report on vocational qualifications pathway for prepress report_eng...13 plan remote prepress...
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Qualifications Framework Printing Industry
Report on Vocational Qualifications Pathway for Prepress
November 2019
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Table of Contents Page
1. Project Background and Objectives ........................................................................................... 3
2. Methodology and Findings ........................................................................................................ 5
3. Recommended Structural Diagram ............................................................................................ 8
4. Recommended Specifications for Each Occupation .................................................................. 9
5. Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 28
6. Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................................ 29
7. Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................... 30
8. Membership of Printing & Publishing Industry Training Advisory Committee ...................... 33
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1. Project Background and Objectives
1.1. About Vocational Qualifications Pathway (VQP)
Vocational Qualifications Pathway (VQP) represents a roadmap for progression in learning and
employment in an industry, along which learners or practitioners can progress at various levels
through the attainment or acquisition of the required occupation-based qualifications.
Major Objectives of VQP
Occupation-based qualifications developed under the VQP serve to assure the abilities of the
qualifications holders to perform the occupations concerned well. They also serve the following
objectives:
Serve as references for recruitment;
• Facilitate education and training providers to develop training programmes that best meet the
needs of the industries, and further enhance the synergy between and learning and employment;
• Provide young people with more information about the careers ladder of the industries in order
to facilitate them in further studies. Chart a clear progression pathway to attract young people
or new blood into the industries; and
• Equip aspiring entrants and in-service practitioners with the requisite competencies to effectively
handle tasks in the identified occupations. Support in-service practitioners in career planning
and advancement.
1.2. Project Objectives
In order to enhance the manpower training and planning for printing and publishing industry, in 2018,
Printing and Publishing Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC) proposed to develop a
Vocational Qualifications Pathway for one of the functional areas for industries as a blueprint for the
industries’ manpower planning. For printing industry, due to the variety of job posts, ITAC
recommended to start with prepress category. In this project, prepress defines as the procedure before
press, but excluding design and page layout creation. In other words, prepress category is the
procedure of receiving file from print buyer to plate-making.
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ITAC engaged Advanced Printing Technology Centre (APTEC) to research on the subject with the
following contents:
• Collected the information from the printing companies including structure of prepress
department, each position’s job description and the requirement of work experience and
competencies;
• Suggested and developed a structural diagram for prepress function with reference to the
collected information;
• Advised each position’s competency, qualifications requirements and responsibilities based on
the diagram;
• Mapped out Units of Competency (UoCs) drawn from Printing Specification of Competency
Standards (SCS) with the competence requirements for each position based on the diagram
• Examined the mapped UoCs and suggested any need for revision, and any other
recommendations.
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2. Methodology and Findings
2.1. Methodology
In order to develop a practical and workable VQP, APTEC conducted a research on printing
companies and prepress companies during November, 2018 to March, 2019. The aim was to
understand the prepress department structure and competencies, which were the valuable reference
for VQP. The interview questions were sent out through email, WeChat and WhatsApp, followed by
telephone interviews and personal interviews. At the same time, APTEC collected job advertisements
about prepress function as reference.
The printing industry in Hong Kong is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Many companies prepress structure is not clearly defined. For example, many prepress practitioners
are multitasking in the so-called “one-man band”. In order to depict the job posts in a manner for
more companies to make use of, the project aims to recommend a prepress department structure and
qualification pathway. In order to collect a relatively complete prepress department structure and
qualifications of each rank as a reference for writing this document, APTEC defines the number of
employees of the target companies for interview and the number of prepress employees for collecting
information from companies of certain sizes.
2.1.1 Selection criteria for target companies to be interviewed:
• Printing company or prepress company that must be registered in Hong Kong (including
Hong Kong companies with factories in China)
• Number of employees: at least 50
• Number of prepress employees: at least 7
2.1.2 Number of companies approached or interviewed:
• Number of companies that APTEC had contacted: 37
• Replied and submitted prepress department information: 27
• No reply: 6
• Not meet the criteria stated in 2.1.1: 4
6
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2.1.3 Information required from companies interviewed:
• Number of prepress employees (Hong Kong and / or factory plants in China)
• Total number of employees (Hong Kong and / or factory plants in China)
• Structure of prepress department
• Each position’s job description, requirements on academic qualification, work experience
and competencies in prepress department
2.2. Findings
Among the 27 companies who responded, a few companies did not provide detailed information,
indicating that it was not convenient to provide, or there was no official document, and only part of
the information was available for reference.
Analysis on the vertical structure of prepress department for all responded companies (from high-
level to low-level):
• 2 to 4 levels of hierarchy: 16 companies
• 5 to 7 levels of hierarchy: 9 companies
• 8 levels hierarchy or above: 2 companies
• Most common hierarchy: 4 levels (9 companies)
Regarding the horizontal structure, it was mainly divided by prepress functions. Most of the
companies are divided into file management, preflight, imposition, imposition proof output, digital
proof output and color management, plate-making. Some companies included digital printing.
For the work experience required, since there were large variations among the vertical hierarchy
information collected, it was generally divided into high-, middle- and low-level for analysis:
• High-level personnel: Mainly the head of prepress department. Most of the companies asked
for 10 or more years of work experience, and a few asked for only 5 years, or 15 or more
years. In terms of title, most of the companies adopted the following: Manager, Prepress
Manager, Department Manager, Minister, Supervisor, but most of them used “Manager” as
the title of the head of department.
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• Middle-level personnel: Mainly the assistant for the Head of Department in managing the
lower-level personnel. Most of the companies asked for 5 to 10 years of work experience,
while some companies had the same work experience requirement for high-level and middle-
level personnel. In terms of titles, the companies adopted the following: Deputy Manager,
Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, Section Leader, Deputy Section Leader, Team Leader,
Deputy Team Leader, Foreman, etc. Most of them used the title “Supervisor”.
• Low-level personnel: Mainly the operators who executed prepress work. Most companies
asked for 1 to 3 years, with some companies set different work experience requirement for
different job nature. In terms of titles, the companies adopted the following titles: Technician,
Plate-Making Operator, Imposition Operator, Technical Worker, Output Operator, Color
Management Operator, Plate Inspector, etc.
For the academic requirement, most companies had established some requirements on qualifications,
but some of the companies mentioned that work experience was most important. Some companies
indicated that they had difficulty in recruitment. Therefore, they did not have specific requirement for
academic qualifications.
• High-level personnel: Most of the companies requested tertiary level qualification or above
• Middle-level personnel: Interviewed companies requested secondary level to tertiary level
qualification
• Low-level personnel: Interviewed companies requested junior secondary to senior-
secondary (vocational) level
Some companies with factories in Mainland China wished to recruit graduates from printing
discipline at senior-secondary (vocational) level. The senior-secondary (vocational) level is a top-up
course for junior secondary students.
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3. Recommended Structural Diagram
After reviewed the collected information and multiple rounds of communication with the industry,
APTEC recommended the following structural diagram, with four functional areas in horizontal and
five ranks in vertical.
Functional
Areas QF Level
File Management
Color Management &
Digital Proof Output
Imposition and Imposition Proof
Output
Plate-making
Preflight
Color correction, specify output
curve, digital proof production, device
calibration
RIP, Imposition, Imposition proof
output
Plate-making, quality check on plate, check on
plate if matching with imposition
proof
Level 5 Prepress Manager
Level 4 Supervisor
Level 3
Team Leader
(File Management)
Team Leader
(Color Management &
Digital Proof Output)
Team Leader
(Imposition and Imposition Proof
Output)
Team Leader
(Plate-making)
Level 2
Technician
(File Management)
Technician
(Color Management &
Digital Proof Output)
Technician
(Imposition and Imposition Proof
Output)
Technician
(Plate-making)
Level 1 Junior Technician
*APTEC developed “Recommended Specifications for Each Occupation” in Part 4 for the above 10
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occupations from Level 2 to Level 5.
4. Recommended Specifications for Each Occupation
With reference to the collected information and opinions, APTEC described the competencies
requirement, recommended academic requirement, qualifications and work experience as well as job
description for the ten occupations from Technician to Prepress Manager. At the same time, according
to the job description and competencies, APTEC mapped the related UoCs to each occupation.
APTEC suggested that some occupations’ competency should include core competency and
additional competency. Core competency refers to the set of necessary competencies for that
occupation; while additional competency refers to those extra competencies required in response to
company / job requirements.
In the process of mapping related UoC, it was found that some UoCs might not be in line with the
current situation. It might be because some UoCs were written ten years ago. Due to the development
of technology, it caused the content or level of these UoCs to be out-dated. For example, for the
Technician (Imposition and Imposition Proof Output), APTEC recommended as Level 2 qualification,
but there was no suitable UoCs in Level 2, so it mainly chose the related UoCs in Level 3. In addition,
some UoCs did not fully meet the competency requirements of prepress personnel, but only some of
the content was relevant, so the required parts were specifically indicated in the Specifications.
For the recommended academic requirements, qualifications and work experience, since most
companies expressed that work experience was particularly important, APTEC recommended that
certain related work experience was prerequisite for all occupations.
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Prepress
Manager
5 1 Understand prepress
technology, including
prepress software,
workflow, color
management, print quality
software, plate-making
and imposition
2 Understand press and
postpress workflow
3 Know color printing
standardization in certain
extent
4 Have certain management
experience, leadership
ability, and problem
solving ability
5 Have team and training
experience
6 Good communication
ability
10 years or above work experience in
prepress management
+
Achieve Level
4 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Complete
Higher Diploma
in Printing OR
equivalent
(Obtain
Bachelor Degree
would be an
advantage)
+
Proficiency in written and spoken
Chinese and English
Responsibilities Responsible for the overall management of all matters in the prepress
department, including job management, personnel management, equipment
maintenance, training, quality control, safety and environmental
management; communicate and coordinate prepress issues with other
departments, and understand customer needs to make timely coordination
and assistance; development of prepress production process optimization and
innovation to match company policies and objectives.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Implement colour management standards 106283L5
2 Master the electronic information system for printing 106239L4
3 Effect human resources management PPPROM504A
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4 Master digital printing flow system adoption and support
PPPRPE505A
5 Plan facilities configuration and development of prepress department
PPPRPE501A
6 Master upstream and downstream coordination in prepress department
PPPRPE502A
7 Master horizontal coordination of prepress department PPPRPE503A
8 Master uniform calibration in prepress 106252L5
9 Understand the system and development of printing standards
106240L5
10 Understand composition of print products PPPRPS201A
11 Employ printing standards in establishing a coherent quality assurance
mechanism 106280L5
12 Master resource requirements for implementing printing standards
106242L5
Additional competency:
13 Plan remote prepress processing flow PPPRPE504A
14 Understand the merits and purposes of printing standards 106241L5
15 Understand print costing PPPREC401A
16 Master customer service skills PPPRCR402A
17 Understand application of printing technology 106256L2
18 Comprehensive understanding of desktop publishing software related
to the function of printing (Now included in “Master computer
graphics techniques PPPRPE303A”, “Master computer retouching
techniques PPPRPE304A”, “Master computer page composition
techniques PPPRPE305A”)
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Supervisor 4 1 Understand prepress
technology, including
prepress software,
workflow, color
management, print quality
software, imposition and
plate-making
2 Understand printing and
postpress workflow
3 Know color printing
standardization in certain
extent
4 Have certain management
experience and problem
solving ability
5 Have team and training
experience
6 Good communication
ability
8 years or above work experience in
prepress management
+
Achieve Level
4 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Complete
Higher Diploma
in Printing OR
equivalent
(Obtain
Bachelor Degree
would be an
advantage)
+
Good in written and spoken Chinese and
English
Responsibilities Report to Prepress Manager. Assist Prepress Manager to execute the work
of prepress department, including job management, personnel management,
equipment maintenance, training, quality, safety and environmental
monitoring, production process optimization; internal communication and
coordination within the department related to prepress.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Understand print quality control and management 106279L3 (Main
components: Master print quality control tools, including grey scale,
color target, cross mark, crop mark, spine number, etc., and
measurement tools, including magnifying glass, thickness gauge,
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densitometer, etc.)
2 Master application of digital colour management PPPRCO401A
3 Master skills for printing professionals training and management
PPPROM406A
4 Master digital prepress technology 106250L4
5 Master application of computer image input PPPRPE402A
6 Master digital output techniques 106251L4
7 Understand digital printing flow system PPPRPE404A
8 Understand computer-to-plate (CTP) technology 106248L3
9 Understand composition of print products PPPRPS201A
Additional competency:
10 Understand use of digital media carrier PPPRPS302A
11 Master the electronic information system for printing 106239L4
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic
requirements, qualifications and
work experience
Team Leader
(File
Management)
3 1 Master desktop
publishing software and
prepress workflow
2 Master preflight
functions and related
software
3 Master file requirement
for printing and
postpress
4 Have certain problem
solving ability
5 Have team and training
experience
6 Good communication
ability
5 years or above work experience in
prepress technology
+
Achieve Level
3 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 5 or
above (Obtain
Diploma in
Printing or
above would
be an
advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken
Chinese and English
Responsibilities Responsible for the personnel management, job management,
supervision and follow-up of file management process in his/her
team; check whether the file meets the requirements of print
production; solve technical problems; assist in arranging staff
training; technical guidance to technicians; perform equipment
maintenance; assist Supervisor in the implementation and execution
of work objectives.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Master computer graphics techniques PPPRPE303A
2 Master computer retouching techniques PPPRPE304A
3 Master computer page composition techniques PPPRPE305A
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4 Understand computer scanning and image input technology
PPPRPE307A
5 Understand preflight techniques 106247L3
6 Understand digital file management techniques 106249L3
7 Master skills for printing professionals training and management
PPPROM406A
8 Know digital colour management PPPRCO202A
9 Understand digital printing flow system PPPRPE404A
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Technician
(File
management)
2 1 Familiar with desktop
publishing software
and prepress
workflow
2 Familiar with
preflight functions
and related software
3 Familiar with file
requirement for
printing and postpress
4 Good communication
ability
2 years or above work experience in
prepress technology
+
Achieve Level 2
of Recognition
of Prior
Learning (RPL)
of Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 3 or
above
(Complete related
printing courses
would be an
advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken
Chinese and English
Responsibilities Execute and implement file management and preflight in order to check
if the file meets the requirements of print production; execute and
implement work guideline and departmental objectives; report
problems to the superior in timely manner.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Understand computer graphics methods PPPRPE203A
2 Understand computer retouching methods PPPRPE204A
3 Understand computer page composition methods PPPRPE202A
4 Know basic techniques for computer scanning and image input
PPPRPE207A
5 Know preflight techniques PPPRPE208A
6 Know basic colour handling PPPRCO101A
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Team Leader
(Color
Management
& Digital
Proof
Output)
3 1 Master the techniques
of color correction in
page layout programs
2 Master output and
evaluate digital proof
3 Master the usage of
different measurement
tools and calibration
4 Master the setting and
application of output
plate curve
5 Have certain problem
solving ability
6 Have team and
training experience
7 Good communication
ability
5 years or above work experience in color
management
+
Achieve Level 3
of Recognition
of Prior
Learning (RPL)
of Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 5 or
above (Obtain
Diploma in
Printing or above
would be an
advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese
and English
Responsibilities Responsible for the personnel management, job management, supervision
and follow-up of color in the file and proof according to customer’s color
standard or specific color standard to produce digital proof and color
calibration; perform color management system repair and maintenance;
solve file technical problems; assist in arranging staff training; technical
guidance to technicians; assist Supervisor in the implementation and
execution of work objectives; regular internal communication and
coordination with other departments for product quality assurance.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Master digital prepress technology 106250L4 (Main components:
Master output techniques for effective digital proof; Understand and
master colour reproduction principles, including application of color
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management, importance of color standardization and apply
techniques for color communication)
2 Master application of digital colour management PPPRCO401A
3 Master press proof inspection PPPRPR304A (Main components:
Understand processing and use of major proofs; Understand quality
requirement and examination techniques for proofing; Master
standard data setting and measuring for press proof)
4 Master computer retouching techniques PPPRPE304A
5 Master skills for printing professionals training and management
PPPROM406A
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Technician
(Color
Management
& Digital
Proof
Output)
2 1 Familiar with the
techniques of color
correction of page
layout programs
2 Familiar with output
and evaluate digital
proof
3 Familiar with the
usage of different
measurement tools
and calibration
4 Familiar with the
setting and application
of output plate curve
5 Good communication
ability
2 years or above work experience in color
management
+
Achieve Level 2
of Recognition
of Prior
Learning (RPL)
of Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 3 or
above (Complete
related printing
courses would be
an advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese
and English
Responsibilities Execute and implement color management workflow; assist the Team
Leader to implement regular calibration of color measurement tools;
produce digital proof according to customer’s color standard or specific
color standard; implement color correction according to customer’s proof;
report problems to the superior in timely manner.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Understand digital colour management techniques PPPRCO301A
2 Know digital colour management PPPRCO202A
3 Know digital output techniques 106245L1
4 Understand computer retouching methods PPPRPE204A
5 Master digital prepress technology 106250L4 (Main component:
Master output techniques for effective digital proof)
6 Understand computer page imposition technology PPPRPE308A
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(Main components: Use techniques for digital proofing)
7 Master application of digital colour management PPPRCO401A
(Main components: Able to make correct colour setting with different
composition software; Make correct use of colour profile and
techniques for converting profile colour using software)
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Team Leader
(Imposition
and
Imposition
Proof
Output)
3 1 Master the print-
related output
functions of page
layout program
2 Master digital output
workflow systems
3 Master imposition
procedure and
application
4 Master imposition
proof output
technology
5 Have certain problem
solving ability
6 Have team and
training experience
7 Good communication
ability
5 years or above work experience in digital
output
+
Achieve Level
3 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 5 or
above (Obtain
Diploma in Printing
or above would be
an advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese
and English
Responsibilities Responsible for the personnel management, job management, supervision
and follow-up of imposition and imposition proof output to ensure the
accuracy of file output and suitable for the requirement of print; solve
technical problems on file output, assist in arranging staff training,
technical guidance to technicians, assist Supervisor in the implementation
and execution of work objectives; maintain the output system; regular
internal communication and coordination with other departments for
product quality assurance.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Master digital output techniques 106251L4
2 Master digital prepress technology 106250L4
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3 Understand computer page imposition technology PPPRPE308A
4 Understand computer-to-plate (CTP) technology 106248L3
5 Understand digital file management techniques 106249L3
6 Master skills for printing professionals training and management
PPPROM406A
7 Understand composition of print products PPPRPS201A
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Technician
(Imposition
and
Imposition
Proof
Output)
2 1 Know the print-related
output functions of page
layout program
2 Familiar with digital
output workflow
systems
3 Familiar with imposition
procedure and
application
4 Familiar with imposition
proof output technology
5 Good communication
ability
2 years or above work experience in digital
output
+
Achieve Level
2 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 3 or
above (Complete
related printing
courses would be an
advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese
and English
Responsibilities Create imposition template, implement imposition and imposition proof
output, according to customers’ files and requirements; verify the accuracy
of the file output and imposition proof; assist the Team Leader to
implement the maintenance for digital output workflow systems; report
problems to the superior in timely manner.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Understand computer page imposition technology PPPRPE308A
2 Understand computer-to-plate (CTP) technology 106248L3
3 Understand digital file management techniques 106249L3
4 Understand composition of print products PPPRPS201A
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Team Leader
(Plate-
making)
3 1 Master digital output
systems
2 Master imposition
procedure and
application
3 Master plate-making
technology
4 Master the
application of plate-
making
5 Have certain
problem solving
ability
6 Have team and
training experience
7 Good
communication
ability
5 years or above work experience in plate-
making
+
Achieve Level
3 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 5 or above
(Obtain Diploma in
Printing or above would
be an advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese and
English
Responsibilities Responsible for the personnel management, job management, supervision
and follow-up of plate-making to ensure the accuracy and meet the
requirement of print; solve technical problems on plate-making, assist in
arranging staff training, technical guidance to technicians, assist Supervisor
in the implementation and execution of work objectives; regular internal
communication and coordination with other departments for product
quality assurance; ensure regular calibration and maintenance of output
equipment.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Master digital output techniques 106251L4
2 Understand computer-to-plate (CTP) technology 106248L3
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3 Master skills for printing professionals training and management
PPPROM406A
4 Understand printing machinery maintenance 106282L2 (Main
components: Know the features and basic structure of, and routine
maintenance guidelines, repairing tools, materials and methods for
prepress equipment)
5 Understand the structures of printing materials 106287L3 (Main
components: Understand the structures of plate materials)
6 Understand print quality control and management 106279L3 (Main
components: Master print quality control tools)
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Position QF
Level
Competency Recommended academic requirements,
qualifications and work experience
Technician
(Plate-
making)
2 1 Familiar with the
operation of digital
output
2 Familiar with the
operation with output
plate-making
machine
3 Familiar with plate
measurement tool for
verifying plate
4 Understand the repair
and maintenance of
output machine and
plate
5 Good communication
ability
2 years or above work experience in plate-
making
+
Achieve Level
2 of
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL) of
Printing
Industry
OR
Secondary 3 or
above (Complete
related printing
courses would be an
advantage)
+
Basic ability in written and spoken Chinese
and English
Responsibilities Implement plate-making according to production requirements; verify the
plate quality after output; assist Team Leader to implement the regular
calibration and maintenance on output system; effectively retain plate;
report problems to the superior in timely manner.
Related UoCs Core competency:
1 Understand computer-to-plate (CTP) technology 106248L3
2 Understand printing machinery maintenance 106282L2 (Main
components: Know the features and basic structure of, and routine
maintenance guidelines, repairing tools, materials and methods for
prepress equipment)
3 Understand the applications of printing materials 106286L2 (Main
components: Understand the properties and utility of prepress
materials (film, plates, film and plate chemicals))
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4 Understand printing quality management 106278L2 (Main
components: Make proper use of print quality measurement tools)
29
5. Limitations
The printing industry in Hong Kong is dominated by SMEs. Many companies prepress structure is
not clearly defined, so the number of interviewed companies is limited.
During the collection of prepress structure and qualification information from the companies
interviewed, even if some companies had such information, but due to the possible sensitive nature
of internal documents, not all of them were willing to provide. At the same time, not all companies
interviewed had comprehensive information on prepress, or some companies indicated that they had
not hired prepress staff for long time, so there was no updated information. APTEC also tried to get
reference from recruitment advertisement about the entry requirements during the data collection
period, but no relevant information was found. Therefore, not much information could be referenced.
However, the information provided by other responded companies hase been very valuable.
The recommended prepress structural diagram was to divide prepress functions horizontally and
vertically, and it mapped the UoCs to different positions. Some UoCs are mapped to two job levels,
reflecting there are similar skillsets for two job levels. But higher level positions required
management and communications capabilities. In addition, after years of technology development,
the technical capability for some positions had been improved, so the contents and level for
corresponding UoCs should be adjusted. For example, in the case of a Technician at Level 2, the level
of some proposed UoCs were higher than that position, but the majority of the UoCs were still
Level 3.
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6. Conclusions and Recommendations
Prepress is an integral part of a printing company. ITAC and APTEC hope that this document could
serve as a reference for the printing industry. Different companies can make use of the document
and adjust the contents according to their business and structure, so as to become its own prepress
structure pathway. At the same time, this provides a reference for training provider to plan and
design the prepress training which can build the training pathway.
In order to improve this document, APTEC has the following recommendations:
1) Re-examine the current level of UoC and update in order to fit for the current industry situation;
2) Re-examine the current contents of UoC and update, especially some old technologies, such as
manual imposition, etc.
3) At present, the UoCs related to desktop publishing skills, photo retouching skills and computer
drawing skills are related to layout making. However, for prepress practitioners, understanding
the preflight and print-related functions are very important. Other page layout functions are
minor. Therefore, it is suggested to add a UoC integrated with print-related functions for
desktop publishing software.
In summary, clear progression pathway is very important for the development of the company’s
talents. This document will be an important reference for the printing industry in the prepress
manpower development.
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7. Acknowledgement
This project was successfully completed, apart from the valuable comments provided by members
of ITAC and the Working Group on VQP of Printing Industry, APTEC also thanked the companies
interviewed for providing relevant information and opinions. The companies interviewed that
agreed to publish their names were listed as follows (in alphabetical order):
• Alpha Plus Printing Co. Limited
• Apex Print Limited
• Artron Art (Group) Co. Ltd.
• Asia One Printing Limited
• Bright Arts (H.K.) Ltd.
• C & C Joint Pritning Co., (H.K.) Ltd.
• Cheong Ming Press Factory Ltd.
• Ching Luen Printing Co. Ltd.
• CTPS Holdings Limited
• Hong Kong Dason Paper Products Company Limited
• Promise Network Printing Limited
• Golden Cup Printing Co. Ltd.
• Government Logistics Department
• Hung Hing Printing Group Limited
• Leo Paper Group (Hong Kong) Ltd.
• Luk Ka Paper Industrial Ltd.
• Millennium Printing (Shenzhen)Co., Ltd.
• New Island Printing Co. Ltd
• Paramount Printing Company Limited
• Safe Power Printing & Box Mfg. Co., Ltd.
• Sheck Wah Tong Printing Press Ltd
• Sun Hing Printing Holdings Limited
• Universe Printing Holdings Limited
• Wai Man Book Binding (China) Ltd.
• The Wing Fat Printing (Hong Kong) Ltd.
• Wing King Tong Printing Ltd.
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Moreover, APTEC would like to thank other companies and industry members who are not listed
above for their assistance in providing information.
33
Printing & Publishing Industry Training Advisory Committee (2018-2020)
Membership
Chairperson: Mr Jackson LEUNG
Vice Chairperson: Mr Patrick SINN
Members: Ms CHAN Wai-man Ms CHEUNG Shin-yee
(in alphabetical order) Mr Teddy CHUI Ms CHUNG Kit-hung
Mr Percy FUNG Mr Peter LAU
Dr Elvin LEE, JP Mr Tony LIM
Mr Clarence LOK Dr Kenneth MA
Mr Ben MAK Mr John NG
Dr Sharon WONG Mr Alex YAN
Mr Patrick YEUNG Mr YU Chung-hang
Education Bureau Representative
Government Logistics Department Representative
Education and Training Subcommittee
Working Group on Vocational Qualifications Pathway of Printing Industry
Membership
Group leader: Mr Clarence LOK
Members: Mr Teddy CHUI Mr Percy FUNG
(in alphabetical order) Mr John NG Mr Paul YUEN (Co-opted member)
Education Bureau Representative