This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to identify the purpose and desired performance characteristics of a technical textile or non-woven product.The unit of competency applies to the identification of the purpose and performance characteristics of textiles that have been manufactured for special technical purposes. A technical textile may be produced by a technical finish on a normal yarn or fabric or composed of a specially made technical yarn or fabric.The unit of competency applies to employees who are required to have a basic understanding of the product being manufactured, such as team leaders and senior operators with responsibility for explaining the enterprise's products to visitors and other employees. The unit does not cover knowledge of the technical textile requiring special scientific or engineering study.A technical textile is generally not clothing, carpet or a furnishing product unless a specific technical feature beyond what is normally found in clothing, carpet or furnishing has been added. An example would be special fire-retardant clothing.Applications of technical textiles may be for medical, hygiene, sporting, transportation, construction, agricultural and other purposes. The technical textile may be used as a stand-alone product or incorporated into another product. The technical textile application may occur as a result of new materials, new processes and new applications that result in the textile having the desired technical performance characteristic.Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.