PrintED/SkillsUSA Competencies

Binding and Finishing

1. Read and interpret production information on job docket/ticket.
2. Identify and demonstrate proper safety considerations when working with bindery equipment.
3. Practice safe work habits when working with bindery equipment.
4. Describe how to change the blade and perform preventive maintenance on an automatic paper cutter.
5. Estimate the cost of materials and production for performing various bindery operations.
6. Identify basic hand tools, equipment, and materials in bindery operations.
7. Demonstrate proper paper handling and storage procedures.
8. Demonstrate basic paper jogging techniques.
9. Demonstrate basic paper counting techniques: measure by ream marker, weight, caliper, or other methods.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of paper types related to their grain direction, cutting, folding and binding characteristics.
11. Calculate basic paper cuts from a parent sheet, considering job requirements and grain direction.
12. Describe how to use and set up programmable cutters.
13. Make accurate paper cuts using a mechanized paper cutter.
14. Demonstrate how to check the squareness of stock.
15. Collate sets in proper sequence.
16. Prepare folding dummies for commonly used impositions.
17. Define folding terminology and list different folding techniques.
18. Demonstrate the use of folding equipment to produce a single fold, an accordion fold, and a gate fold.
19. Describe and identify the uses of right angle folding, knife folding, buckle folding, and combination folding.
20. Demonstrate the use of folding equipment to produce a right-angle fold job.
21. Demonstrate and properly use folding equipment to produce a high-folio lip signature and a low-folio lip signature and describe the advantages of both.
22. Describe tipping in procedures.
23. Demonstrate the use of folding equipment to perforate and score.
24. Demonstrate and perform preventative maintenance on a folder.
25. Describe and identify in-line finishing systems.
26. Describe and identify off-line finishing systems.
27. Produce correctly made pads of paper.
28. Describe the fundamentals and applications of saddle stitching and perfect binding.
29. Produce side and saddle stitched/stapled products.
30. Identify spiral binding and wire binding equipment and products.
31. Describe the case binding process.
32. Identify packaging and shrink wrap equipment and materials.
33. Identify specialty bindery processes: foil stamping, embossing, die cutting, and thermography.
34. Identify common production problems encountered in the bindery area.
35. Describe and identify basic mailing equipment.
36. Demonstrate an understanding of United States Postal Service (USPS) standards (sizes and mail class rates).
37. Observe a commercial bindery operation(live or virtual).