoting pupils and students,

and conducting tests and examinations in public schools on April 30, 2007, as amended.

9. Regulation on the principles of providing and organizing psychological and pedagogical in public

kindergartens, schools and on 17 November 2010.

10. Regulation on health and safety in the public and non-public schools and on 31 December 2002,

as amended.

Anyway, there are additional regulation instruments for master trainings of upholsterers and

cabinet makers:

5


• Act of 22 March 1989 on crafts (Journal of Laws of 2002 no. 112, pos. 979- consolidated text- and

Journal of Laws of 2003 no. 137, pos. 1304).

• Regulations of National Education Minister of 12 October 2005 on examinations for journeymen

and master titles in job carried out by Chambers of Trade (Journal of Laws no. 215, pos. 1820).

Practically, in accordance with the polish law, finishing trade training for upholsterer or cabinet

maker is complex and consists of 3 parts:

1. Finishing vocational school of wood technology.

2. 3 years of experience in upholstering/ cabinet making in chosen company.

3. Proper training for future carpenters/journeymen.

If person wants to get better title- master of upholstery/ cabinet making, there are two ways of

finishing training. Both options consist of three steps. In first option:

1. Having trade title.

2. 6 years of experience in upholstering/ cabinet making in chosen company.

3. Proper training for future masters of upholstering/ cabinet making.

In the second option:

• Having high education in technical faculty.

• 6 years of experience in upholstering/ cabinet making in chosen company.

• Proper training for future masters of upholstering/ cabinet making.

Training is usually organised for group of 15 people. Anyway, there are also organised courses for

groups of a few people. Many trainings are financially supported by European Union. On polish

faculties of wood technology there are organised special courses that prepare for exams. These types

of courses are paid by participants or by more rarely by participant’s company.

3. Placement of qualification: VET-institutions, learning models and learning locations

Task:

Please prepare an occupation-related information about the main actors and institutions

(schools, companies, both in change) with a description of typical learning places, the form of

organization and job-related standards of vocational education (instructor, plans, levels,

forms of certification, cooperation between education and employment system)

The main requirements for institution that organizes vocational training for cabinet makers in

Poland are:

1. Having workshop for technical drawing, equipped with models of geometrical figures and blocks,

constructional documentation, parts of machines and mechanisms. Except this there should be

furniture connections, connectors, fittings and accessories, models of components and products

made of wood and wood based panels and basic types of design models. Each student have to have

6


separate drawing stand and computer stand. The similar stand should be for teacher who have

additionally printer, scanner and plotter.

2. workshop of material science and technology of wood processing, in which there are samples of

various kinds of wood, wood materials, glues and other chemical substances, materials for finishing

and purifying surfaces. There should be also many ,machines necessary for wood working such us

laboratory driers, instruments and equipment for wood and wood products studying, machines for

studying finishing coating, microscopes, technical and analytical weights, equipment for measuring of

humidity, pH, viscosity, density, simple equipment for wood cutting, joiner handtools, tools for wood

processing machines, catalogues of wood elements and wood products, tables and diagrams (on

drying facilities, hydrothermal and plastic treatment of wood), scheme of technological processes as

well as schemes of machines and equipment for wood processing. Really helpful are also standards

about processing and making products made of wood and computer programs for technological

processes support.

3. School workshops that have all necessary tools, equipment and machines for wood processing,

deducting installation and catalogues of companies producing the tools.

The main requirements for institution that organizes vocational training for upholsters in Poland are:

1. Having workshop for technical drawing, equipped with drawing and computer stand for each

student and teacher, printer, scanner, plotter, computer office programs, programs of Computer

Aided design, multimedia projectors, models of upholstery parts and elements, models of basic

upholstered constructions and joiner connections, accessories for colors description and choosing,

axonometric projections of transparencies, drawing rules with examples of implementing and

exploded drawings.

2. Upholstery workshop equipped with stands routing and cutting of fabrics and other upholstery

materials, upholstery tables, circular saws, cutting bayonet, sewing stands with sewing machines,

stand for montage of upholstery products, tools for cutting, sewing, nailing, screwing, pulling

switches and holding the fabric.

3. Workshop of ancillary joiner works, where should be organized stands with hand and electric tools

for wood processing, machines for wood processing, measurement equipment, instructions of using

machines and equipment, personal protection resources.

Because of presented requirements it can be said that vocational trainings for cabinet

makers and upholsterers can be done in professional and school workshops, in practical training

facilities and in places that are potential employment place for graduates of cabinet makers

vocational schools.

7


The main outside institutions that are responsible for preparing vocational exams for cabinet

makers and giving certificates are:

- Central Examination Committee in Warsaw,

- 8 regional Committees appointed by Minister of National Education in 1999.

Institutions that conducts the cabinet makers exams in Poland are:

- associations of vocational trainings,

- vocational schools,

- upholstery and cabinet maker companies.

4. Profile of qualification: Professional skills & key qualifications

Task:

Please collect information about planning, contents, levels, outcomes and so on in qualifying

as cabinet maker and upholsterer. For this use official materials (as training programs from

school/company, occupation-related curricula and so on). In the end of this research, we

want to get a concise and synoptic overview of the most characterizing knowledge, skills and

competences.

Framework curricula of cabinet maker’s training covers:

1. kinds of wood and their physical properties,

2. choosing appropriate kinds of woods to done task,

3. types and properties of used chemical substances,

4. renovation of wood products,

5. types and operating of wood machines,

6. basic enterprise,

7. technical drawing,

8. health and safety rules,

9. practical classes.

Framework curricula of upholsterer’s training covers:

1. significant and terms used in upholstering,

2. elements of upholstery products,

3. materials and semi-elements used in upholstering,

4. tools, machines and devices used in upholstering,

5. machine and manual sewing,

6. assembling the layers,

7. routing and cutting of semi-elements for making lining and roofing layers,

8. finishing upholstered parts,

8


9. nailing of upholstery strips,

10. mounting of springs bonds and wire edge.

9


Structure of requirements for cabinet makers

Occupational competence Personal competence

Knowledge

Know How (skills) Social competence Self-competence

Tools, equipment,

materials

Depth and breath,

Systematic,

Non-systematic

Skills:

Manual,

Intellectual

Scope of

activities to be

undertaken

Transversal

Abilities:

Planning,

Organising,

Controlling

Assessing

Scope of activities

to be undertaken

Team/leadership

skills,

involvement and

communication

Autonomy/

responsibility,

achieving results,

reflectiveness and

learning competence,

taking responsibility

Structure of requirements for cabinet makers


Knowledge Know How (skills) Social competence Self-competence

1. Handling and

conservation of

machines and

equipment used in

cabinet making.

Intelectual skills:

1. Choosing materials for

furniture production.

2. Ability of technical

documentation reading.

Manual skills:

1. Making furniture

elements from wood and

wood-based panels.

2. Finishing of furniture

surface.

3. Repairing and

Transversal abilities:

1. Organizing of work

stand in workplace.

2. Packaging and storage

of furniture.

1. Cooperation with suppliers of

materials for furniture production

and with customers.

2. Cooperation with working team

and with management of

workplace.

1. Quality control of provided

materials and work control.

2. Adherence to the principles of

health and safety in work, fire

protection and environmental

protection.

3. Visual-motor coordination.

10


renovation of furniture.

4. Installation of furniture.

Structure of requirements for upholsterers


Knowledge Know How (skills) Social competence Self-competence

1. Handling and

conservation of

machines and

equipment used in

upholstery.

Intellectual skills:

1. Reading working drawings

and drawing freehand sketches

depicting various design

solutions of upholstery.

2. Choosing materials and

calculate material

requirements on the basis of

the design and technical and

technological documentation.

3. Matching necessary tools,

machines and equipment.

Manual skills:

1. Mounting construction of

various substrates and layers of

upholstery made with artisanal

and industrial methods.

2. Finishing of upholstery with

haberdashery, quilting or other

decorations.

3. Doing reparation and

renovation of upholstery

materials.

Transversal abilities:

1. Organizing of work stand

in workplace.

2. Organizing the storage

and delivery of upholstery

materials.

1. Cooperation with suppliers

of materials for furniture

production and with

customers.

2. Cooperation with working

team and with management of

workplace.

1. Securing materials and tools

for upholstery work.

2. Quality control of provided

materials and work control.

3. Controlling of conditions of

reception furniture and

upholstered furniture, the

storage and transport

11


4. Performing of cabinet

making work support.

13


You will need to identify what belongs to each of these elements.

It’s necessary to make a comparison with the national qualification framework and a

valuation to the EQF. As a result, we get a reasonable assessment of the qualification and

classification of both professions in the national/European educational structure.

5. Utilisation of qualification: Requirements and needs from workplaces, labor and

employment system

Task:

Please collect basic information about the currently situation in your national furniture

industry and about the employment of cabinet makers and upholsterers (companies,

employment, economic (production, sales, products) and social indicators (character of

working places, working hours, wages, working standards).

The first aim of this task is to present a brief, occupation-related sector analysis.

Secondly we have to discuss actual developments at working places/in practical working as

cabinet maker/upholsterer. The starting points are a) the professional qualifications obtained

and b) the actual tasks and requirements at workplace.

Changes in this respect can be:

• working under qualification level (e.g. simple and monotonous tasks)

• or working as qualified (e.g. adequate work as cabinet maker/upholsterer on defined and

structured working places with clear reference to qualifications from vocational training)

• or the employees are inserted with specialized as well as multidisciplinary tasks and

activities that require additional knowledge, skills and competences – for example from

further training.

The second aim for this task is to get information about the character and level of using

cabinet maker/upholster – including the status and currency of the qualification (how many

employed actually hold a qualification/at what level). This knowledge is important for

identifying and discussing of changes in work and their impacts for learning, education and

qualification. Please notice: Valuable information have to be obtained from interviews and

discussions with expert.

The best description of the position of polish furniture industry is its comparison to average of 27

European Union countries. EU furniture industry forms 0,9% of Gross Domestic Product, while in

Poland furniture industry forms above 2% GDP.

Success factors of polish furniture industry are the results of:

1. Years of experience in furniture trade with West Europe markets and ability to meeting the

requirements of high quality and technical reliability of these markets.

2. Good localisation of West Europe markets.

3. Active politics of products development, in this systematic improving of design and image building

of corporate brands.

4. Openness to foreign investments.

5. Production experience of employers and modernisation of management related to foreign

investments.

14


6. Relatively low cost of production, also cost of work.

7. Proximity and abundance of material base- solid wood and wood-based materials.

8. Developing national market.

Statistics show that employment in group with vocational education decreases from 39,4% in

2000 to 31,2% in 2009. In group that finished high school employment decreases from 35,8% in 2000

to 31,4% in 2009. However, employment in group with higher education increases from 16,6% in

2000 to 28,2% in 2009. It is forecasting that this trend will be develop and because of this

unemployment in group of people with secondary education will grow up. Because of presented

situation Ministry of Education wants to change method of teaching in vocational schools.

Many employers complains that most of young people after secondary education have only

theoretical knowledge but they don’t have any practical skills. The solution for this situation has to be

implementation of secondary education dual system. This type of system is association between

theoretical knowledge learnt in school and practical skills learnt in industry. In West European

countries dual system is checked by years and its effect is that 70% of companies which took students

for training, later employ them. If Poland goes this direction, most of people after vocational school

will have qualifications that give them chance for employment.

Poland is the country that is largely dependent on export. This fact is the effect of that 90% of

polish furniture are sold to west Europe. The main problem is that economic crisis leads to the

situation in which people save their money by not buying products that they don’t really need (for

example furniture). Because of that number of exported polish furniture comes down.

The other problem is increase of wood prices. These situation makes trouble with prices of

furniture that grow up. As the effect prices of polish furniture are not so competitive on European

market as it was few years ago.

6. Alteration of qualification: Trends, Transformation & Future development of

qualification

Tasks:

This last point has been revalued. In view of the envisaged (two or three) “European Core

Qualifications” it’s very important that we anticipate main trends, new developments and

needs from working- as well as from education-system. The method for analyzing must be a

combination from desk research and interviews with social partners, representatives from

companies, employees and apprentices and experts from different specialized (sectorial)

institutes.

A special approach is the discussion of innovations at work. Kinds of relevant innovations

which can be identified:

• New knowledge, skills and competences from product development;

15


• New knowledge, skills and competences of material, process and technology

developments (e.g. saving resources as material, energy, knowledge of dangerous

materials or using IKT);

• New qualifications from changes in the organization of work (e.g. job enrichment, new

production systems or using health and safety standards);

• New knowledge, skills and competences from labor political changes (e.g. job rotation,

planning, observation, cooperation);

• New knowledge, skills and competences from international production networks (e.g.

changes in design, diversification, new languages)

The key questions: How will current and future developments affect worker qualifications

(skills needs of the future)? Which qualifications gain and which lose significance? Are there

specific (future- and demand-oriented) qualifications elements that can be combined into a

standardized European qualification core profile?

Nowadays in Poland vocations such as cabinet maker and upholsterer becomes deficit ones. This

problem is very important for polish furniture companies. As the result price of work for upholsterers

and cabinet makers grows up, but there is still need for vocational trainings for new employees.

Furniture industry in Poland tries to encourage people for upholstery and cabinet making work

and it is expected that this situation want change for at least next 20 years. For increase effectiveness

and number of people working as upholsterers as well as cabinet makers, companies implement new

motivation system. Discretionary bonuses that existed for many years is not enough. There are

implemented:

1. additional discretionary bonus dependent on productivity of work (this regulation has to honor

employees with the great experience and knowledge, but are also encouragement for work

commitment and increasing of qualifications).

2. wage increases in presented vocations (this year medium salary for upholsterers and cabinet

makers becomes 10,7% higher than in 2012 in the same months).

3. changes in system of development of qualifications (many companies give the opportunity for

vocational training in their workshops in separate stand with help of trade master as a teacher).

4. extra funding for employees that want to develop their qualifications, learn or study.

5. special Social Funding- for example for dinner and health insurance.

Big companies don’t forget about that most upholsterers and cabinet makers comes to them

after finishing vocational schools. Because of that industry tries to help to develop education in this

school by investment in profiled classes.

Because of open export and import of furniture all around the world and innovative technologies

that are still implemented for developing produce, there are skills that till now were not taught

during vocational trainings of upholsterers and cabinet makers:

1. knowledge of specialized foreign language (speaking and writing).

2. skills of using mainly pneumatic and electronic tools (using handtools is only additional).

3. skills of using specialized machines and equipment, as well as skills of retooling them with

choosing appropriate tools.

4. knowledge about dangerous substances existing in some kinds of exotic wood.

Country Report and Synthesis Report - POLAND Research grid and ...

Documents

Transcript of Country Report and Synthesis Report - POLAND Research grid and ...