Module 6

MODULE 6

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

There are two main components in this module that students need to complete:

Writing a Business Plan for a New Tannery

Students have to assume they are an industrialist who has decided to start a tannery processing a given type and quantity of leather. In order to obtain funding for such a project, they have to draw up a detailed business plan for the tannery. This business plan has to be submitted to ISTT for assessment.

The business plan should give detailed reasons for the decisions made, and should include but not be limited to the following:

  • A suitable site for the business

  • The size of building required and its approximate cost

  • The machinery needed and its approximate utilization

  • The cost of machinery

  • Suppliers of the machinery

  • The cost of raw hides or skins

  • Possible processes for producing the type of leather that will be produced by the tannery

  • Chemical costs per hide processed

  • Approximate number of staff to be employed and which machines they would work on

  • Approximate salary bill for the tannery

  • A layout of the tannery

  • Approximate selling price of the leather produced

  • Water consumption for the tannery

  • Possible effluent treatment options for the tannery

  • An approximate income / expenditure statement for the tannery

  • How often maintenance should be carried out on machines

  • Labour policy (education and training, unionization, employee benefits, conflict resolution procedures)

  • The discussion of at least one ISO quality procedure in the tannery

Final Practical Production Project

This project is the culmination of all practical knowledge that students have obtained while studying for the Advanced Certificate in Leather Technology. Students will need to use all of of the knowledge that they have gained while studying Modules 1 - 5, in order to successfully complete the Final Practical Production Project. This part of the course mimics typical requirements for those students who may end up working in the Research and Development (R&D) section of a tannery.

Students will be given various practical tasks to complete.

Students have to submit their processes to ISTT who will process the leather according to the student's specifications. Crust and finished leather samples will be returned to students. Students will then need to submit a report on the processes that they used, reasons for their choice of chemicals, cost of the processes and a discussion of their leathers produced.

Students are marked on the leather processes, the leather produced and on the practical report.

Students should design their processes themselves and not merely copy company processes .